Global decision-makers to congregate at Middle East’s biggest ever sustainability event 

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), to be held from January 16, and hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, will see global policy and business leaders convene in the UAE capital, to take the next steps in identifying and implementing solutions to the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges, the organisers have announced.

The events will be based on the key pillars of policy, leadership, business, academic research and awareness, the announcement elaborated, and added that it will gather heads of state, ministers and international delegations to address critical sustainability issues, including growing energy and water needs, the challenges of urbanisation and the priorities of climate change mitigation.

H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, said: “Sustainable development is integral to our continued advancement as a nation, and reflects our core national values of peace, prosperity, stability, tolerance and unity. Thirty three thousand delegates, more than 80 ministers, and visitors from over 170 countries are expected to attend the policy dialogues, conferences, exhibitions and events that will make up ADSW 2016.”

Dr Al Jaber added that as the first major international gathering of 2016, ADSW will be a timely platform to sustain the forward momentum achieved in 2015, especially following the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement aimed at mitigating climate change.

Winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize worth USD four million, established by the UAE leadership to recognise and reward excellence in renewable energy and sustainability, will also be reportedly announced at an awards ceremony on January 18.