ADGM becomes first "carbon neutral" international financial centre in the world

• Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration welcomes 18 new signatories
• New ADGM Sustainable Finance platform provides real-time and open-market data to promote sustainable finance
• ADGM launches its first ESG Intelligence Sustainable Finance Report 

Abu Dhabi, UAE :  Abu Dhabi Global Market, the leading International Financial Centre in Abu Dhabi, today announced that it had achieved a “carbon-neutrality” status by offsetting its 2021 carbon emissions as an organisation, thereby reinforcing ADGM’s commitment to building a progressive and more sustainable economy, and in addition, positioning ADGM as the first IFC in the world to be “carbon neutral.”

This development came following ADGM’s recent decision to transform the 4^th edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF) into a carbon-neutral platform and event in the UAE.

To obtain its carbon-neutral position, ADGM purchased and retired all its 2021 carbon credits via the Rimba Raya[1] project, one of the highest-rated REDD 1+ projects globally, based in Indonesia.  This initiative was facilitated by AirCarbon Exchange, a digital carbon trading exchange based in ADGM Square. 

At his opening keynote address at the 4^th ADSFF, H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said: “ADGM is glad to be the first international financial centre in the world to be carbon-neutral.  ADGM’s commitment to ADSFF and being a “carbon-neutral” financial services hub dovetail well with its ongoing efforts to provide an innovative financial platform and progressive, holistic ecosystem that bolster Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s long-term economic development and sustainable growth. We will continue to foster meaningful collaborations with local and global businesses and play our part in supporting the UAE’s Net-Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, which is in line with the country’s Principles of the 50 blueprint. “

The ADSFF is an extension of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and a strategic platform by the UAE financial sector to accelerate sustainable financing and investments and build up a more sustainable economy and future.

At this year’s ADSFF, a new cohort of 18 industry members joined the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration, bringing the total number of members 59.  Together, these members seek to foster more sustainable financing activities and responsible investments, and address matters that affect the financial sector and long-term well-being of the UAE. 

During the Forum, ADGM has also unveiled a series of new initiatives and programmes designed to support the sustainable finance agenda.  These new initiatives include:

• The ADGM Sustainable Finance Platform - designed to promote and accelerate sustainable finance activities and decision-making among investors and stakeholders by providing them with real-time access to UAE and regional sustainable finance market data. The Platform will feature critical sustainable finance data and focus on responsible banking, responsible investing, sustainable products, ESG disclosure, and sustainable capital markets.

• The ESG Intelligence Sustainable Finance Report - ADGM is working with the Oxford Business Group to produce the ESG Intelligence Sustainable Finance Report to highlight ADGM’s and Abu Dhabi’s efforts and contributions towards the developments of the sustainable finance industry, and how they have been supporting the evolving needs of green asset issuers and investors in the region and globally. 

• Achievements of ADGM’s partners in addressing how they worked towards financing sustainable economic growth while supporting net-zero targets.

The one-day ADSFF was attended by more than XXX participants and featured many globally renowned speakers including, H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Vice Chairman of ADGM, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, President of the Assembly and Chair of the Council of the Global Green Growth Institute, Eight Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Younis Alkhoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance, UAE, H.E. Mohammed Al Hammadi, Managing Director & CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), H.E. Salama Al Ameemi, Director General, Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution, H.E. Dr. Maryam Al Suwaidi, Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), Mary Shapiro, former Chair of the US SEC & Vice Chair, Glasgow Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), Jean Lemierre, Chairman, BNP Paribas, and Maria Ferraro, Member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer, Siemens Energy AG.

APPENDIX:  Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration 4th round signatories (2022)

• The Gulf Bond & Sukuk Association (GBSA)
• Greenomy
• Franklin Templeton
• SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Ltd
• Deloitte
• The Arabesque Group
• AirCarbon Exchange
• Natixis
• Libra Project
• VEROFAX
• Citco
• Re Think HQ
• Respira International
• Cross Boundary
• Clarity AI
• Apex Group
• Carbon Credit Xchange Limited
• Ernst & Young Middle East

-Ends- 

About Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre (IFC) located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, opened for business on 21 October 2015. Established by a UAE Federal Decree as a broad-based financial centre, ADGM augments Abu Dhabi’s position as a global trade and business hub serving as a strategic link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the rest of the world.

ADGM’s strategy is anchored by Abu Dhabi’s key strengths spanning over private banking, wealth management, asset management, derivatives and commodities trading, financial innovation, sustainability and more. Comprising four independent authorities: ADGM Authority, ADGM Courts, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Registration Authority, ADGM as an IFC governs the entire 114 hectares (1.14sqkm) of Al Maryah Island which is a designated financial free zone.

It enables registered financial and non-financial institutions, companies and entities to operate, innovate and succeed within an international regulatory framework based on common law. Since its inception, ADGM has been awarded the “Financial Centre of the Year (MENA)” for four consecutive years for its initiatives and contributions to the financial and capital markets industry in the region.*

For more details on ADGM, please visit www.adgm.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @adglobalmarket and LinkedIn: @Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

* Source: The Global Investor Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Awards

 For enquiries: media@adgm.com

[1] Rimba Raya is an InfiniteEARTH Project, the first REDD+ project in the world to be verified under the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SDVista), and achieving the highest possible rating of contributing to all 17 UN SDGs.

© Press Release 2022