Masdar to host climate leaders at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Environmental leaders, heads of state and corporate executives are heading to the UAE for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which kicks off on Sunday with the annual assembly of the U.N.’s International Renewable Energy Agency.

Hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the IRENA meeting will review progress in reaching the goal of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. The target was set two years ago when the UAE hosted the U.N.’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

Masdar, the renewables company owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, the national energy company TAQA, and national oil company ADNOC, is leading the week’s activities, which include the World Future Energy Summit and the China-sponsored Blue Forum on global water management.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Al Ramahi offered a preview of ADSW on Wednesday at a press conference where he said the company made commitments last year to spend $15 billion on renewable energy projects. He said Masdar plans to expand in markets including MENA, the U.S., Europe and Asia. 

Among the corporate chiefs headlining the conference will be Catherine MacGregor, CEO of Paris-based Engie; Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies; Ignacio Galan, Executive Chairman of Spain’s Iberdrola and Talal Al Dhiyebi, CEO of the UAE-based Aldar Properties. 

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, who served as President of COP28, will deliver a keynote address at the ADSW’s opening ceremony on Jan. 13. Speakers will also include IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi and TAQA CEO Jasim Thabet.