Dubai witnessed a strong display of the UAE’s climate and water leadership as Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, participated in two high-level ministerial sessions at the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2025.
His engagement underscored the UAE’s strategic momentum ahead of COP30 and the 2026 UN Water Conference.
At the Ministerial Roundtable on ‘Delivering Climate Ambition by 2030 and Beyond’, Balalaa called for a shift from agreements to accelerated climate actions, stressing that decisions made today will shape outcomes for generations. He highlighted the UAE’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted in November 2024, aligned with the Net Zero by 2050 strategy and shaped by the Global Stocktake and COP28 consensus.
Balalaa outlined major UAE-led initiatives including the US$30 billion Alterra Fund, the AED 1 trillion sustainable finance initiative by the UAE Banks Federation, and the Africa Green Investment Initiative targeting 15 GW of clean energy by 2030. He also pointed to Masdar’s global clean energy projects and the UAE’s pioneering role in Green Sukuk, blended finance, and mobilising private capital for climate action.
In a session on water titled ‘On the Road to the 2026 UN Water Conference’, Balalaa stressed the urgency of global water security and the UAE’s leadership alongside Senegal in preparing for the conference. He highlighted the six UN-adopted Interactive Dialogue Themes, emphasizing water’s role in sustainable development and its link to economic and social progress.
Balalaa concluded that inclusive partnerships, innovation, and investment are vital to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), ensuring resilience and prosperity worldwide.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
