Latest news with #AbdullaAhmedBalalaa
Al Etihad
11-03-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE, EU strengthen cooperation on energy, climate, water in lead-up to COP30, 2026 UN Water Conference
7 Mar 2025 20:48 BRUSSELS (WAM)Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, concluded a two-day trip, from the 6-7 March, to the European Union (EU) in Brussels, where he met with senior officials and stakeholders in the energy and water the meetings, Abdulla Balalaa reaffirmed the UAE's close partnership with the EU, focusing on aligning efforts, cooperation and achieving progress in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency and water visit followed the 2026 United Nations Water Conference (UNWC26) Organisational Session in New York and coincides with EU Ocean Days in Brussels. During the visit, he was invited to take part in the EU's consultative process on reviewing the EU's water resilience the consultative process, Balalaa highlighted the launch of the 2026 UNWC process, outlined the UAE's priorities for the conference and invited the international community to take part in working towards advancing innovative, inclusive and scalable solutions to water further affirmed the UAE's commitment to deepening its cooperation with the EU in advancing climate action, energy transition, water resilience, and global sustainability. He also highlighted that discussions in Brussels were instrumental in driving forward the climate adaptation and energy related commitments made at the 28thConference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which was held in Dubai in 2023, to ensure strong alignment with the EU ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025, COP30, and the 2026 UN Water visit included meetings with a number of EU officials and the European Investment Bank (EIB) reinforcing bilateral relations to explore the potential to expand investments in clean energy, infrastructure, and water met with European Commission representatives: Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy; Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of Environment; Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General Climate Action; and Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, in addition to representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS). The discussions focused on advancing joint efforts in water sustainability in the lead-up to 2026 UNWC, broader climate adaptation strategies, mitigating climate change, and enhancing cooperation ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in France.
Hi Dubai
10-03-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Strengthens EU Partnerships in Renewable Energy and Water Sustainability
Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, completed a productive two-day visit to Brussels, from March 6-7, to meet with senior officials and stakeholders in the energy and water sectors. The visit underscored the UAE's commitment to advancing its collaboration with the European Union (EU) in key areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water resilience. Balalaa's meetings came on the heels of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference (UNWC26) Organisational Session in New York and coincided with the EU's Ocean Days. During his visit, he was invited to participate in the EU's consultative process on reviewing the EU's water resilience strategy. At the consultative session, Balalaa emphasized the UAE's priorities for the 2026 UNWC and urged the international community to contribute to scalable and inclusive solutions for global water challenges. He also highlighted the UAE's ongoing commitment to advancing climate action, energy transition, and water resilience in collaboration with the EU, aligning efforts made during the COP28 conference in Dubai with future global sustainability goals. The discussions also involved strengthening ties with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to explore investment opportunities in clean energy, infrastructure, and water sustainability. Balalaa met with several EU officials, including Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy, and Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General for Climate Action, to reinforce the UAE's role in driving global climate adaptation and sustainability initiatives. The visit set the stage for increased cooperation ahead of pivotal international events such as the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in France and the 2026 UN Water Conference. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Zawya
10-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE, EU strengthen cooperation on energy, climate, water in lead-up to COP30, 2026 UN Water Conference
BRUSSELS: Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, concluded a two-day trip, from the 6-7 March, to the European Union (EU) in Brussels, where he met with senior officials and stakeholders in the energy and water sectors. During the meetings, Abdulla Balalaa reaffirmed the UAE's close partnership with the EU, focusing on aligning efforts, cooperation and achieving progress in the fields of renewable energy, energy efficiency and water resilience. Balalaa's visit followed the 2026 United Nations Water Conference (UNWC26) Organisational Session in New York and coincides with EU Ocean Days in Brussels. During the visit, he was invited to take part in the EU's consultative process on reviewing the EU's water resilience strategy. At the consultative process, Balalaa highlighted the launch of the 2026 UNWC process, outlined the UAE's priorities for the conference and invited the international community to take part in working towards advancing innovative, inclusive and scalable solutions to water challenges. He further affirmed the UAE's commitment to deepening its cooperation with the EU in advancing climate action, energy transition, water resilience, and global sustainability. He also highlighted that discussions in Brussels were instrumental in driving forward the climate adaptation and energy related commitments made at the 28thConference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which was held in Dubai in 2023, to ensure strong alignment with the EU ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025, COP30, and the 2026 UN Water Conference. The visit included meetings with a number of EU officials and the European Investment Bank (EIB) reinforcing bilateral relations to explore the potential to expand investments in clean energy, infrastructure, and water sustainability. Balalaa met with European Commission representatives: Ditte Juul-Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy; Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of Environment; Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General Climate Action; and Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, in addition to representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS). The discussions focused on advancing joint efforts in water sustainability in the lead-up to 2026 UNWC, broader climate adaptation strategies, mitigating climate change, and enhancing cooperation ahead of the UN Ocean Conference 2025 in France.
