President Michel joins world leaders for discussions at World Future Energy Summit 2016
(Posted 19th January 2016)
Seychelles President James Michel yesterday attended the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit 2016, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Prior to the ceremony, President Michel met with HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai as well as other world leaders present for the event.
The Chairman of Masdar and UAE Minister of State, H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber opened the prestigious event which brings together more than 30,000 people, all working towards ideas and technologies for a more sustainable future. Keynote addresses were presented by the United Nations Secretary General H.E. Ban Ki-Moon and the President of Mexico, H.E. Enrique Peña Nieto.
The opening ceremony was followed by the Zayed Future Energy Prize award ceremony, where young innovators were rewarded for providing solutions and technologies that make human life and energy use more sustainable.
A Lifetime Achievement award was presented to the former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr. Gro Harlem Brudtland.
Today will President Michel address the Second Blue Economy Summit, which is co-hosted by the governments of Seychelles and Abu Dhabi during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
This Second Blue Economy Summit will be held today under the theme ‘’One Ocean, One Future,’’ as part of the 2016 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The Summit will be co-chaired by President James Alix Michel.
The Sustainability Week is an annual platform to address the interconnected challenges impacting the widespread adoption of renewable energy and the acceleration of sustainable development. President Michel left the Seychelles on 17th January for Abu Dhabi, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joel Morgan; the Minister of Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy, Mr. Jean- Paul Adam; the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Didier Dogley; and other high-level government officials.
It is recalled here that with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Seychelles held its 1st Blue Economy Conference two years ago in January 2014 on the island of Mahe.
The Second Blue Economy Summit is yet again being organised by the two governments of Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates, and this time in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO. The keynote address to the Summit will be delivered by President Michel.
The Summit will also be attended by President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson of Iceland, President Tommy Remengesau of Palau, high-level country, international agency and civil society representatives. It will seek to build upon the platform provided by the first summit two years ago and will discuss how to develop and apply the Blue Economy approach to support the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Oceans and its related targets.
It is to be noted that the Blue Economy is supportive of several of the 2030 sustainable development goals but relates particularly to Goal 14 ‘’Conserve and sustainably use the Oceans, Seas and marine resources for sustainable development’’ which in turn provides a mandate for the Blue Economy paradigm. In this respect, Seychelles will have the opportunity to highlight the innovative financing solutions it has developed, notably the landmark debt deal, contributing to its climate adaptation and marine conservation activities as well as its latest initiative for the proposed issue of ten-year “blue’’ bonds guaranteed by government and supported by international institutions, for the implementation of a new transformative management plan for the country’s demersal fisheries.
The Summit is expected to conclude with a declaration that would support the implementation of the Blue Economy concept with an enrichment of relevant national and international initiatives for concrete deliverables.
By co-hosting once again this important event, the Government of Seychelles reaffirms the importance of the Blue Economy as a key element of the country’s long-term development vision and of its foreign policy, and recognizing at the same time that the Oceans have a major role to play in humanity’s future.
