Preparations on for Global Energy Meet in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI - Even though the Copenhagen Summit has not yielded very encouraging results, preparations are in full swing for the annual World Future Energy Summit, or WFES, to be held in Abu Dhabi next month, with climate change as one of its leading themes.

By T. Ramavarman

Published: Tue 22 Dec 2009, 11:18 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:00 AM

World leaders, policy makers, experts and investors from 100 countries will take part in the WFES to be held here from January 18 to 21, to identify real solutions for today’s climate change and energy challenges.

Ministers from North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa will lead the first plenary session of the upcoming WFES which is now into its third edition.

They will discuss actions necessary to balance between economic and social need to boost energy infrastructure to fuel economic growth and their environmental imperatives.

The confirmed participants for the summit include Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta, Canada, Mohamed bin Dha’en Al Hamili, UAE Minister of Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy, India, Hany Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ghana, Moritz Leuenberger, Minister of Energy, Environment and Communication in Switzerland, Maria van der Hoeven, Minister of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands, Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs, Finland, Jesca Eriyo, Minister of State for the Environment, Uganda, Ola Alterå, Secretary of State for Energy, Sweden, Tadahiro Matsushita, Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan, Kim Young Hak, Vice-Minister for Trade and Energy, South Korea and Hélène Pelosse, Director General of International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA.

The summit is being hosted by Masdar and will be organised by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s largest events organiser, together with Elsevier, the leading publishers of science information. — ramavarman@khaleejtimes.ae