Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit to focus on ‘green recovery’ post Covid

A series of events will be virtually hosted in Abu Dhabi in January 2021 and will set the global sustainability agenda

The 2019 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week attracted 45,000 people from 170 countries, and featured 500 high-level international speakers. Antonie Robertson/The National

The ADSW Summit, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which will take place virtually in January will focus on exploring social, economic and technological opportunities to achieve a “green recovery” post Covid-19.

The event will take place on January 19 and registration is now open, Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar said in a statement on Saturday. Abu Dhabi's flagship sustainability week is a global platform for accelerating sustainable development.

As part of precautionary measures, ADSW 2021 and all related events will take place virtually from January 18 to 21. The full physical programme of ADSW will return in 2022.

“The ADSW Summit along with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week’s other high-level events will help set the global sustainability agenda for the year ahead – a year when sustainability will be at the centre of the post Covid-19 discussion,” said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive of Masdar.

“By bringing together world leaders from government, industry and technology, we have an opportunity to accelerate the energy transition and demonstrate that green growth goes hand-in-hand with economic growth.”

Governments around the world are being urged to align their economic recovery efforts with sustainable development initiatives. The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that doubling annual global energy transition investments to $2 trillion over the next three years can boost global GDP by 1 per cent.

Alongside the ADSW Summit, ADSW will feature a series of virtual events, including the Irena Assembly, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum and the World Future Energy Summit Forums.

Masdar will also host the Youth Dialogue Week. The event will attract youth from around the world virtually to discuss how they can play a more active role in the implementation of the UN’ Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE’s 50-Year Development Plan.

Next year’s agenda will focus on the steps required to drive the SDGs and will address the challenges of energy transition during the pandemic. Last year’s ADSW attracted 45,000 people from 170 countries, and featured 500 high-level international speakers.