GE announced that it had signed an agreement with the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators or UICCA, a think-tank and accelerator focused primarily on driving the transition towards a green economy. The MoU will allow the two companies to work together across three broad actionable pillars to build momentum for climate action within the UAE and beyond.
In the framework of this newly signed agreement, GE will work with UICCA to accelerate energy transformation efforts by empowering youth in the country, fostering technology innovations that have a positive impact, and leveraging the potential of advocacy for sustainable development across the entire energy ecosystem.
The MoU was signed by the President & CEO of UICCA, H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief Sustainability Officer, GE, Roger Martella. The MoU focuses on 3 key pillars namely Innovation & Technology, Policy Collaboration, and Youth & Diversity.
Under the first pillar of cooperation, GE will work with UICCA to engage diverse communities and young people in climate change solutions. This multi-pronged strategy includes STEM education, awareness raising, and capacity-building. The two entities will work together to promote and develop breakthrough technologies capable of being deployed on large scales in the region. Under the third pillar of the agreement, GE will work with UICCA to accelerate the energy transformation by collaborating closely with government officials, research centers and think tanks.
H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan is the President & CEO of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators. She said, “To speed up global climate action, and to address the ever-evolving issues on the path to an inclusive and just energy transition, there must be synergies among diverse stakeholders in the sustainability ecosystem. Our youth need to be equipped with the skills they need to help us achieve a climate-neutral future. The MoU with GE reflects both our interest and commitment to jointly forge a solutions-oriented approach in order to accelerate progress toward carbon neutrality, in line with UAE’s Net Zero Goals.”
Roger Martella said that technology and innovation could support the global energy transition goals. “GE is dedicated to inspiring and developing a diverse next generation of scientists, engineers and leaders. We are proud to partner with UICCA in order to provide future innovators and inventors with the STEM skills and capabilities that will be required to create a future with lower carbon emissions. This collaboration is intended to support the UAE’s goal of ensuring that the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference will be inclusive and lead to a better world for both people and the planet.”
After signing the MoU, GE & UICCA showed their commitment to growing a strong and varied pipeline of future tech leaders in the UAE who are capable of delivering clean energy solutions that have an impact by hosting a one-day capacity-building event on May 2nd in partnership with INJAZ UAE.
Razan Bas​​​​hiti, Chief executive officer, of INJAZ UAE, said, “A climate-focused future demands that young people be equipped with critical skills in order to achieve balanced and inclusive outcomes. Our youth will be the climate leaders of the future and must be involved in the solution process at an early age. To address today’s energy challenges, it is important to have a collaborative approach between all stakeholders. Our partnership with GE demonstrates our vision to nurture the passion of the nation’s young people in developing innovative STEM-based solutions that will have a lasting effect on the future of mankind.”
The Dubai event, in line with the inclusive agenda of the global climate summit to be held next year, focused on energy transition and its role as a key enabler for sustainable development and climate resilience. The event built on GE’s efforts to develop the next generation in STEM fields in the MENAT Region through immersive experiences that ignite their interest.
GE, as an organization that is committed to real, ongoing investments in science to create a better world for everyone, believes that breakthrough technologies in energy will be crucial to addressing the energy transformation and helping countries and their customers achieve their climate and sustainability objectives.
