By Abha Malpani-Naismith

When you think how the ocean covers more than 70 percent of the surface of our planet, and 40 percent of the world’s population (2.4 billion people) lives within 60 miles of the coast, it is baffling to know that in this day of advanced science and technology, billions of people still do not have access to safe drinking water, or for basic hygiene at home, or to water their crops. The need for an innovative solution to solve the water scarcity issue is more urgent than ever, which is why the work of the deep tech startup Manhat feels like an extraordinary breakthrough.

The company’s technology is crucial as it is estimated that by 2050, the Middle East and Africa will be home to about 3.4 billion people, propelling the need for increased water supplies, which are already a scarce resource in the region. 

Water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink

The ongoing lack of access to water is largely because sea water is locked in the form of salty water, relying on desalination to make it usable. Desalination is expensive and has environmental consequences. Only 3 percent of the world’s water is freshwater, and two-thirds of that is trapped in glaciers or otherwise unavailable for use. Rising sea levels coupled with erratic rainfall due to global warming are other reasons for water and food scarcity issues.

Although it has a long coastline, 80 percent of the United Arab Emirates' land is desert, making it one of the world’s most water-scarce countries.

“The agricultural sector is responsible for two-thirds of all water consumption in the UAE, and we don’t have natural fresh bodies of water. We have underground water which is not sufficient for sustaining our economy because it requires purification before usage. At the moment, the UAE depends on desalination, which is energy-intensive, contributes to CO2 emissions and produces brine,” explains Dr. Saeed Alhassan Alkhazraji, the founder of Manhat and a winner of the Water Europe Innovation Awards 2022. 

Dr. Alhassan added another challenge with desalination: “The waste brine is usually poured back into the oceans, which endangers aquatic life."

A deep tech solution to water scarcity in the UAE

The Emirati-founded deep tech startup has invented a solar water distillation technology that can produce usable water by trapping the lost evaporated water from the ocean. The startup’s solution involves placing a large greenhouse construct on the seashore, then relying on solar rays to heat the water so it evaporates (as shown above). After that, the ascending water vapor condenses when it touches the cooler side of the construct, being collected and stored as distilled water, with no waste, brine or emissions. 

This is incredible especially when you realize that the water evaporating from the Arabian Gulf is at least 84 cubic miles (350 cubic kilometers) per year, approximately ten times higher than the total desalinated water produced annually in the region, according to Manhat.

“Our technology is patented, and its novelty is its ability to produce water from open water surfaces (such as seas, rivers and lakes)," Dr. Alhassan says. "There is other technology that has been on the market for decades, but it has limitations including being based on land and producing brine. Since our technology is on open water surfaces, we only capture water vapor which doesn’t contain any salt, so we don't have to deal with brine which is harmful to aquatic life."

Dr Saeed Alhassan
Dr. Saeed Alhassan (R), the founder of Manhat

Manhat has tested various prototypes of its technology both anchored and floating. Both have been deployed around Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Ports and the developer group Alreem Island. Anchored devices have been installed into the concrete walls of the corniche [Abu Dhabi’s waterfront], whereas floating devices have been deployed on water surfaces. “We have been able to showcase the water production process without using any electricity, hence, zero carbon dioxide emissions.”

Water producing technology that integrates with floating farm solutions

The startup is also building floating farm solutions that integrate with their water distillation technology. 

“Once you can produce water sustainably, it opens the door for solving both water scarcity and food security, because availability of water is a prerequisite to agricultural activities on a large scale," Dr. Alhassan continues. "Our technology mimics the natural water cycle with zero carbon footprint or brine rejection. The water can be immediately used to irrigate crops which will benefit coastal countries and mitigate the looming threat of rising sea levels due to climate change."

Tackling the issue of food security, the Abu Dhabi government’s economic accelerator program, Ghadan 21, is focused on agriculture technology. Once fully deployed, the ag tech financial package is forecast to contribute $449.3 million to GDP, create 2,900 new jobs and contribute to the emirate's goal of increasing domestic food production by 40 percent.

