The Head of Government participates in opening of fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

The Head of Government, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch participated on Monday, along with a number of heads of states and governments, in the opening of the fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, organized under the slogan "Together to promote climate action leading to COP28".
The Moroccan delegation included Ms. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, and Mr. Abdelillah Oudadas, Chargé d'Affaires of the Moroccan Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the opening ceremony, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, was marked by the crowning of the ten winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize.
Launched by the UAE, the award recognizes SMEs, non-profit organizations and high schools that provide sustainable solutions that have the potential to innovate, impact and inspire ideas in the health, food, water, and energy sectors.
In a statement to MAP on the occasion, Mr. Aziz Akhannouch stressed the importance of Morocco's presence in this major global event, which is organized within the framework of the UAE's preparation to organize the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), scheduled from November 30 to December 12, 2023, adding that during the COP28 conference, the decisions of previous climate conferences, especially the Paris and Marrakech conferences, will be followed .
In this regard, he praised the tremendous efforts made by the UAE in the field of preserving the environment and promoting the sustainable energy sector, highlighting Morocco's pioneering experience in the field of renewable energies.
He said that the Kingdom of Morocco currently produces 38% of renewable energies and looks forward to reaching 50% in the coming years, noting that Morocco's participation in the Zayed Sustainability Prize has deep political connotations, reflecting the strong relations between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and his brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and the peoples of the two brotherly countries.
For her part, Mr. Leila Benali highlighted in a similar statement the importance of Morocco's presence in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which constitutes an important opportunity during which the climate issue that weighs heavily on the countries of the world, especially the countries of the South, will be addressed, adding that this annual event, which is organized before the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), provides access to a number of proposals in the field of climate change, especially those related to the issue of financing projects that It would find solutions to the climate problem, sustainability projects and renewable energies.
She recalled the leadership and position occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco, under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in the field of addressing climate change and promoting the green and clean energy sector, stressing in this context the importance of cooperation between Morocco and the UAE in order to accelerate renewable energy projects.

On this occasion, the Head of Government and the Moroccan delegation toured the exhibition accompanying the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he was briefed by officials of a number of galleries he visited, mainly related to environmental projects, and others for green and clean energies.
Mr. Akhannouch also discussed with the President-designate of the Conference of the Parties (COP28), Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
In his opening speech, the President of the United Arab Emirates stressed that Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is a global platform that embodies his country's keenness to attract leaders of the international community to work together to serve the interests and aspirations of people in the field of sustainable economic and social development.
He added that his country is making intensive efforts to consolidate sustainability and find feasible practical solutions to climate change issues, highlighting in this context that the UAE's strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 was a natural step for the comprehensive sustainability approach it adopts.
As part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a series of high-level sessions are organized focusing on key priorities for sustainable development, discussing ways to contribute to achieving climate neutrality in the future, and how to leverage the first global assessment of the Paris Agreement to accelerate progress in climate action.
The event focuses on food and water security, energy provision, decarbonization of industries, health,, and climate adaptation, as well as engaging youth and women in climate action.
On the sidelines of this week, the General Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was held, with the participation of Morocco, the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Forum, and the World Future Energy Summit.