Climate Change Adaptation Conference Launches in Dubai on 23rd January 2017
As part of the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its position on the world map in various fields, the Emirate of Dubai will host the C40 Dubai Adaptation Conference 2017, organized by the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, in partnership with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. The aim of the conference is to share global best practices, and produce recommendations that can be adopted globally to make a real change.
The conference - to be held in the Sofitel Hotel, Dubai Downtown between the 23rd and 25th January 2017 - will bring together 48 C40 cities from across the world, as well as representatives of the Government of Dubai to share their ideas, knowledge and experiences on the impact of climate change on cities and how to adapt to the conditions climate change brings, in accordance with the Paris Agreement signed by the UAE in December 2015 to reduce CO2 emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change.
The world is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. In this regard, His Excellency Abdullah Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, said: 'Attracting a high rate of participation on both the global and local levels, the C40 Dubai Adaptation Conference provides member cities pledging to prioritize the need to address climate risks the opportunity to convene and make a real change in terms of the quality of life offered to the current and future generations. It is a great pleasure for us to host the C40 member cities in Dubai to discuss some of the solutions that can be adopted to adapt and deal with the impacts of climate change’.
'If the impacts of climate change were not taken into account, the world would face very serious obstacles in terms of maintaining sustainability for future generations. With this in mind, Dubai Plan 2021 was developed in order to establish a smart, sustainable city that is immune to climate change, and a preferred place to live, work and visit,' Al Shaibani added.
Commenting on the conference, Mrs. Samira Al Rayes, Director of Policies and Strategies for Sustainable Development at the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, said: 'Hosting the Climate Change Adaptation Conference in Dubai, in partnership with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, affirms the key and global role played by the city towards making a quantum leap in terms of quality of life through learning about the best practices and experiences to be shared during the three-day conference’.
'We are confident that the conference objectives will be achieved, helping cities all over the world to be able to adapt to climate change. The conference aims at strengthening Dubai’s position on the world map as a sustainable city safeguarded for future generations,' Al Rayes added.
Conference Agenda
The conference will begin on its first day with an opening keynote from His Excellency Dr Thani Ahmed Alzeyoudi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the UAE, a welcome speech by His Excellency Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, a keynote from His Excellency Akel Biltaji Mayor of Amman, Jordan, in addition to a keynote speech by Kevin Austin - Deputy Executive Director of C40
During its three days, the conference will discussin closed-door sessions and specialized workshops a number of topics related to identifying climate change impacts on the urban environment, the extent to which cities can adapt to the increase in global temperature, , as well as the impact of sea level rise on coastal infrastructure. The number of participants is limited and pre-registration is required.
Dubai Joining the C40 Climate Leadership Group
Dubai joined the world’s C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group to become a member of the elite group of the world's cities committed to addressing climate change. This membership is an acknowledgment of the city’s significant status and advanced role in environment protection, and a tribute to the city’s plans and programmes addressing the challenges that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions that pose a threat to the climate around the world.
This membership gives Dubai, represented by the Executive Council of Dubai, the opportunity to transfer knowledge and benefit from the experiences of other member cities in the fields of climate change mitigation and sustainable infrastructure. The city will benefit from the international reports, studies, researches and indicators’ results in this field, which in return will enrich studies and projects implemented by the concerned authorities in the Government of Dubai. C40 member cities can also learn about the successful experiences of Dubai in the fields of energy, transportation and the environment, and benefit from the success stories the government has achieved and the challenges it has overcome, in order to establish a smart and sustainable city.
For more information about the C40 Network, you can visit the following link: http://www.c40.org/
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