Al Etihad
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE, Senegal officially kick-off 2026 UN Water Conference multilateral process
4 Mar 2025 13:02 NEW YORK (WAM) The United Arab Emirates and Senegal, co-hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, convened the international community for the Organisational Session of the Conference on March 3 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New mandated by the Conference modalities resolution adopted in September 2024, this Organisational Session served as an opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to share their insights and recommendations for the themes of the six interactive dialogues that will drive the 2026 dialogues will focus on addressing global water challenges and advancing progress to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for Organisational Session opened with high-level speeches by the UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, and the Senegal Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dieye. The leaders emphasised the joint commitment by the UAE and Senegal in convening a collaborative and inclusive preparatory process to drive an impact-oriented Conference in 2026 that brings the world together to enable collective progress on water, for emphasised, 'For the UAE, water shapes our history, our present, and our future, fostering deep resilience, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. We are committed to accelerating innovative and inclusive global water action, through expanded knowledge sharing and international cooperation, harnessing the power of increased investment, and scaling technological solutions for the benefit of all."Dieye highlighted, "The 2026 UN Water Conference embodies a pivotal moment for humanity, a meeting with our collective future, and a historic opportunity to turn our commitments into concrete actions for water and sanitation. The time is no longer for reflection or recommendations, but for action. We must therefore ensure that this process is inclusive and participatory so that every voice and every perspective are taken into account.""The UAE is excited to be co-hosting the 2026 UN Water Conference, in partnership with Senegal, to convene the world to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.""No nation is immune to the way that water stress can exacerbate food security, public health, and economic and political stability. Ultimately, water is the key enabler to achieving the entire 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda, and SDG6 is the lynchpin to unlocking all 17 goals."The UAE and Senegal invited and called on all stakeholders across the international community - including governments, international organisations, financing and investment actors, NGOs, civil society, academics, local communities, youth and Indigenous Peoples – to raise their collective ambition to accelerate global water action, progress, according to the latest statistics, at present, 2.2 billion people still lack clean drinking water, 3.5 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation services, and four billion people still experience severe water scarcity for at least one month per session was joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Li Junhua, and UN Water Chair, Alvaro Lario, along with 72 participants, including 26 stakeholders from UN entities, NGOs, civil society, and the private the Organisational Session, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), as the Conference Secretariat, will prepare a background note on proposed themes, in consultation with Member States and with the support of UN-Water and other relevant UN themes will be finalised during a subsequent one-day meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly, on July 9, 2025. Following the adoption of the themes and the selection of the co-chairs of the interactive dialogues, a high-level preparatory meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference will take place in Dakar in advance of the December Conference.
ARN News Center
04-03-2025
- Politics
- ARN News Center
UAE, Senegal kick-off 2026 UN Water Conference multilateral process
The UAE and Senegal, co-hosts of the 2026 UN Water Conference, convened the international community for the Organisational Session of the Conference at the United Nations HQ in New York. As mandated by the Conference modalities resolution adopted in September 2024, the Organisational Session served as an opportunity for Member States and stakeholders to share their insights and recommendations for the themes of the six interactive dialogues that will drive the 2026 Conference. The dialogues will focus on addressing global water challenges and advancing progress to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The Organisational Session opened with high-level speeches by UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa and , Senegal Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dieye. The leaders emphasised the joint commitment by the UAE and Senegal in convening a collaborative and inclusive preparatory process to drive an impact-oriented Conference in 2026 that brings the world together to enable collective progress on water, for all. Balalaa emphasised, 'For the UAE, water shapes our history, our present, and our future, fostering deep resilience, resourcefulness, and ingenuity. We are committed to accelerating innovative and inclusive global water action, through expanded knowledge sharing and international cooperation, harnessing the power of increased investment, and scaling technological solutions for the benefit of all." Dieye highlighted, 'The 2026 UN Water Conference embodies a pivotal moment for humanity, a meeting with our collective future, and a historic opportunity to turn our commitments into concrete actions for water and sanitation. The time is no longer for reflection or recommendations, but for action. We must therefore ensure that this process is inclusive and participatory so that every voice and every perspective are taken into account." "No nation is immune to the way that water stress can exacerbate food security, public health, and economic and political stability. Ultimately, water is the key enabler to achieving the entire 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda, and SDG6 is the lynchpin to unlocking all 17 goals.' The UAE and Senegal invited and called on all stakeholders across the international community - including governments, international organisations, financing and investment actors, NGOs, civil society, academics, local communities, youth and Indigenous Peoples – to raise their collective ambition to accelerate global water action, together. Despite progress, according to the latest statistics, at present, 2.2 billion people still lack clean drinking water, 3.5 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation services, and four billion people still experience severe water scarcity for at least one month per year. The session was joined by Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and Alvaro Lario, UN Water Chair, along with 72 participants, including 26 stakeholders from UN entities, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector.
