ABU DHABI, UAE, September 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

- The ADSG, a public-private partnership for the benefit of sustainable development, held a Hiwar Session on Thursday as a platform for public discussion & debate on Climate Change and Financing the Green Economy

- The sixth ADSG Hiwar, was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and was hosted by Etihad Airways. The Session provided a framework for developing a mutual understanding on this significant sustainability issue and its implications for Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG) held its sixth Hiwar Session (Hiwar is the Arabic word for dialogue) to help in raising awareness and building a common understanding on the key issues of climate change and how a green economy could be financed. 

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The event achieved record attendance levels with participation from a number of high profile professionals, ADSG member organisations, sustainability experts from the government sector, private sector and not-for-profit community. 

The Hiwar session focused on discussing carbon related policies, adequate financing in support of these policies and the impact on realising sustainability goals. Emphasis was on engaging with the audience on the challenges and opportunities that Green Economy offers Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Airways, speaking after the event highlighted: "The ADSG Hiwar proved to be a productive forum to enhance our understanding of the financial implications of climate change and how it affects the way we do business in Abu Dhabi." 

Ms. Huda Al Houqani, ADSG Director thanked the Ministry of Foreign affairs for being the patrons of such an important discussion and extended gratitude to Etihad Airways (an ADSG member) for hosting the event.  After the event, she added: "I am pleased to see the high level of attendance and engagement today. ADSG activities, such as our Hiwar Session today, are designed to provide our members and partners with the latest thinking and expertise on sustainability management practices, including today's topic: Climate Change and how to go about financing the Green Economy."

Prominent speakers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Capital Alternatives Group (CAG), Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE), discussed the following main topics:

- How carbon related policies are supported by appropriate financing and are able to impact key sustainability goals.

- The challenges and opportunities these trends towards a Green Economy present for Abu Dhabi.

- Global best practice, cross-industry comparison and raising awareness about how we can create a low carbon future.

The panel included Mr. Rob Bradley, MOFA; Ms. Diana Guzman, CDP, Mr.  Steve Graham, CAG and the Moderator, Mr. Ivano Iannelli, DCCE

Steve Graham, CAG said: "As awareness across the business community increases, we are seeing a growing number of organisations starting to implement carbon reduction strategies. Awareness of the benefits that can be gained by reducing their carbon footprint, and a greater understanding of the impact their emissions are having on the environment are starting to become key business drivers within the region. Most environmentally aware organisations understand that by reducing the amount of carbon they emit, they are embarking on a process of cost reduction too, which ultimately leads to greater profits."

Diana Guzman, CDP said: "In order to manage, you must measure.  At CDP, we have seen the positive environmental action that corporations and governments can achieve when they are equipped with the relevant information.  Providing corporations with a global system to disclose carbon emissions in a comparable and consistent way, enables companies and policy-makers to mitigate risks from the use of energy and natural resources, learn from best practice as well as identify opportunities from taking a responsible approach to the environment.  The ADSG Hiwar Session was wise to cover this topic since it is a vital foundation for a low carbon economy."

He added: "Activities and debates, such as the Hiwar organised by ADSG, only go to show that carbon reduction and carbon management are taken seriously."

The audience was well engaged and participated with many questions to the panellists, with feedback from participants indicating that an intellectual debate can promote practical benefits through knowledge sharing.

This Hiwar Session offered a unique opportunity for experts, sustainability professionals, academics and practitioners to come under one roof and create a common understanding on the complex issue of climate change, with further plans for more sustainability events and activities planned by the ADSG for the benefit of promoting sustainability in Abu Dhabi.

About ADSG

Set up by EAD in 2008, with the support of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group is a membership-based organisation whose mission is to promote sustainability management in Abu Dhabi by providing policy support, learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for government, private companies and not for profit organisations in a spirit of cooperation and open dialogue.

For more information, please contact:
Sandra Anani - ADSG Communication Advisor
Office: +971-2-6934644
Mobile: +971-55-3434752 Or +971-50-6677238
Email: communication@adsg.ae
Website: http://www.adsg.ae

SOURCE Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG)