UAE launches Etihad 7 renewable energy programme

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has launched Etihad 7 at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2022.

Etihad 7, a UAE-led innovation PROGRAMME, is dedicated to securing funding for renewable energy projects in Africa.

The PROGRAMME aims to supply clean electricity to 100 million people by 2035 and will raise funds from the public and private sectors for clean energy investment with guidance and coordination from the UAE’s MoFAIC and Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change.

The ambitious initiative builds on the UAE’s longstanding and deep ties with Africa and will be a focal point of the country’s efforts to contribute towards the global sustainability agenda over the next decade.

Commenting on the initiative, Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said: "United by economic, cultural, political, and people-to-people ties, our two regions are inextricably linked, with enormous potential for further cooperation in the years to come. One of the keys to unlocking that potential, supercharging Africa’s economies, and allowing millions of people to contribute to building a prosperous continent is electricity–specifically, renewable energy.

As the proud host of COP 28 next year, the UAE is committed to partnering with Sub-Saharan African nations to achieve sustainable development and promote the welfare of the larger region by advancing together in the field of renewable energy."

Crucially, the Etihad 7 initiative will help African nations meet fast-growing energy needs without the corresponding surge in greenhouse gas emissions.

UAE launches Etihad 7 programme to fund renewable energy projects in Africa at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2022#WamNews https://t.co/zqz0By56br pic.twitter.com/TxvjQqlFSq

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) January 17, 2022