The Emirate of Dubai has achieved significant progress in the areas of sustainable development, clean energy and green economy, said Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of Dubai and Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee of the C40 Cities Network for South and West Asia.
Al Basti stressed that the progress made by the country is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council to build a brighter, happier and a more sustainable future.
He further underlined the commitment of the emirate to keep up with the aims of its leadership as well as its efforts to boost sustainability, revive environmental work, achieve global sustainable development goals and ensure continued economic growth.
Al Basti made this statement in the virtual conference of launching the global COUNTDOWN initiative, organized by TED Conferences LLC to find solution for climatic crisis, which includes participation of more than 1,000 global leading, political and influential figures.
The initiative comes as part of a series of events conducted by the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference “COP26”, scheduled in October 2021 in Scotland.
The conference covered serious issues affecting the world on a global level under the environment and climate change. The challenges caused by climate change were classified into themes such as sustainable resourcing and recycling, the 100 percent clean energy goal initiatives, the reduction of carbon footprint and the promotion of sustainable and healthy food consumption habits, the preservation of natural resources and biodiversity, and the promotion of green, sustainable and carbon-free transport means.
Dubai has made significant steps to control the impact of climate change and reduce its effects by limiting CO2 emissions, waste and pollution as well as including sustainable development as a key objective in the Dubai Plan 2021.
Al Basti asserted the role of the emirate in building a partnership between public and private sectors, to improve performance, achieve the strategic goals and support the country’s environmental sustainability rules.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO – DEWA
“Thanks to the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance the transformation towards a sustainable green economy, Dubai has made significant achievements in reducing carbon emissions. More than 14 million tones of emissions were reduced in 2019, a 22 percent reduction compared to business as usual.”
With the Demand Side Management programs, Dubai managed to bring down the per capita annual consumption of water by 19.5 percent and electricity consumption by 19 percent in 2019 when compared to 2010.
Al Tayer explained that the emirate is currently working on its renewable and clean energy projects to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy and will support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources and make it the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world.
One of DEWA’s key projects to achieve the lowest carbon footprint is Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar project around the globe.
