Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President, today told delegates at the opening of the Baku Energy Week that all stakeholders need to leverage the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the energy transition and the growth of the Global South to accelerate climate-positive sustainable development for all.
Dr. Al Jaber also called on the energy and technology sectors to work more closely together on accelerating the adoption of AI to sustainably meet the world’s growing energy demand and drive decarbonisation.
Collaboration between AI and energy
“While AI is driving a surge in energy demand, it is also driving efficiencies that curb emissions. In fact, the growth of AI is one of three mega-trends that will shape our future, alongside the accelerating energy transition and the rise of emerging markets and the global south. And the closer the AI and energy collaborate, the more solutions we can unlock to drive decarbonised growth everywhere,” Dr. Al Jaber said in a speech at the Baku Energy Week, taking place in the Azerbaijan capital through to 6th June.
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COP28 legacy and COP29 planning
Dr. Al Jaber said that the COP28 Presidency and the UAE would work “very closely with Azerbaijan’s COP Presidency, and we call on all countries to ensure COP29 is a resounding success that builds on the outcomes of Dubai.”
According to Dr. Al Jaber, COP28 made history with the UAE Consensus, delivering the most comprehensive set of climate breakthroughs since the Paris Agreement. He stated that, despite a very difficult geopolitical backdrop, the COP28 conference proved that multilateralism is alive and well. Dr. Al Jaber said that the conference united the world around a practical pathway to keep 1.5°C within reach, while building resilience and maintaining socio-economic development for all.
UAE-Azerbaijan clean energy collaboration
In alignment with the UAE Consensus pledge to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, the UAE and Azerbaijan are today celebrating the groundbreaking of the Bilasuvar and Neftchala Solar PV plants as well as the Absheron Garadagh wind project. Together, these initiatives will provide over 1 gigawatt of clean power to meet Azerbaijan’s growing energy demands. The projects, which were announced last year, are being developed through a collaboration between Masdar, the UAE’s leading clean energy company, and SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil corporation.
“This builds on the UAE’s history of partnership to enhance this country’s green growth development and promote sustainable development globally. Practical partnerships like these that will help turn the UAE Consensus into tangible reality around the world,” Dr. Al Jaber said.
COP Presidencies Troika and climate action
The COP Presidencies Troika, which was established in the UAE Consensus and unites the COP28 Presidency with the Azerbaijan and Brazil COP Presidencies, will help drive ambitious collective climate action, he said.
The Troika is building momentum for a new round of strengthened Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that are aligned with the goals of the UAE Consensus.
Industry’s role in addressing climate change
Dr. Al Jaber also highlighted that industry must continue to play its role in addressing climate change. He praised SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state oil company, for joining the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter that was launched at COP28.
Moreover, he noted that over 40 percent of the industry is now committed to achieving zero methane emissions by 2030 and net zero by or before 2050. He urged those who have not yet signed up to the initiative to do so.
Dr. Al Jaber told the delegates that they have the power, resources and technology to make a massive positive impact in a short amount of time.
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