UAE-based Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said it has signed up for the ‘Cool Coalition’ initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme, and Sustainable Energy for All.

The programme is aimed at making a positive impact on climate change and inspiring ambition besides identifying solutions and mobilising action to accelerate progress toward clean and efficient cooling.

The initiative launched at the First Global Conference on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement, is currently working on the preparations of the UN Climate Change Summit 2019, which will have a preparatory meeting hosted in Abu Dhabi, in June 2019.

The coalition consists of 20 influential global leaders, including ministers from Chile, Rwanda, and Denmark, heads of cooling and engineering companies, civil society leaders, research and academic institutions, and international organisations.

Empower said it will play a leading role in achieving the objectives set by this global front, especially as it was behind the crowning of Dubai as the ‘Champion City’ for district cooling globally last year.

Commenting on the initiative, CEO Ahmad bin Shafar said: "We were honoured through this selection by UN Environment, as a key partner in the Cool Coalition initiative and this also will increase the position of the UAE in the global efforts for sustainable developments."

The initiative, he said, is a link between the Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, and aims to support the Kigali Amendment with climate and sustainability objectives and aims to reduce the projected production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80 per cent over the next 30 years and provide up to US$2.9 trillion globally by 2050.

"UAE has adopted several strategies to support sustainability, notably the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50%, the National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, and the long term national initiative to build a green economy in the UAE, under slogan ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’," stated Bin Shafar.

Since 2013, the UAE has provided about $1-billion as aid to developing countries to deploy renewable energy solutions. In addition, the country has been committed to reducing and adapting to climate change, through its annual aid portfolio, which is worth $5 billion, he added.-TradeArabia News Service