UAE to host first-ever UNEP Finance Initiative's Global Roundtable in region

DUBAI, 21st October, 2016 (WAM) -- Leaders from all parts of the financial ecosystem, as well as from civil society, academia, government, and the United Nations (UN), will gather for the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative's 14th Global Roundtable on 25th and 26th October, 2016, in Dubai.

The roundtable, the first-ever such event in the region, will discuss how to achieve the ambitious climate goals set under last year's two major global commitments to tackle climate change and promote sustainable development: the Paris Climate Agreement and the launch of the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in collaboration with the UAE's Central Bank, will be hosting the event.

"We are very pleased to host this important event, at a crucial time for both the finance industry and our world's environment. It is now clear that the ambitious climate goals agreed upon at Paris will only be delivered if the finance industry is fully engaged. The United Arab Emirates is taking a leading role in the transformation to a sustainable economy with our initiatives such as UAE Green Agenda 2015-2030, and we are pleased to be continuing this discussion with global financial leaders at the UNEP FI's 14th Global Roundtable,'' said Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

This global event on sustainable finance will ask and answer some of the most pressing questions facing the finance sector today, such as, what are the emerging leading-edge business opportunities, how policy and technology innovations are changing the future of sustainable finance, how to better quantify emerging environmental and social risks, and how to upscale green Islamic finance.

"We are seeing increasing momentum in the drive to create global financial systems and institutions that are resilient to climate change, and financial services companies that are building sustainable development into their core business strategy. But there is still much work to be done. This region is serious about leading the move towards a green economy and we are looking forward to discussing in Dubai how we move the sustainable finance agenda forward both here and around the globe,'' said Eric Usher, Head of UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative.