New York: A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presented the country's strategic vision for renewable energy and climate action at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. The event, organized by the UN Economic and Social Affairs Department, is being held at the UN headquarters in New York and will continue until July 17.
Representatives from the UAE showcased the nation's model for facilitating access to energy, eliminating poverty and hunger and securing a more climate-resilient future.
Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister for Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, highlighted the UAE's efforts in setting global development priorities, including building sustainable healthcare systems, creating energy and climate solutions and forging international partnerships.
“The UAE has invested heavily in healthcare, renewable energy, and climate action, and began implementing global best practices in sustainable development long before the UN adopted the 17 SDGs in 2016,” said Lootah.
“Today, as we approach the 2030 deadline for achieving SDGs, the UAE continues to intensify partnerships and expand their scopes to boost international efforts.”
The UAE delegation participated in a session titled “Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity and Accelerating Just Energy Transitions in the Global South,” where Lootah reiterated the country's commitment to tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, a pledge made by 130 countries at COP28 in Dubai.
In collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UAE delegation organized a session on mitigating climate change impact and enhancing global healthcare outcomes. Dr. Alanoud Alhaj, Assistant Under-Secretary for Green Development and Climate Change, emphasized the UAE's commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that enable access to healthcare, adequate and affordable food, quality education, and increased resource efficiency.
“The UAE climate action centers around Sustainable Development Goals that enable access to healthcare, adequate and affordable food, quality education, and increased resource efficiency, among other vital aims,” said Alhaj.