United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday, commended Masdar’s ambition and commitment to advancing and commercialising innovations in renewable energy and clean technology.
Ban Ki-Moon was officially welcomed at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology campus by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO and managing director of Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based company focusing on the development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions. Al Jaber accompanied Ban Ki-Moon on a guided tour of Masdar City.
Delivering an address following the tour of the campus, the Middle East’s first graduate research institution dedicated to clean energy research and education, the Secretary-General said: “The future is showcased in Masdar. The technology on renewable and future energy will help economic growth, achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, and bring healthcare, while benefiting the entire planet.”
“The fact that Masdar is the brainchild of one of the leading global oil producers is all the more inspiring,” the UN Secretary-General added. “Such an endeavour, if implemented through private and public partnerships, can make the new technology affordable to everyone.”
Al Jaber said: “We are delighted to host Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at Masdar this afternoon. He is a long-time friend to Masdar, the UAE, and most importantly, is leading the community of nations as we strive to identify the renewable energy and clean technology solutions that will meet our collective global energy and climate change challenges.
“We admire and respect his leadership and critical contributions to driving international cooperation towards a viable long-term roadmap for sustainability around the world,” Al Jaber added.
Ban Ki-Moon added: “Today I had the privilege of witnessing for myself the leadership of Abu Dhabi. This I can guarantee is a vision with a difference that is getting translated into reality. I truly commend and congratulate Abu Dhabi and the UAE for such a path-breaking initiative and I am confident the future technology can be shared with other countries as well.”
Earlier in the day, the Secretary-General addressed visiting royals, heads of state and international delegates at the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit 2011 – the world’s largest conference and exhibition on renewable and future energy solutions, innovations, investments, policy and vision, hosted by Masdar at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
