As a result of the new priorities set by the Biden administration in working together with global partners on the pressing issue of climatechange, and in response to the U.A.E.’s longstanding commitment to making strides in climate change mitigation efforts and advance renewable energy technologies, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is pleased to formally establish a Climate Change Task Force, bringing together leaders from business, academia and government to create opportunities for better understanding and cooperation in the broadest terms between our two countries.
This task force will focus on supporting efforts by the U.S. and the U.A.E governments in addressing the negative effects of climatechange. The U.S. and the U.A.E. are both asserting themselves as global leaders in combatting climate change, and this task force will serve to further bridge and inform their essential work equally serving as a clearing house for informing and guiding our members and partners toward expanded opportunity.
International collaboration is key to addressing climate change, and it is in this spirit that John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate(top right) recently spoke with His Excellency Sultan Al Jaber, U.A.E. Minister of State for Advanced Technologies, Chairman of Masdar, Director General of ADNOC, and U.A.E. Special Envoy for Climate Change (top left) on January 31, 2021. During their inaugural meeting in their new roles, the two “climate change czars” agreed to work together to build a greener future for the planet. After his first call to the Middle East in his capacity as Special Climate Envoy, Secretary Kerry noted that the U.S. will collaborate closely with the U.A.E. on tech, investment, and regional leadership to ensure global action on deep decarbonization. Secretary Kerry praised the U.A.E. as a partner who has already made great strides in addressing this most pressing problem of our day. For his part H.E. Sultan Al Jaber told Secretary Kerry that the U.A.E. welcomed the Biden Administration’s sharpened focus on climate change.
Beyond rejoining the Paris Climate Accords, the U.S. is making meaningful contributions to the global fight on climate change. Specifically, President Biden announced on January 27, 2021 that he will host an international climatesummit in Washington, DC on Earth Day in April. This April 22, 2021 event will include the participation of key global partners such as the U.A.E. This U.S.-led summit is meant to advance the eventual United Nations ClimateChange Conference (COP 26) slated to take place in November.
Over the course of 2021 and beyond, the Business Council’s Climate Change Task Force will respond to the U.S. and U.A.E. governments’ call to quickly address and combat climatechange through a series of activities including:
- Hosting virtual, hybrid, and in-person events featuring U.S. and U.A.E. officials who are leading the fight against climatechange
- Publishing reports and studies that highlight the work that both countries are taking to combat climate change
- Convening virtual and in-person discussions between the public and private sectors on the subject of climatechange at large
- Producing white papers with industry recommendations ahead of important intergovernmental meetings
- Highlighting new technological developments and opportunities for investment with companies offering innovative solutions for combatting global warming
Through partnership, the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council will utilize our diverse member base and platform to promote better understanding of the risks that climate change poses, while highlighting the myriad opportunities that exist within the U.S. and U.A.E. to rebuff climatechange. The Task Force will also align working groups in the areas of renewable energy, blue hydrogen, carbon sequestration, agtech, advanced manufacturing, and green transportation, among others.
For more information on this Business Council initiative, please contact Graham Reitman at greitman@usuaebusiness.org.