“We are the only water technology that can be integrated to provide floating farm solutions," Dr. Alhassan says. "There are very few floating farms around the world and they all depend on grid water, either groundwater or water from desalination plants, which negatively impacts the environment.”

Currently in seed stage, Manhat is working towards funding its groundbreaking deep tech pilot. “Our next goal is to launch a pilot floating farm to grow mushrooms and generate revenue," he concludes. "We expect the pilot project to be constructed and evaluated over 12 to 18 months. After this evaluation period, we will expand our technology to cover other crops including wheat and rice. In five years, we would have technology to grow different crops of high commercial value. If we are successful, we will expand our technology globally."

This article first appeared on Triple Pundit (https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/deep-tech-water-scarcity-uae/753746). Image credits: Manhat

Rebound, a subsidiary of International Holding Co. based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has launched Rebound Plastic Exchange (RPX), a global business-to-business digital trading platform for recycled plastics.

As part of the launch, Rebound says world leaders from government, business and civil society gathered to discuss how trading plastics presents an untapped opportunity to enable global circularity and fill demand gaps while growing opportunities for investments.

Maryam Al Mansoori, general manager of Rebound, delivered the keynote, saying, “RPX was envisioned to bring trust and quality assurance amongst buyers and sellers. Our digital platform provides companies and nations with a vital benchmark for their capacity to adopt and trade quality-assured plastics, equip them with frameworks to facilitate exchange and highlight the tangible benefits of transparent plastic trading. Overall, the platform inherently complements governments’ commitments to the Basel Convention’s amendments on the trade of plastic and enhances the responsible participation in recyclable plastic trade.”

To ensure transparency and to facilitate cross-border trading, RPX says it will use specification sheets endorsed by U.K.-based RECOUP, a nonprofit organization that says it is committed to securing sustainable, circular and practical solutions for plastic resources in the U.K. and worldwide, that are tailored to each listing on the RPX B2B marketplace.

Stuart Foster, CEO of RECOUP, said, “We welcome Rebound’s extremely thorough plastic specification standards, essential to achieve quality which enables recycling to be done in an effective and ethical way and develop a universal standard for plastics to be traded on an international scale. These standards are extensive but easy to follow, and they promise to be a great start to ensure that material is compliant with shipment criteria such as the recent changes to the Basel Convention and EU shipping regulations.”

Foster added, “These specifications help to bridge the gap between the known limitations of recycling infrastructure and the need for responsible exports to achieve higher recycling rates and targets in both developed and developing markets.”

As the technical expert leading the development of material specification sheets for RPX, Edward Kosior, managing director of London-based consulting firm Nextek, said, “Unless current practices change, it is estimated that 108 million [metric tons] of plastic waste will be landfilled, dumped or openly burned in 2050, especially in under-developed and developing countries. There is clearly a growing imperative for plastic circularity, and with the increasing demand for high-quality recycled plastic feedstock, the key trading factors of quality, standardization, transparency and trust are paramount. With this backdrop, RPX has invested in a world-class certification protocol incorporating industry best practices for material specification. Buyers and sellers of feedstock can now transact with greater efficiency and peace of mind. We are leading the movement beyond an era of informal, closed-door material trading and towards a more integrated, efficient and quality-assured system.”

He added, “Worldwide, stakeholders are now facing huge pressure from investors and policymakers to ensure that we can shift plastics from regions that have inadequate recycling facilities to regions that are short of feedstock. In this way we address the two problems facing the planet of reducing plastic waste in areas plagued with abandoned plastics and creating high-quality recycled plastics that will be used in new packaging thereby reducing the need for virgin plastics.”

To this end, RPX says it will implement a passporting system for end-to-end digital certification.

Rebound and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have joined forces to accelerate the mobilization of private capital toward low-carbon, environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient investments. Rebound and ADGM say they plan to further advance sustainable finance during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum and across the curricula of the School of Sustainable Finance.

