The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Global Green Growth Institute, GGGI, recently held a one-day seminar for students on climate resilience and its links to innovation With the UAE having recently concluded its participation in climate talks held at COP22 in Marrakech, the seminar titled 'Building on the UAE Innovation Week', was attended by over 45 students from various academic backgrounds who took the opportunity to engage with local and international experts on innovation and to hear the latest trends both in the UAE and around the world on the fight against climate change.

In the face of global climate change, resource scarcity and environmental degradation, the government of the UAE has begun the transition to an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development model by adopting a national green growth plan that emphasises opportunities for a prosperous, inclusive and climate-resilient future. The environment ministry is in the final phases of drafting the National Climate Change Plan, which will chart the path of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

"The UAE recognises the importance of students and young people in coming up with innovative responses to climate challenges," said Dr. Thani Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. "Engaging with young people and hearing from them is a priority for our leadership. They are creative and tech-savvy and we must harness their energy to achieve our goals of a sustainable economic and environmental future for our nation."

The seminar comes as part of the Green Growth Youth Programme, which kicked off in 2015 with an introductory workshop and continued in 2016 with a number of student internships at GGGI’s office in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi.

"Engaging the youth in green growth and climate change subjects is one of the most important aspects of the GGGI programme in the UAE," said Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director General, GGGI. "We are very happy to achieve concrete progress since the launch of the youth programme last year. Building on the accumulated efforts, GGGI UAE will continue to invest in the coming years in youth training and internships," he said.