Brussels: A UAE delegation, headed by Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, participated in the High-Level Energy Transition Dialogue. This event was hosted by the Presidency of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in partnership with the International Energy Agency at the European Commission headquarters.
According to Emirates News Agency, the high-level meeting was part of global efforts to prepare for COP30, scheduled to be held in Bel©m, Brazil. It served as a platform for exchanging perspectives on accelerating the implementation of the outcomes from COP28 and COP29 and achieving global energy transition goals, including doubling energy efficiency and tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Addressing an audience of energy ministers and senior officials, Al Olama remarked on the significance of the UAE Consensus reached during COP28 in Dubai. He emphasized the shift in perspective towards the energy transition, not just as an environmental necessity but as an economic, social, and development priority. COP29 in Azerbaijan further reinforced global commitments to scaling up clean energy investment and facilitating credible transition pathways, with finance, technology transfer, and regional cooperation playing vital roles.
Al Olama highlighted the UAE's commitment to energy transition as a national priority, already in motion. The updated UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to balance energy security, affordability, and sustainability, setting clear targets for clean energy deployment and significant improvements in energy efficiency. He noted the importance of energy efficiency as a fundamental component of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The UAE delegation also attended the 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, organized by the International Energy Agency in partnership with the EU Commission. Al Olama discussed the UAE's view of energy efficiency as a tool for economic strength and a driver of investment, job creation, and innovation. However, he acknowledged existing challenges, such as limited access to finance and high upfront costs, particularly in emerging markets.
In response to these challenges, the UAE announced the establishment of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA) during COP29. The GEEA aims to double the energy efficiency improvement rate by 2030. Al Olama officially launched GEEA in Brussels, highlighting the need to accelerate global progress on energy efficiency to meet decarbonization and net-zero targets.
As the founding Chair and Secretariat of GEEA, the UAE is collaborating with partners to move from advocacy to implementation, focusing on technical cooperation, finance mobilization, and the design of efficiency strategies. Al Olama extended an invitation to governments, private sector entities, financial institutions, and civil society organizations to join the Alliance.
On the sidelines of the engagements in Brussels, Al Olama held bilateral meetings with key international figures to promote GEEA and advance the global energy transition agenda. These meetings included discussions with Stefani Sannino, Ditte Juul J¸rgensen, Ben Copp, Jan Dusk, Masanori Tsuruda, and Anders Hoffmann.