Solomon Islands Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency (H.E), Cornelius Walegerea, attended the World Future Energy Summit held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 16th to 18th April 2024.
The Summit was hosted by Masdar, a UAE State Owned Renewable Energy company. The World Future Energy Summit focus on advancing the COP28 Climate Change Agenda. The event also hosts more than 350 of the energy sector’s leading international experts, policymakers, academics and companies.
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) officially opened the Summit.
In her opening remarks, she stressed, “Effective climate action cannot take place if we work in silos. Instead, we believe in the power of convening diverse voices to promote dialogue, knowledge exchange, and creative problem-solving”.
Her Highness stated Forums such as this offer crucial opportunities for actors from different sectors to exchange views and she challenged the participants to continue their engagement by talking about the importance of collaboration in guiding the world to a 1.5°C climate pathway.
Ambassador Walegerea also used the opportunity during the Summit to discuss with other renewable energy experts and investors to seek potential areas of cooperation and collaboration where Solomon Islands can benefit from in renewable energy projects and investment.
Solomon Islands had benefitted from the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund (UAE-PPF), a US$50 million grant for renewable energy projects across 11 Pacific Island nations. Masdar (UAE’s renewable energy company) delivered all the projects in cooperation with each Pacific Island countries.
UAE and New Zealand government co-finance the development of a 1MW solar farm project at Henderson. The project was completed and commissioned on 10th May 2016. The 1MW Solar grid-connected Farm is working and continues to save fuel cost for Solomon Power.
-MFAET
