(Mauritius) – A delegation led by Dr. Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Director of Energy and Climate Change at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the first Ministerial Blue Economy Conference of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), held in Mauritius, 2-3 September 2015.
Healthy oceans and seas are central to a wide range of opportunities they offer, including fisheries, renewable energy, resource extraction, tourism and trade. At the same time, oceans and seas are under great environmental pressure, particularly from impacts of climate change, such as ocean acidification, rising sea level rise and increasing extreme weather events.
The Conference was held reflecting views amongst the IORA member states that sustainable management and security of oceans and seas are critical in order for countries to continue to benefit from them in decades to come. Participants delved into discussions on four priority sectors on the first day of the meeting, focusing on the fisheries and agriculture, renewable ocean energy, seaport and shipping as well as seabed exploration and minerals. The results from the first day were reflected into a ministerial declaration adopted on the second day of the Conference.
“Oceans are shared international resources, and can only be protected if we work together,” said Dr. Al Zeyoudi. “That is why we support international fora such as this first IORA Ministerial Blue Economy Conference to build close cooperation and partnerships.”
The Conference was held in the lead up to two major conferences this year which will have significant impacts on the wellbeing of oceans and seas: the UN Summit later this month in New York where the world will agree to a number of sustainable development goals including a dedicated goal on the protection of oceans and seas, and the UN climate change conference in December in Paris during which a new agreement will be reached to slow down the increase of greenhouse gas emissions. The UAE is an active contributor to and convener of relevant international dialogues.
(Courtesy WAM)