UAE Accelerates Climate Action and Water Innovation at World Green Economy Summit 2025
Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: WAM
Dubai: Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, took part in two high-level sessions at the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2025 in Dubai, reaffirming the UAE’s growing leadership in global climate and water sustainability efforts.
Balalaa participated in the Ministerial Roundtable titled “Delivering Climate Ambition by 2030 and Beyond,” where he emphasized that this is a crucial time for turning climate agreements into real, tangible actions. He stressed that the decisions made today will shape the planet’s future for generations.
He explained that the UAE submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in November 2024, reflecting the Global Stocktake outcomes and the UAE Consensus from COP28, all in line with the country’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
Balalaa highlighted several major key UAE-led initiatives, including the US$30 billion Alterra Fund, the AED 1 trillion sustainable finance drive by the UAE Banks Federation, and the Africa Green Investment Initiative, which targets 15 gigawatts of clean energy capacity across Africa by 2030. He also mentioned Masdar’s expanding role in advancing renewable energy projects in more than 40 countries.
He also emphasized that through Alterra, the UAE Banks Federation, and the Global Climate Finance Centre, the UAE is leading large-scale investments in climate solutions, pioneering Green Sukuk and blended finance tools to attract private capital and speed up global climate action.
Balalaa stressed that inclusive partnerships and collaboration through platforms such as the Global Alliance for Green Economy (GAGE) and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) are key to the UAE’s approach, ensuring that youth, women, and vulnerable groups play an active role in the transition.
In another session, titled “On the Road to the 2026 UN Water Conference: Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development and the Green Economy,” Balalaa spoke about the global urgency of ensuring water security. He emphasized the UAE’s leadership in co-preparing the 2026 UN Water Conference with Senegal and underlined the importance of the six UN-endorsed dialogue themes that will guide the conference’s agenda.
“Water connects all aspects of sustainable development,” Balalaa said, calling for stronger partnerships, innovation, and investments to achieve SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). He concluded that only through collective action and inclusive cooperation can the world also fulfill SDG 13 (Climate Action), ensuring a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
