DUBAI, UAE, 26 January 2024: The world celebrates the 15th anniversary of founding the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA, on January 26, by hosting the inaugural World Clean Energy Day, said H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE, in an official statement issued through a Press release. H.E. Dr Al Dahak said that advancing just and resilient clean energy solutions is a vital component in our fight against climate change, and we welcome the focus that World Clean Energy Day is placing on our energy sources of the future. 

H.E. Dr Al Dahak said, we all know that the significant challenges posed by climate change demand bold and decisive action, and the UAE is leading the global community in finding and deploying renewable energy solutions. It has been six weeks since the world came together and agreed on the UAE Consensus here in the UAE at COP28, said H.E. Dr Al Dahak and added that it was a significant moment in the global climate action journey. The UAE, she underlined, delivered a historic agreement, and for the first time in almost thirty years of UNFCCC climate talks, clear language on transitioning away from fossil fuels was inscribed into the negotiated text. Further, she said, this commitment only serves to highlight that our global journey towards sustainability is more urgent than ever. 

 H.E. Dr Al Dahak said that today, in the UAE, we are accelerating at pace, walking the talk on climate action, and pointed out that UAE is at the forefront of the clean energy transition, exemplified by our National Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to triple the contribution of renewable energy to the energy mix by 2030. She also said that UAE is taking bold steps to cut emissions, having committed to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to business as usual, and added that the country is committed to meeting its national Net Zero target by 2050 and has developed clear pathways to achieving this goal. Furthermore, she said, UAE is transforming its reliance on the land, using innovative farming techniques and emerging technologies such as hydroponics, to produce the food we need responsibly. The UAE, she said, will continue to provide global leadership at home and abroad, in line with the strategic vision of our wise Leadership. 

 H.E. Dr Al Dahak said that on this inaugural World Clean Energy Day, we must reflect on how far we have come, and be inspired and motivated to look to the innovations and technologies of the future to see what more must be achieved.