UAE and US have formed an Expert Group to govern the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), at a briefing for business and climate leaders during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Led by UAE Co-Chair Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and US Co-Chair Mr. Amos Hochstein, US Special Presidential Coordinator, the bilateral body will be composed of the private sector and government representatives from both countries.
Launched in November 2022, PACE’s goal is to catalyze $100 billion in the financing, investment and other support and deploy 100 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2035. It will cover a wide range of proven and emerging technologies, including private and public sector support, and reach broadly into developed and developing economies.
UAE and US officials announced $20 billion will be allocated to fund 15 new gigawatts (GW) of clean and renewable energy projects in the US before 2035, led by UAE’s Masdar and a consortium of US private investors. This first wave of investments under PACE will be financed through $7 billion in cash equity from the private sector that will catalyze $13 billion through US debt financing and other instruments.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
“As the international community prepares to take stock of global climate progress at COP28 in the UAE, this multi-sectoral partnership is a transformative step to advance mitigation and adaptation through the pragmatic investment and deployment of clean energy projects across the US, UAE and emerging economies around the world. We are confident that this partnership will provide a new model of cooperation that unites global efforts on the path to COP28 towards achieving meaningful progress.”
Members of the Expert Group will convene monthly to provide guidance across the four strategic pillars of PACE, 1) Clean Energy Innovation, Deployment and Supply Chains, 2) Carbon and Methane Management, 3) Nuclear Energy; and 4) Industrial and Transport Decarbonization. The Co-Chairs will meet quarterly with the full Expert Group to measure impact, initiate new projects and expand support for PACE.
Mr. Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General of COP28, and Mr. David Livingston, Senior Advisor to U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Mr. John Kerry, have been appointed as the Deputy Co-Chairs of the Expert Group, representing the UAE and the US, respectively. Together, the deputy co-chairs will convene and chair monthly meetings of the Group, which includes a variety of US- and UAE-based entities from the public and private sectors.
PACE financing will support established renewable energy sources like solar and nuclear, as well as new applications such as green hydrogen and carbon capture. In line with its focus on elevating climate action and ensuring a just transition, PACE will prioritize efforts to deliver technical, project management and funding assistance for commercially and environmentally sustainable energy projects across the Global South.
