UAE Takes Leadership Role In Global Energy Efficiency Alliance To Enhance Sustainability Efforts

The UAE, through its Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), has taken the lead in chairing the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA) for the upcoming years. This follows the establishment of GEEA’s General Secretariat. The UAE initially proposed forming GEEA at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku. This initiative aligns with the UAE Consensus and aims to double the global energy efficiency improvement rate from 2% to over 4% annually by 2030.

Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, highlighted the significance of this leadership role. He stated that it demonstrates international trust in the UAE's capability to effectively lead and coordinate global efforts. Al Olama remarked, "This alliance serves as a practical and inclusive platform to accelerate the achievement of the global target to double the rate of energy efficiency by 2030, in line with the historic UAE Consensus."

The GEEA initiative is crucial as current global energy efficiency improvements are below 1.5% annually. Without significant changes, achieving decarbonisation and net-zero targets will be challenging. The alliance complements other initiatives like Mission Efficiency, G20 Energy Transitions Working Group, and regional clean energy platforms. These efforts aim to ensure seamless sharing of knowledge, finance, and best practices across borders.

By leading this ambitious alliance, the UAE is committed to enhancing international collaboration on energy efficiency across various sectors. The country seeks to foster partnerships among governments, private sectors, financial institutions, and research centres. This collaboration aims to expedite the shift towards more efficient and sustainable energy systems globally.

The UAE hosted a high-level roundtable last February during the World Government Summit in Dubai. During this event, discussions were held on GEEA's general framework with several countries, international organisations, private sector entities, and financial institutions. Al Olama invited global partners to join forces for a more efficient future: "We welcome all partners from around the world to join and collaborate for a more efficient and sustainable future."

GEEA is set to play a vital role in policy development, knowledge exchange, access to finance, and innovation enhancement. It aims to assist member states in achieving their national and international energy efficiency objectives. The alliance focuses on driving transformative improvements in energy consumption across key sectors such as buildings, transportation, and industry.

This initiative underscores the UAE's dedication to placing energy efficiency at the forefront of both international energy policies and climate agendas. As part of its strategic goals, GEEA seeks to reinforce cooperation among various stakeholders worldwide.

With inputs from WAM