Kerry, Al Jaber say UAE is at 
forefront in climate change war

Dubai - The UAE has historically been at the forefront of implementing groundbreaking renewable energy programs.

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, on Saturday visited major UAE projects in the field of clean energy.

Kerry took a helicopter tour over the world’s largest single-site solar project, Noor Abu Dhabi, with Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. He also visited the headquarters of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as well as MASDAR, a critical contributor to the UAE’s 400% expansion of its renewable energy portfolio over the last ten years.

The envoy also visited Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first university with curricula devoted to driving sustainability solutions through innovations in artificial intelligence and two key solar installations, including Shams 1, one of the largest concentrated solar power plants in the world, where he was briefed on the upcoming 2 GW Al Dhafra Solar Project, which recently set a new record for the lowest solar power tariff at 1.35 cents/kWh.

Kerry ended the day with a visit to Abu Dhabi’s Jubail Mangrove Park.

During the tour, Kerry met with a number of senior climate stakeholders in the UAE who outlined the major role the country plays in supporting clean energy projects to address the impact of climate change and mitigate its negative effects on ecosystems and various economic sectors.

At Jubail Park, Dr Al Jaber said: “The world is watching for concerted action on climate in 2021. Kerry’s visit showcases the UAE’s continued commitment to progressive climate action, which the UAE has always viewed as an opportunity to grow and diversify our economy, especially in light of these difficult times and of global efforts to reduce and mitigate the negative impacts of the pandemic on societies.”

The US Special Envoy is visiting Abu Dhabi to attend the first Regional Climate Dialogue, jointly hosted on 4 April by the UAE and the US.

Dr. Al Jaber added: “I’m delighted that Kerry has joined us for an important climate dialogue with regional partners that will accelerate global progress toward climate goals. Over the past 15 years, the UAE has made bold commitments on climate change, domestically and internationally, and has demonstrated its ability to act on them. We look forward to further building on this progress to turn political commitments into new practical solutions with long term economic benefits for the UAE, the MENA region and the world.”

Kerry said his visit to the UAE was part of efforts to make United National Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow a success and “address the climate crisis with the seriousness it demand.”