ABU DHABI — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. joined world leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts on Tuesday at the opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit, a major global forum focused on addressing climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
Marcos was among 14 heads of state and government who attended the opening ceremony at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, led by United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Philippine delegation included First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and several Cabinet secretaries accompanying the President on his two-day working visit to Abu Dhabi.
The opening ceremony was followed by the Zayed Sustainability Prize awarding, the UAE’s flagship global recognition program 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 honors small and medium-sized enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and global high schools that deliver innovative, scalable solutions to pressing 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, selected from more than 7,760 entries from 173 countries. The recognition underscored the ingenuity and commitment of Filipino youth to sustainability and disaster resilience.
The CNHS Research Club’s project, SALBAVIDA (“lifesaver”), features a one-tap rescue and response communication system designed for flood emergencies. The innovation aims to enhance community disaster preparedness by enabling rapid and reliable communication between civilians and first responders—an especially critical solution for the Philippines, which is frequently affected by extreme weather events.
Organizers said this year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize saw a 30% increase in nominations compared with 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 ceremony, Marcos joined fellow world leaders on stage for a photo opportunity with the 2026 prize winners. He later took part in a dialogue with leaders, policymakers, stakeholders, and experts to discuss collaborative approaches to advancing global sustainability goals.
The ADSW is widely regarded as one of the world’s largest platforms dedicated to sustainable development. The ADSW 2026 Summit, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” highlights the need to mobilize energy, finance, technology, and society to become future-ready.
The week-long event brings together heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, policymakers, industry experts, innovators, and youth to accelerate the global energy transition, mobilize climate finance, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration on climate action. It also features key high-level gatherings, including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly, the ADSW Summit, the World Future Energy Summit, the Zayed Sustainability Prize awarding ceremony, as well as dedicated forums for youth and women leaders.
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