The UAE recently participated in the joint Ninth Session of the Assembly and Thirteenth Session of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The UAE was represented by Eng Aisha Al Abdooli, Director of Green Development at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) at the meeting.

The hybrid session was presided by Ban Ki-moon, President and Chair of GGGI’s Assembly and Council, along with the participation of representatives of international organisations, governments, and private sector businesses from around 30 countries.

The event saw the delegates engaging in virtual consultations on key agendas of mutual interest including green growth and climate change, providing a pioneering platform for facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building among GGGI member states. The participants shared ideas and knowledge on various key projects and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable recovery from the impact of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

In his opening remarks, Ban Ki-moon noted that in 2020, the one development that has affected the entire humanity is the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don’t need to remind you that challenges come with opportunities, and leaders and heroes rise during difficult times. Almost as soon as governments began to shut borders, and organizations started to institute work-from-home policies, GGGI was thinking about the long-term effects of the pandemic on green growth and sustainable development," he said.

He further affirmed that the GGGI has started consolidating ideas to support a sustainable recovery of member countries in the aftermath of the pandemic crisis by greening their economic recovery packages. He hailed GGGI for its forward planning, hard work and innovative thinking in bouncing back from the pandemic crisis.

Ban Ki-moon stated that the pandemic highlighted the links between climate change and public health, with more and more policymakers in countries around the world realising the importance of green growth as the only path forward as it will help in leading a socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable model of growth.

He highlighted the progress made by the world in achieving green growth over the past year, asserting that GGGI will continue with its efforts to initiate green recovery activities, green job creation, climate-smart agriculture and many more for its members.

"I believe optimism leads to innovative solutions. I hope I can count on the continued strong support of all GGGI members, and I hope those members who have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 and its fallout know that their difficulties will not be forgotten by GGGI," Ban Ki-moon added.

Representing the UAE at the meeting, Al Abdooli asserted that the need for green recovery and sustainability has become even more profound in the wake of the pandemic health crisis, that has resulted in a global economic downturn. Highlighting the UAE's COVID-19 recovery plan, she stated that it is aimed at fostering sustainable development by encouraging investment in three key sectors - green economy, digital economy and food security.

"Despite the current situation, we launched the first phase of the 5.6 GW Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. In addition, a bid for a new 2 GW solar photovoltaic project achieved a record-low price of 1.35 US cents/kWh. Another example is the construction of the world’s tallest solar power tower as part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai," she added.

Al Abdooli expressed gratitude towards the invaluable support provided by the GGGI Regional Office in Abu Dhabi that helped the UAE to make significant progress in executing its Green Agenda during 2019-2020.

She further explained that in line with the National Climate Change Adaptation Program, the UAE undertook a climate risk assessment in four key sectors – energy, infrastructure, health, and environment. After the assessment, the UAE is working on formulating adaptation measures. She also highlighted how UAE's insurance sector has contributed to minimizing the financial and economic impacts of climate change, adding that the country is aiming to develop an adaptation action plan for the sector by 2021.

At the same time, the authorities are working on a nationwide Sustainable Finance Framework with the aim of boosting the mobilization of private capital into making climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable investments.

WAM