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Dubai is all set to host World Energy Forum

Dubai has finalised arrangements for the historic World Energy Forum 2012 that will discuss the need for safer and more sustainable energy for all nations of the world.

Starting from October 22, the three-day forum will be held in Dubai for the first time outside the UN headquarters in New York under the theme ‘A Forum for World Leaders.’

It will be attended by more than 20 heads of state, more than 40 ministers, many officials and government delegations and more than 2,500 attendees, who will make this forum the most important global sustainability gathering this year.

“The World Energy Forum intends to tackle the issues of achieving social equity and face the challenges that face the world, including poverty, the lack of electricity for 1.5 billion people, and the effects of this on all aspects of development –like education, health and infrastructure,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy, told reporters at a news conference on Sunday.

The conference was also attended by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy; Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water; Major General Khamis Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander in Chief of Dubai Police, Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary-General of Dubai Executive Council, and Dr Harold Hyun-Suk Oh, President of the World Energy Forum.

The forum’s agenda was also unveiled, including planned activities and discussion areas that will focus on central energy and sustainability issues such as energy policies, thought leadership in the energy sector, traditional and renewable energy, oil, gas, clean coal, nuclear energy, sustainable development, water and urban development, public health, energy security, justice, energy and water, the role of women in sustainable development, innovation and financing energy projects.

The first day will witness the opening ceremony in the presence of world leaders who will share their vision of energy-sustainable world that enhances global economic and social development.

Day one of the WEF will also witness the launch of World Energy Day, which will be celebrated annually on October 22 with the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“In order to commemorate this historic event taking place in Dubai, the Supreme Council of Energy, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE, has issued a special series of commemorative coins minted in gold and in silver. Also, the Supreme Council has worked with Emirates Post to issue 200,000 limited-edition stamps to mark this event. Furthermore, a luxury-edition book has been published, called ‘Emirates: Story of a Nation’ that will be distributed to the heads of state and high-ranking dignitaries attending the Forum. The book comprises 140 pages illustrating the history of the UAE and the achievements of its government in energy and sustainability, with visualisations of the major energy projects of the UAE,” Al Tayer said.

Prof. Oh, Chairman of World Energy Forum, said: “At World Energy Forum 2012 in Dubai on the day of the first celebration of the World Energy Day, we will be launching Smart Energy Movement (SEM) with a slogan of New Energy Civilisation of Accessible and Sustainable Resources for All.”

— abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com