• Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum, ADSW Summit and other high-level events set to take place virtually in January
• Full physical program of ADSW postponed until 2022 to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; September 9, 2020: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the global platform for accelerating sustainable development, hosted by Masdar, will be held from 18 to 21 January 2021 and reimagined virtually.

Ensuring the safety of all participants, ADSW 2021 and related high-level events during the week are set to take place virtually. In addition, partners including its host Masdar will collaborate on all events, including the ADSW Summit. The full physical program of ADSW is postponed to 2022. 

The ADSW Summit hosted by Masdar will be held on January 19. Dedicated to ensuring a green recovery, the Summit will feature three sessions of speeches, presentations and panel debates, reaching a global audience across multiple time zones.  

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, said: “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week embodies the United Arab Emirate’s proactive and forward-thinking approach to sustainability and its commitment to furthering our understanding of the major social, economic and technological issues shaping the world today. 

“Holding ADSW in a virtual format in 2021 will allow us to continue to drive the sustainability agenda forward in the line with the vision of the UAE, ensuring that the world’s attention remains focused on the actions required to achieve a healthier, safer and more sustainable future for all.”

ADSW 2021 will reinforce the message that a decade of concerted action is required to deliver on the Sustainability Development Goals, and that the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 have further illustrated the critical importance of achieving a truly sustainable recovery for all – one that combines the commitment, ambition and collaboration of governments, businesses and community stakeholders. 

The IRENA Assembly takes place each year in the context of ADSW. Director-General, Francesco La Camera, said: “The annual Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of IRENA, tasked with addressing the most pressing matters on the global energy agenda and establishing the Agency’s priorities. As ever, the Agency remains responsive to the needs of its global membership. Despite the exceptional circumstances, we are confident that the next Assembly will embody the inclusiveness and transparency that has come to define it, while ensuring that IRENA retains a position at the forefront of a sustainable recovery and the broader global energy transformation. 

The 2020 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted around 45,000 attendees from 170 countries, with more than 500 high-level speakers from around the world.

Since its inception in 2008, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) has grown into one of the world’s largest sustainability gatherings, attracting a unique mix of policymakers, industry experts, technology pioneers and the next generation of sustainability leaders. 

A manifestation of the UAE’s proactive, forward-thinking approach to sustainability and its commitment to furthering our understanding of the major social, economic and technology trends shaping the world today, ADSW is committed to the sharing of knowledge, the implementation of strategies and the delivery of real-world solutions that drive human progress.

As Masdar prepares to host Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2020 from January 11-18, advances in technology and artificial intelligence – and the impact they have had on driving global sustainable development – will be in the spotlight at The Future Sustainability Summit.

As the anchor event of ADSW, the Future Sustainability Summit is a platform for engaging, thought-provoking discussions on the global sustainability agenda and how advancements in artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) can accelerate sustainable development in the energy, climate change, water, mobility, space, health, and biotechnology sectors. 

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week also features the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) General Assembly, the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Forum, the World Future Energy Summit, the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards. The week also offers events dedicated to  women, youth and all segments of society, such as the Youth 4 Sustainability initiative, Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER), and The Festival at Masdar City.

• HE Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food  and Water Security and HE Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Water and Infrastructure for the Netherlands meet virtually during 2nd episode of ADSW Web Series 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2020 – The UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri was joined by HE Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Water and Infrastructure for The Netherlands, during the 2nd episode of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Web Series, today.

Hosted by Masdar, the episode explored how the Covid-19 pandemic was affecting food and water security, how developing nations can address resource scarcity and the role innovation was playing to overcome challenges in the sector.

During the Web episode, HE Mariam Almheiri said: “The current Covid-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of the global food supply network, both its physical infrastructure and through the willingness of countries to continue exporting food because of increased domestic pressures. Now more than ever the global community needs to work together to both ensure the continued capacity of food chains and to share knowledge and expertise to develop countries’ own food systems, especially in the area of agricultural technology, as this will enhance their capacity to become self-sufficient with their food security needs.”

Her Excellency Cora van Nieuwenhuizen said, "The problems related to water are increasing. Water shortages, but also floods can propel instability in regions around the world. I believe that we need to cooperate, share knowledge, upscale proven technologies and build strong coalitions, especially in times like these. Global platforms, like Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, are important to delivering solutions and the Netherlands will host the first ever global summit of world leaders entirely focused on climate change adaptation. The Climate Adaptation Summit will be held on January 25, 2021, and we look forward to welcoming the UAE." 

Remaining committed to accelerating sustainable development, ADSW launched its Web Series to provide a year-round platform for maintaining dialogue on issues and topics that are shaping the global sustainability landscape and help drive a green recovery.  

To watch the full web series episode click here. 

The series kicked off in October with Co-Founder and Chair of IMAGINE, and former Unilever CEO, Paul Polman.

The next edition of ADSW will be held virtually January 18-21, 2021 to ensure the safety of all participants. 

For more information on ADSW 2021 and future web series episodes, please visit ADSW.ae or follow us @ADSWAgenda on social media..