Tuesday 25 September 2018

UAE and Italy ink sustainable development agreement

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation in the area of sustainable development.

They have agreed to work together in the fields of climate action and environmental sustainability as well as leverage new opportunities and tools to achieve sustainability in urban planning and land development, construction, transport and boost renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The agreement was inked on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week, where UK Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey is to urge other nations to push for 30% of the world’s oceans to be protected by 2030.

Other areas of collaboration include the adoption of practical solutions in sustainable farming, food processing, landscaping, tourism, air quality, noise monitoring and waste management.

The two countries also aim to encourage the participation of the private sector in climate action through public-private partnerships.

Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment said: “The UAE enjoys long-standing cordial relations with Italy in various domains. The agreement builds on these strong ties as we join forces in identifying and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

“As parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, our two countries realise that collective action has great advantages in the fight against climate change.”