00:00So, Your Excellency, we hear a lot about the importance of the oceans, the importance of the seas and the
00:06climate catastrophe that's taking place there. What actually is the issue?
00:11Thank you for having me here today, Toby. I believe, and as you know, many, many cities around the world
00:18are placed in front of water, are coastal cities.
00:23And today, we know that climate change is having unprecedented challenges over the communities that lives along the coast.
00:33Sea level rise, loss of biodiversity, acidity of the water, which means that we are losing nature in a very
00:44fast rate than ever.
00:46These are the most challenges, but there is many other challenges that is caused by humans.
00:51The unprecedented rate of development and the economy and taking these coastlines as a prime location for tourism and many
01:02other things, not taking into consideration that they support livelihoods, but also they support and provide services for many communities.
01:14That's all very well. But from what I'm hearing, we're now almost past the point of return.
01:20You know, it's almost a challenge to do something. Is that the case or is the future more optimistic?
01:28If I answer your question from Abu Dhabi's perspective, I would say it's never late.
01:35And it's never a complicated action to begin with.
01:40From our experience, we did face an over-exploitation of our fisheries, which was at 8% seven years back.
01:50And with the science, with the data, and also with the correct regulation and enforcement, we were able to rebounce
02:00this stock up to 100% end of 2025.
02:05Also, the support of the leadership have been really massive and really creating that positive recharge of our stock.
02:20And when we compare it with the stocks globally, most of the fisheries stock globally sits at 65%.
02:30There is many other stories that really are built around science, innovation, and decision-making that makes today's nature bounce
02:40back in a faster rate than ever.
02:43But we have, as a decision-maker, to realize when and how and the means of how to really revert
02:52the situation from negative to positive.
02:55So how do people do it?
02:57You know, there is a lot of news out there about the environment, about the challenges facing the ocean, our
03:02seas, the mammals and creatures that live within it.
03:07But what is the answer and what tangible examples could you give me of something that you've done, you know,
03:13through your remit for the seas?
03:15Today, we launched Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Richest Seas Initiative, and that was built on the success of our
03:27stories in the fisheries stock to make sure that Abu Dhabi have the highest and richest,
03:34but also the most resilient marine ecosystem around the world.
03:40And this came because, one, we have really expanded our protected areas lately.
03:47It was 19%.
03:49Today, it is 21%, but also we are targeting an increase of 30% beyond 2030.
03:58We also was able to plant 50 million mangroves saplings in the last five years, but we are also targeting
04:08100 saplings by 2030.
04:13Another great example or initiative that we launched also a few years ago, restoration and rehabilitation of coral reef,
04:22which is the largest initiative of its kind around the world, with a target of 4 million fragments to be
04:31restored and rehabilitated in its environment by 2030.
04:36As I speak today, we have managed planting 1.5 fragment in their nature or in their habitats in the
04:46Arabian Gulf.
04:47There are many other examples. The introduction also of research, very credible research through J1, a state-of-the-art
04:57marine vessel that serves in the Arabian Gulf
05:01and also in the eastern seas of United Arab Emirates, have allowed us to understand the marine environment further and
05:11how climate change is impacting our seas.
05:14We believe that the science that we hold today, the data that we hold today, the policies that allowed us
05:22to revert the nature from a status that were considered negative to a positive
05:29is a shared data, is a shared experience with the whole world.
05:35So I think with these such kind initiatives, it brings a positivity around the region, but also around the world,
05:46that again, nature is not something complicated.
05:50Nature needs somebody who understands when and what to do at the right time as policies, as governance, as protection,
05:59but also as a collaboration and coordination between countries.
06:05Your Excellency, I know that you've got a keynote session in a second, so I won't keep it much longer.
06:09But just finally, from the position of the World Government Summit, how proud are you and how effective is it
06:14to be here,
06:15being able to share your knowledge, the work you're doing, to A, share that with other governments, but also learn
06:22from other governments as well?
06:23I have to say we are remarkably proud that United Arab Emirates and specifically Abu Dhabi can play a leading
06:34role.
06:35It can really set as a beacon of hope to instill that sustainability is something that can be achieved through
06:47multiple coordination,
06:49through multiple cooperation, but also through innovative tools, not only technology, but innovative laws and policies that can advance
07:02and make sure that the environment is sustainable for many generations to come.
07:09Your Excellency, thank you so much for your time this afternoon.
07:12Thank you. Thank you so much.
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