Legislators key to renewable energy advancement, says UAE environment minister

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi said the UAE's ambitious energy strategy targets 44 per cent from renewable sources by 2050

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - - -  21 March 2017 ---  Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, spoke at the Farmers Organic Products Marketing Festival at Lulu's in Mushrif mall on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, showcased a variety of locally grown organic produce.  (  DELORES JOHNSON / The National  )  
ID:  86435
Reporter:  Naser Al Wasmi
Section: NA *** Local Caption ***  DJ-210317-NA-Farmers Festival-86435-001.jpg
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Legislators have a key role in the “advancement of renewable energy technologies” according to Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

Dr Al Zeyoudi made the comments during a Legislators Forum with global lawmakers in Abu Dhabi on Thursday that discussed the policies needed to accelerate transformation of the global energy system.

The forum was held ahead of the International Renewable Energy Agency's (Irena) eighth assembly, which starts on Friday.

“Legislators play a significant role in supporting the advancement of renewable energy technologies and their faster deployment by contributing to the development of enabling policy frameworks, institutional capacities and encouraging public-private partnerships,” said Dr Al Zeyoudi.

“The UAE unveiled an ambitious energy strategy with targets of 44 per cent renewable energy, 38 per cent gas, 12 per cent clean coal, and 6 per cent nuclear by 2050, while reducing the country’s carbon footprint from power generation by 70 per cent and reducing residential energy consumption by 40 per cent.”

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The 2018 Irena Legislators Forum, which tackled the topic “Renewable energy - the role of legislators in catalysing action to accelerate the energy transformation” is the third meeting of its kind hosted by the Agency.

It seeks to encourage discussion between legislators on the deployment of renewables and the critical challenges facing the global energy transformation.

Participation in this year’s Forum doubled from last year’s, including attendees from 30 countries around the world.

More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the two-day Irena event this weekend, which heralds the start of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.