ABU DHABI //The capital will once again be the focus of clean energy professionals when an influential report is unveiled here next Monday.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the United Nations scientific body that has informed international negotiations to stop global warming - will be releasing its long-awaited special report on renewable energy sources.
It is expected to chart the way towards faster adoption of clean energy harvested by the sun, wind, ocean waves and currents and other renewable sources. Its publication follows Abu Dhabi's hosting of the Irena General Assembly last month and United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon in January for the World Future Energy Summit.
Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, said in a statement: "As someone who has been following closely the progress Abu Dhabi is making in the renewable energy sphere, it makes perfect sense for the IPCC to release this significant report in the UAE."
The IPCC's work has much to do with explaining what will happen if humanity continues on its current course. Its fourth assessment report, released in 2007, said that, by 2100, average temperatures could increase between one and 6°C. Even modest warming of 2°C would cause changes - more storms, severe droughts, heatwaves and ocean acidification.
Following the release of the 2007 report, Dr Pachauri was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with US politician and climate-change advocate Al Gore. Expectations of the report to be unveiled in Abu Dhabi next week are high.
"Following the release of the IPCC fourth assessment report and its clear language on the role of renewable energy in mitigating climate change, it was obvious to many countries that a more detailed report on renewable energy would be crucial in future dialogues," Dr Sultan al Jaber, special envoy for Energy and Climate Change and chief executive of Masdar, said.
"Taking into consideration the due diligence conducted by the IPCC authors and technical experts on all its reports, the UAE views this as an affirmative signal on the importance of its ongoing drive towards development, deployment and commercialisation of renewable energy technologies worldwide through the Masdar Initiative."
The release of the report will be followed by another high-profile event in the capital. Held from May 10 to 14, the 33rd plenary session of the IPCC will be attended by more than 600 delegates, representing all member countries of the United Nations.
Abu Dhabi is also home to the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency, which was established to promote the fast adoption of clean energy technologies.
One of the most ambitious plans, by European Union countries, is to have 20 per cent of their energy produced through clean sources by 2020.
Abu Dhabi has a target of seven per cent by 2020.
