During the eighth UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, Youth Forum, the UAE Parliamentary Division presented the country’s global efforts to deal with climate change, adopt national and international initiatives that aim to ease the impact of climate change, and highlight the role of the youth in achieving this objective.
Saeed Saleh Al Rumaithi, FNC Member, represented the UAE division during the forum, which took place in New York City from 8th to 9th April.
Taking part in the session entitled, ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’, Al Rumaithi relayed his experiences as a young member of the UAE parliament, taking part in adopting national mechanisms that address climate change impact.
He also explained the sustainable development goals of the UAE National Agenda 2021. Al Rumaithi noted that the UAE believes young individuals can create solutions to global challenges, emphasising that the country encourages youth participation to realise the country’s sustainable development goals commitment.
Al Rumaithi said that the UAE established the ‘Sustainable Development Goals Youth Council’, which is an advisory platform that will enable the youth to participate in the decision-making process.
Members of the youth council were announced during the Sustainable Development Forum at the 2019 World Summit of Governments, he added while stressing that the UAE leads the region in adopting strategies, plans, programmes and initiatives that aim to achieve sustainable development and predict the future, such as investing in solar energy and wind energy, through Masdar, the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Energy City Project and the Barakah Nuclear Plant. He also highlighted the presence of the regional office of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, in Abu Dhabi.
The FNC member also noted that the UAE will host the preparatory conference for the UN 2019 Climate Summit, Cop25.