Sustainability
Abu Dhabi meeting deliberates on green economy business challenges and opportunities
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Environment and Energy held its first meeting in the MENA region from 5-6 November in Abu Dhabi.
Gathering commission members and the Task Force on Green Economy, the event was also the occasion for the launch of ICC United Arab Emirates’ new Committee on Environment and Energy.
Hosted by ICC United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federation of UAE Chambers, the expert meeting brought together over 50 international and local business leaders and lawyers, ICC national committees, chambers of commerce, and government officials of UAE.
The two-day event provided professionals from a variety of industry sectors a unique opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities towards greener economies in an international and regional context. Topics included energy efficiency, climate change, water-food-energy nexus, sustainability reporting and the Charter for Sustainable Development – a practical framework to guide innovative and competitive business action to support sustainable development.
Ahmed Saif Belhasa, Chairman of ICC UAE, said: “We call for an ambitious long-term public and private strategy to enable the rapid development and uptake of new and existing low-emission technological solutions to address our production and consuming patterns. This is why we are very much honoured today to launch, on the occasion of this ICC meeting, the ICC UAE Committee on Environment and Energy.”
In his opening remarks, Kersten-Karl Barth, Chair of the ICC Commission on Energy and Environment, said: “This commission meeting is a key vehicle to discuss and develop tools and advocacy material in support of sustainable growth and development. We are proud and honoured to hold this meeting in Abu Dhabi, the first in the MENA region. We are delighted to work with ICC UAE’s new Committee on Environment and Energy on business solutions, policies and awareness-raising on the local and international level.”
Adnan Z. Amin, Secretary General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), also gave a keynote speech highlighting the role of renewable energies for a sustainable and secure energy future.
The ICC Commission on Environment and Energy examines major environmental and energy-related policy issues of interest to world business via task forces and thematic groups. Comprising 227 members representing 75 multinational corporations, the commission provides business input by elaborating multi-sectoral business policy positions, achievements and highlighting business solutions to environmental issues and problems.
