The 16th World Future Energy Summit commenced in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, positioning itself at the forefront of the global discourse on sustainable energy and climate initiatives. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, opened the summit by emphasizing the need for substantial financial investments to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. She highlighted the pivotal role of blended finance—merging public and private funds—in marshaling the necessary resources for climate action.
Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, pointed out the urgency of increasing renewable energy capacity to at least 11 terawatts by 2030. Despite recording the largest increase in renewable power generation in 2023, La Camera noted that the progress still falls short of the needed annual addition of 1,100 gigawatts, with the Global South being particularly impacted.
Organized by Masdar, the state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, the summit serves as a vital platform for discussing energy and water security, climate change, and sustainable development in the Middle East. Leen Alsebai, head of the summit, described the event as a hub for actionable climate strategies.
The three-day summit is expected to draw over 30,000 participants and exhibitors from more than 170 countries, including government officials, corporate representatives, and international delegates.