DUBAI: The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) will join the country's official delegation to the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Brazil to begin June 20. According to the DSCE, Vice-Chairman Saeed Mohamed al-Tayer will accompany the ministry of foreign affairs for the global climate change conference in Rio. The summit will play host to more 100,000 officials, including government members from all over the world, media, business leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations – to discuss critical sustainability issues spanning energy, water, food, population growth, employment and natural disasters. “Rio+20 is taking place 20 years after the historic United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), and 10 years after the launch of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,” the United Nations said on its official website. The UAE delegation at Rio+20, supported by the DSCE, will highlight several strategic tracks, including the country's major role in encouraging sustainability initiatives, as well as shedding light on the UAE as a leading contributor to Rio+20 Declaration, Thinking Leadership, Green Economy to achieve the objectives of sustainable development. “The participation of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy with the official UAE delegation in the Rio+ 20 Earth Summit and its accompanying exhibition falls in line with the ‘Green Economy For Sustainable Development' initiative announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, aiming to build green economy in the UAE. Rio+20 Earth Summit focuses mainly on Green Economy, which includes renewable energy sources, clean means of transport and Green buildings. This also promotes international efforts to preserve the environment in the UAE and curb carbon emissions as part of a strategy to strengthen the UAE role in the field of sustainable development and protection of the environment,” Tayer said. He added that “the UAE had a strong track record in sustainable development, and a good testimony to this is hosting World Energy Forum (WEF) 2012 in October in Dubai, which is a new addition and high value to strengthen the position of the UAE and Dubai in the march of energy as a global hub of energy economies and a remarkable center for energy studies and research. This highlights the UAE's attitude towards fossil fuel issues, clean and efficient alternative sources of energy, addressing climate challenges to achieve a sustainable future for all.” “The WEF will be attended by a large number of global heads of state, policymakers, decision-makers and experts. The forum will discuss issues ranging from the diversification of energy and water resources to further optimization of natural resources, as well as global warming and the need for increased environmental awareness programs to achieve sustainability for coming generations. “The Forum will also discuss the roadmap to lay the foundations of a system of energy sustainability for the benefit of all countries and nations of the world. It will also promote a new global energy system to support global economy and social development in all the UN member states. Further, it will launch a global drive towards a cleaner and more secure and sustainable energy available to everyone for all the human kind,” Tayer added.
