Business as usual not acceptable as risk of climate change escalates says UAE Minister of Environment and Water at World Future Energy Summit Copenhagen discussion

The opening plenary of the second day of the World Future Energy Summit has seen the UAE Minister of Environment and Water point to the need to simplify the procedures in the financing funds that have decided to be established by Copenhagen accords, in his opening speech during the plenary session at the beginning of day two of the World Future Energy Summit.

He also pointed to the need to subdue the constraints that might hinder developing nations from receiving the financial support and access to new technologies that they need.  During his speech he said, “business as usual not acceptable as risk of climate change escalates.”

Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute, says “an upsurge in action at the grassroots level is needed,” he continued “It is our children and grandchildren that will face the brunt of our inaction.”

Pachauri highlighted that business and industry is half the solution.

The session, the third plenary in the four day World Future Energy Summit event, saw the panel discuss how much industrialised countries are willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

H.E. Jonas Gahr Store, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs said “Copenhagen was far away from filling all our expectations, but we must see it as a start,” he commented.

The plenary session panel was opened by His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, UAE Minister of Environment and Water populated by six influential leaders from business, political bodies and non-governmental organisations.  Moderated by Richard Banks, CEO of R M Banks & Co., the session welcomed speakers including Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Director General of The Energy Resources Institute (TERI); Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway; Ditlev Engel, Global President & CEO, of Vestas Wind Systems A/S; Kirsty Hamilton, Associate Fellow of the Renewable Energy Finance Project at the Royal Institute of Institutional Affairs in London; and Richard Jones, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

More than 100 official delegations are present at the Summit from countries including Australia, Belgium, China, Italy, India, South Korea, Spain, Germany, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan, Norway and France.