Abu Dhabi Ascent to explore new pathways for climate action

Abu Dhabi (WAM) More than 1,000 participants, including more than 75 government ministers, have gathered in Abu Dhabi to chart new routes for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening climate resilience. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is co-hosting the two-day Abu Dhabi Ascent with the United Arab Emirates to prepare for and build commitment ahead of his Climate Summit on 23 September in New York. "The Abu Dhabi Ascent reflects the momentum that is growing in how the world is confronting the climate challenge," the UN Secretary-General said. "There is a real sense that change is in the air. Climate solutions exist. The race is on. It's time for leaders to lead." "The Abu Dhabi Ascent is bringing together the people that can usher in a new era of climate action. By forging new relationships and scaling up initiatives, the Abu Dhabi Ascent will provide the launch pad for a Summit that promotes prosperous economies while tackling climate change head-on." Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, in his remarks to the opening session of the meeting, said the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is unsettling, yet encouraging. "Unsettling, because we are running out of time, to reverse the effects of global warming. And encouraging, because permanent consequences can be averted. We have before us only 15 years to address decades of environmentally harmful activities, and to prevent a global temperature increase of 2 degrees centigrade," explained Al Jaber. "This is the very challenge that has compelled the Secretary General to call for action, through the Abu Dhabi Ascent and the Climate Summit. Over the course of the next two days, we will shape and strengthen initiatives across concrete action areas that will enable us to holistically and successfully address the climate challenge. Together through these initiatives we have a shared responsibility to commit to their success and drive forward a decade of action. A decade of action where governments and the private sector must come together and seize opportunities to advance clean technologies and set the foundation for a sustainable future." "As a responsible, and leading global supplier of energy the United Arab Emirates is advancing clean technology and renewable energy, both at home and abroad. The climate challenge presented before us is in fact an opportunity to help balance the global energy mix and limit temperature rises," Al Jaber further said. "Our collaboration here in Abu Dhabi, and in New York, will establish a strong bottom-up approach to support the top-down approach that we hope to achieve in Paris, during COP 21 next year. Successfully combining these two approaches will be the key to unlocking the solutions that benefit societies east and west, developed and developing." "If we are to successfully mitigate climate change then we must commit to a decade of action. A decade that will be remembered as a time when the world united to tackle one of its greatest challenges. I am confident that together we will succeed," concluded Minister Al Jaber. – Emirates News Agency,