Marcos joins world leaders, experts, policy makers at Abu Dhabi sustainability meet

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday joined several state leaders, policy makers, and experts at the opening ceremony of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit to tackle solutions to the world’s most pressing issues such as climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development.

Marcos was among 14 heads of state and government, including United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during the opening ceremony held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The ceremony was also attended by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and several Cabinet secretaries who came with the President for his two-day working visit to Abu Dhabi.

The opening ceremony was followed by the Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering global award for sustainability and humanitarian impact.

Established in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, the prize recognizes small and medium-sized enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and global high schools that deliver innovative and scalable solutions to global challenges.

Representing the Philippines, Camarines Norte Senior High School (CNHS) was named a global finalist for 2026 under the Global High Schools category for the East Asia and Pacific region and was selected from more than 7,760 entries from 173 countries.

The recognition highlighted the ingenuity and commitment of Filipino youth to sustainability and disaster resilience.

The CNHS Research Club’s project, SALBAVIDA (“lifesaver”), introduces a one-tap rescue and response communication system designed for flood emergencies.

The innovation aims to strengthen community disaster preparedness by enabling rapid and reliable communication between civilians and first responders – an essential solution for a country frequently affected by extreme weather events.

This year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize recorded a 30% increase in nominations compared to the previous year.

Category winners will receive $1 million, while Global High Schools winners will be awarded $150,000 to further develop and scale their projects.

Following the awarding, Marcos was invited to the stage with other world leaders for a photo opportunity with the 2026 prize winners.

He then participated in a dialogue with fellow leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, and experts to discuss collaborative approaches in advancing global sustainability goals.

The ADSW is recognized as one of the world’s largest platforms dedicated to advancing sustainable development.

The ADSW 2026 Summit has the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go” to underscore the need to mobilize energy, finance, technology, and society to become future-ready.

It convenes heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, policymakers, industry experts, innovators, and youth from around the world to accelerate the global energy transition, mobilize climate finance, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration for climate action.

The week-long event features key high-level gatherings, including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, the ADSW Summit, the World Future Energy Summit, and the Zayed Sustainability Prize awarding ceremony, as well as dedicated forums for youth and women leaders. — JMA, GMA Integrated News