The UAE’s response to the energy challenges of the future is to host an international organisation that promotes renewable energy. It’s much more than a symbolic venture for one of the world’s largest oil producers.

As always with VIP openings, there is an element of theatre to this evening’s formal inauguration of the global headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency – Irena.

Three engineering students from the University of Sharjah have created an airborne wind turbine suitable for tropical climates.

The students prepared a design concept for countries such as the UAE with low average wind speed where conventional wind turbines do not work efficiently.They analysed wind speed data for the past five years.

The students, Noha Diab, Somaya Esmat and Yusra Ba Matraf, worked under the supervision of Dr Salih Akour.

The UAE has announced a wide range of initiatives to accelerate the development of clean energy at home and abroad.

A number of domestic policy reforms will be implemented, including the tripling of renewable energy targets in Dubai, women’s empowerment in related fields and expansion of the annual US$4 million (Dh14.7m) Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The UAE, along with the rest of the world, is already experiencing the effects of climate change, according to a French scientist.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi and Dubai about the latest findings in climate science, Dr Francois-Marie Breon said humanity needed to act immediately on reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

He noted the UAE – and the region – was warming and that the changes in temperature were faster than the global average.