Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2015 (ADSW) will kick off a pivotal year in sustainable development as world leaders prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris and work toward a universal agreement on mitigating climate change. ADSW complements these global efforts by providing a platform that enables a private sector, bottom-up approach to accelerate commercially driven solutions that tackle interconnected resource and climate challenges.
Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, ADSW 2015 addresses the complex inter-relationships between energy, water and food, and the importance of effective waste management strategies in supporting economic and social development. The urgency of these issues will be underscored by COP 21.
“ADSW is a platform that drives the private sector solutions required for the advancement of sustainable development and renewable energy adoption,” said H. E Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and chairman of Masdar. “Our bottom-up approach recognizes that national governments alone cannot solve these pressing issues. Increasingly, effective solutions are being driven by corporations and community leaders.”
One example of bottom-up, commercially driven solutions that have emerged from ADSW is Masdar’s desalination pilot project.
Announced during ADSW 2013, the partnership united a cadre of companies in an effort to accelerate commercial-scale, renewable-energy powered desalination technology. If proven scalable, the technology could seriously address the UAE’s long-term water security, as the country is experiencing robust economic growth, resulting in increasing demands.
“Water security is one of the most pressing issues around the world,” said HE Dr. Al Jaber. “But it’s particularly urgent within the Gulf region, where our climate presents us with limited natural options. Our desalination project is an excellent example of how industry stakeholders can align, forge strategic partnerships and develop bottom-up solutions.
“ADSW is a global platform,” said HE Dr. Al Jaber, “that unites key industry players – from policy makers to corporate leaders – to ignite actions that accelerate commercial opportunities to address energy and water security, waste and that promote sustainable development.”
ADSW, which runs from January 17-24, is expected to attract more than 32,000 leaders from industry, academia and government to Abu Dhabi. The 2015 program will feature a series of complementary events, conference and exhibitions, including: