The UICCA Forum: 25 to 2050 gathered government leaders, industry experts, and sustainability advocates to drive forward actionable solutions for the UAE’s net zero transition. Held in the presence of Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), the forum focused on defining the country’s roadmap towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
In her keynote address, Sheikha Shamma emphasized the urgency of the global climate crisis, highlighting record-breaking temperatures and the accelerating pace of emissions, particularly in developing economies. Stressing that the next 25 years will be decisive, she underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making in achieving climate goals.
Reflecting on UICCA’s evolution since its founding in 2022, Sheikha Shamma outlined the organization’s three pillars—Advisory, Accelerators, and Alliances—as a model for fostering collective action. She called on stakeholders to leverage research, technology acceleration, and cross-sector collaboration to build a sustainable future.
The forum also marked the unveiling of two key publications aimed at strengthening climate action and knowledge accessibility:
- Climate Migration Research Report – A comprehensive study examining the link between climate change and human displacement, offering data-driven insights and policy recommendations to support climate adaptation and resilience.
- UICCA Climate Change Glossary (Second Edition) – The largest bilingual glossary in the region, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC). This expanded edition includes over 400 climate-related terms in English and Arabic, providing standardized terminology for policymakers, media professionals, and industry leaders.
Sheikha Shamma reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to climate action, green economic growth, and sustainable innovation, stressing that achieving net zero requires a unified effort across all sectors of society. The forum served as a platform for critical discussions, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based policymaking and international cooperation in accelerating climate ambitions.
