The first-of-its-kind Green Business Summit 2018 is set to be held tomorrow (April 17) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, marking the Mena region as a global priority for environment conservation.

Organised by The Economist Events, part of the global English-language weekly newspaper, the event will see participation from internationally recognised keynote speakers, all experts in their fields, sharing insights and knowledge on the challenges and opportunities of developing and encouraging sustainable business.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, secretary general of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi said: “Our capacity for innovation must exceed our capacity for growth if we are to reverse a trend of environmental degradation. EAD is keen to foster a culture of innovation, critical in finding solutions to meet the future's environmental challenges.”

“We think that technological innovation can help us to prepare for the future but we also believe that a change in mindsets is necessary to understand that managing all capital assets sustainably, including natural capital, is the responsibility of every business. We hope the Green Business Summit will help us to advance this notion that the economy and the environment can go hand in hand.

“Action speaks louder than words and to accelerate the UAE industry’s green transformation during the Green Business Summit we will announce that the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment (MOCCAE) and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi will jointly conduct a study on the state of resource efficiency in the UAE in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

“We will also announce that the Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi will partner to create the EnviroTech Awards as part of the Technology Innovation Pioneer (TIP) programme initiated by the Ministry of Economy and DED to accelerate the development of technology and innovation in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. We very much look forward to working with these institutions on these important endeavours,” she concluded.

Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist said: “We are delighted to host the first-ever Green Business Summit 2018 in Abu Dhabi. The inaugural conference will foster important dialogue on the necessity of protecting the environment across global economies that have experienced dramatic growth over the past few decades, such as the UAE. We look forward to welcoming attendees and debating the issues at the heart of the sustainability industry.”

The Green Business Summit 2018, hosted by The Economist Events, is being sponsored by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) and co-sponsored by the Department of Economic Development (DED), with supporting partner Emirates Wildlife Society and media partner The Business Year.

The Summit will run from 8:00am to 5:30pm at the Rosewood Hotel, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. – TradeArabia News Service