Mr. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) asserted that Energy and the environment are integrated ecosystems. Moreover, he considers that actions in the energy sector will have a definitive effect on environmental sustainability outcomes.
In an announcement made to mark World Environment Day, Al Marrar said that the DoE is committed to leading Abu Dhabi’s energy transition in a way that balances social, economic, and environmental development.
Awaidha Murshed Al Marar Chairman – Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
“World Environment Day is marked this year with a global focus on conserving nature and biodiversity. Given the health and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a timely theme. And as we rebuild from the crisis, we recognize more than ever that scaling up our transition to clean and renewable energy as well as investing in sustainable projects is key to the recovery of both our economies and the planet, making our systems more resilient to future challenges.”
On that note, Al Marar resumed that Abu Dhabi’s energy sector will remain committed to the efforts to diversify its energy mix and match the increasing energy demands more from clean and renewable sources, to reduce the hazards posed to nature, and to move us closer to matching the targets of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. For instance, DoE is accelerating its efforts to lessen the overall demand for energy through demand-side management and through energy efficiency measures that encourage energy savings and positively influence consumer behavior.
“Meanwhile, our regulatory interventions and policy-making frameworks, such as the recycled water policy and the district cooling regulations, continue to support national water security strategies with a focus on managing reservoirs, effective water management and water treatment techniques, and conserving groundwater which is valuable to biodiversity.”
Another key initiative combined with Abu Dhabi’s portfolio of solutions to decrease net environmental harm is waste-to-energy. Abu Dhabi recently declared plans to build two major waste-to-energy plants, and at DoE is in an advanced stage of working with the appropriate stakeholders on a waste-to-energy policy to promote the growth of this sustainable market in the emirate. Converting waste into cleaner energy sources will have a huge positive influence on the environment, and help the waste management sector, while also supporting the energy sector to meet the demand for electricity.”
He closed by saying: “Integrating energy and environmental efforts is fundamental to preserving nature, ensuring sustainable economic growth, and building a safe, healthy future for generations to come.”
