Page 450 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - JUNE 2024

UAE committed to development, sustainability of

aviation industry, says Minister of Economy at

IATA's AGA
Story by Hatem Mohamed / Tariq Al Fahaam

• 2w • 2 min read

DUBAI, 3rd June, 2024 (WAM) – Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, has
underscored the UAE's unwavering commitment to ensuring sustainable aviation growth
while addressing climate challenge.

In his keynote address at the 80th IATA's Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air
Transport Summit, convening in Dubai from 2nd to 4th June 2024, Abdullah bin Touq
said the air transport sector has a long history of fostering partnership that drives
change, connects people and supports economies and communities around the world.
“It's also one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. Aviation accounts for 2.5%
of global CO2 emissions, but has contributed around 4% of global warming to date.”

As climate concerns reach a boiling point, he continued, achieving sustainable air travel
is no longer optional, it's essential. “That's why sustainability is at the forefront of our
agenda today.”

To truly make a difference, the minister explained, the aviation industry urgently needs a
collective effort. “We need increased support from both governments and the private
sector, particularly in funding and infrastructure development. This will unlock the
production and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and other promising
alternatives.”

He stressed that the UAE is at the forefront of the shift forward to a low carbon
economic model, with aviation as a key component, diversifying away from oil and
tackling climate change is among top priorities of the UAE leadership, and “we are
making tremendous efforts to accelerate transition to a low carbon economy.”

The non-oil sector represents more than 74% of our GDP in 2023. Moreover, he added,
the UAE is one of the first countries to adopt sustainability agenda and consider the
environmental impact of the aviation sector. "We actively participated in all negotiations
launched by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and endorsed all international
decisions supporting sustainability.

“Furthermore, we aim to decarbonise the aviation sector and position the UAE as a
regional hub for low carbon aviation fuel. This is why we have launched the National
Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap, setting an ambitious goal to produce up to

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