UAE towards sustainability of energy sector

Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, has stressed that the UAE has made important steps in its efforts towards sustainability of the energy sector, inspired by the vision and initiatives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which calls for the diversification of energy sources and the development of the UAE experience in global energy markets, enhancing its leading role as a global hub for research and development in the field of renewable energy. In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister said that the annual World Energy Day, which falls on 22th of October, represents an important occasion to reaffirm the commitment of the international community to the initiative of the United Nations "Sustainable Energy for All" by 2030, considering that there are around 1.2 billion people in the world who are deprived of electricity, and 2.8 billion people deprived of modern energy sources as home fuel in developing countries, which casts a heavy burden on the international community, especially in light of the continuing population growth and the growing phenomenon of climate change. Dr. bin Fahd pointed out that the attention of the Ministry of Environment and Water, by virtue of its competence in this area, focused on promoting energy efficiency and rationalisation of its consumption in order to reduce the negative effects of excessive consumption of energy resources, especially those related to air pollution and climate change, where the effective response to climate change and environmental risks is one of the main thrusts of the UAE's Vision 2021 and the strategic plans for government. The Minister stressed the that the promotion of energy efficiency is one of three tools of the United Nations' initiative, "Sustainable Energy for All by 2030", which contributed to the reduction of energy consumption at the global level by about 36 per cent between 1990 and 2010. He called for the need for concerted efforts of communities, institutions, groups and individuals to collaborate and work on enhancing the efficiency of energy and pay attention to rational consumption patterns for a bright future which is better for present and future generations.