Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the next edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, ADSW, will focus on ‘Driving the Global Energy Transformation’.

ADSW will take place from 13th-20th January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. It will address key global trends that are impacting the shift to sustainable energy, including climate change, urbanisation, and digitisation.

In order to support the next stage of the global energy transformation, one of the focus areas during ADSW 2018 will be young people, including a dedicated Youth Panel following the opening ceremony on 15th January, the annual Student Exclusive, a youth circle which is being run in collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Student Ambassadors Programme. Also, the Climate Innovation Exchange, CLIX, held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, will provide emerging entrepreneurs and innovators with the chance to forge partnerships with leading global investors.

Speaking on the announcement, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised the importance of encouraging and inspiring future sustainability leaders.

Dr. Al-Zeyoudi said, "Focusing on the youth and involving them in all sectors has been an important and vital aspect in the UAE since its inception. This value was instilled by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and has been recognised by the wise leadership as one of its top priorities. This is also clearly evident in the effective involvement of youth in various jobs across the public and private sectors and their contribution in developing and implementing future plans."

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week reinforces the country's strong position in the clean energy, climate and environment sectors and highlights its efforts to develop local talent and attract global expertise to find effective solutions to the most important challenges facing the international community.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi indicated that the CLIX forum is one of the key and most important platforms within ADSW, which will provide a competitive environment that brings together investors and innovative entrepreneurs in an effort to boost partnerships and innovation, as well as transform creative ideas into reality.

"The invitation we had extended during the launch of the forum initiative last October has been very well received, where 312 candidates from 65 countries sent 364 submissions throughout the initiative. These submissions focused on three core issues, air pollution, innovation in agriculture and innovation in transportation. I’m especially proud to see that the bulk of these submissions came from the UAE, in yet another validation of a local environment that fosters excellence and innovation. Through CLIX, we aspire to unlock funding of AED1.1 million for individual entrepreneurs, and AED12 million for owners of group projects with business expertise," he added.

Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency, IRENA, said, "The world has entered into a new age of energy transformation driven by falling costs of renewables and their clear social, economic and environmental benefits. These trends, which will be highlighted at the upcoming Eighth Session of the IRENA Assembly, are proving that renewable energy is an engine for economic growth and job creation, which is of particular relevance at this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, given its focus on youth and development of the UAE knowledge economy."

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar, the host of ADSW, said, "The next edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will be historic because it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as the tenth anniversary of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which was established in honour of his legacy. ADSW will once again provide a global platform to harness knowledge, helping nations and communities address our shared sustainability challenges effectively, affordably and collaboratively.