VIENNA, 27 January 2015 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), will jointly promote industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy policies, technologies and solutions in the United Arab Emirates and in the broader Arab region.

The two institutions signed today a memorandum of understanding on this in Vienna.

UNIDO and DSCE will Also focus on South-South knowledge and technology transfer, with the objective of pursuing inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

This cooperation is in line with commitments made at the federal and national levels in the UAE to reduce energy demand and diversify sources of energy. It also supports the UN Secretary-General’s synthesis report on the post-2015 development agenda, which includes sustainable energy in Goal 7, and inclusive and sustainable industrialization in Goal 9.

The industrial sector has been identified as a target area for sustainable energy due to its current consumption, estimated at around 29% of the total energy demand worldwide in 2011. The collaboration therefore has potential to be a driving force in ensuring national and global commitments are met post-2015, by increasing regional capacities and mitigating existing barriers to sustainable energy markets.

“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with DSCE and further supporting the UAE and countries in the Arab region on their path to inclusive and sustainable industrial development through the promotion of sustainable energy solutions,” said UNIDO Director General LI Yong.

“This agreement is very timely, as it is in line with global priorities set during the Lima Climate Conference in December 2014, and will serve as a building block for contributions to the Paris agreement later this year. The current energy-industry nexus provides great potential in the formation of adaptive and resilient policies, technologies and solutions for the growing global challenge of climate change. The collaboration will allow us to work together to find innovative means to promote a culture of sustainable energy, create shared prosperity and safeguard the environment,” added Li.

His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of DSCE, added: “ DSCE shares the same goals as UNIDO which has assumed an enhanced role in the global development agenda by focusing on environmental sustainability. Cooperation with UNIDO adds greatly to our efforts and mandate stated in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, which aims to diversify energy sources, rationalize consumption, conserve our natural resources and preserve the environment both nationally and globally. UNIDO’s experiences, resources and global knowledge base promises great potential in partnering for inclusive and sustainable industrialization, particularly in the energy sector.”.