UAE highlights role of innovation in tackling climate change at COP21 side event

The United Arab Emirates shared insights in accelerating technology and innovation as a solution to climate change at the Lima-Paris Action Agenda Innovation Day event, led by the International Energy Agency at the 21st meeting of the conference of parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention.

During the panel session titled, Enhancing Innovation Capacity Building and Financing in Developing Countries, Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Director of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussed government roles in helping to remove barriers to financing and to building capacity.

"Innovation is crucial for all countries in addressing the impacts of climate change," said Dr. Al Zeyoudi. "Through innovative solutions, the UAE is diversifying its economy, attracting foreign investment, and forging public-private partnerships to deploy renewable energy projects in developing nations, all of which also contribute in reducing carbon emissions."

In a separate panel discussion titled, Financing Innovation to Take Action to the Next Level, Masdar CEO Dr. Ahmad Belhoul spoke on the UAE's actions to deploy clean energy technologies domestically and abroad.

"Deployment of clean energy innovation is fundamental to economic growth and prosperity," said Dr. Belhoul. "Many of Masdar's projects feature innovative, systematic solutions to pressing challenges of climate change and have strong potential to become game changers in the industry, while still being commercially viable."

The panel sessions were part of a series of discussions to showcase successes and plans to scale up clean energy research and development to deliver energy sector transformation.