Dhaher bin Dhaher Al Muhairi, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority, said, “Abu Dhabi is well on its way to becoming a hub of sustainable financial solutions. With the potential of facilitating the recycling of 5 million tons of plastics by 2025, Rebound stands at the core of such solutions. It will bring significant impacts to global business models and financial practices.”

He added, “As a financial center and a catalyst for growth, ADGM will continue to work with like-minded partners to advance the sustainability agenda to address the development and growth needs of our country and the wider region.”

Rebound has joined the panel of 73 public and private sector signatories to the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration. 

Rebound also says industry members in the Middle East, North America, Latin America, India, Southeast Asia and Europe already have subscribed to the RPX.

“Scaling up circular activities worldwide has now become a timely necessity,” said David Bourge, general manager, Veolia, Thailand. “Through trust and visibility, RPX is set on increasing the recycled volume of plastics, and we are proud to be part of this journey.”

Rodolfo Lacy, director for Climate Action and Environment for Latin America and special envoy to the United Nations from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said, “We need to close the carbon cycle again by seeking the circularity of goods and even services that depend on fossil fuels or their substitutes. … Rebound's digital solution is an example of how to effectively accelerate the implementation of a global circular economy and international development through sustainable trade.”

Source: https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/rebound-plastic-exchange-launches/

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has received 4 bids from international companies for consultancy contract for the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, with a production capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030. The production capacity of the sixth phase of the Solar Park will be 900 MW.

“We work in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Since its launch, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s projects have received considerable interest from global developers, which reflects the confidence of investors from around the world in DEWA’s major projects in collaboration with the private sector using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. DEWA’s total production capacity of energy is 14,117 MW. The current production capacity of the Solar Park is 1,627 MW using photovoltaic solar panels. DEWA is implementing other projects at the Solar Park with a total capacity of 1,233 MW using photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power technologies, which raises the share of clean energy production within Dubai's energy mix to 11.5%. This is expected to reach 14% by the end of this year,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“We seek to put Dubai and the UAE at the forefront of producing renewable and clean energy. DEWA has achieved world records for the lowest solar energy prices (Levelised Cost of Electricity), for five consecutive times, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar power prices,” added Al Tayer.

UAE-based law firm Al Tamimi & Company has become one of the region’s first to successfully obtain the ISO 14001 certification after implementing an effective environmental management system.

The firm, which has 17 offices in 10 countries, joined the Living Business programme to improve its sustainability profile. The programme offers corporate entities one-on-on strategic guidance on doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole.

“Al Tamimi & Company prides itself in always taking the lead in global initiatives. That’s why we decided to gear towards a more sustainable approach in all of our offices and join the Living Business programme,” says Nina Gupte, the Director of Administration at Al Tamimi & Company.

“Obtaining the ISO 14001 Certification for our head office in Dubai was the first step toward making a positive impact on the environment. We are currently working on getting two more offices – in Abu Dhabi and Qatar – ISO certified by the end of the year and we are looking forward to having all our offices ISO certified by the year 2025,” she adds.

ISO 14001 requires members to adopt extensive (and costly) environmental management systems that provide assurance to internal and external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved. Al Tamimi & Company has teamed up with Globally, a for-impact organisation which facilitates companies in being environmental stewards, for guidance and support in implementing their EMS and applying for ISO certification.

Law firms have traditionally supported environmental action in an advisory capacity. They provide businesses with legal and corporate governance counsel. However, as global interest builds around net-zero targets, legal practices are beginning to examine their own contribution to climate change. Like other consulting businesses, law firms’ biggest sources of carbon emissions include excessive paper use, energy-intensive office spaces, and extensive business travel, according to members of the Law Firm Sustainability Network.

Over the 2019-2020 financial year, the UK’s top 50 law firms produced CO2 emissions equivalent to nearly 2,000 tanker trunks worth of gasoline from their domestic operations alone. Similar data for the MENA region is not available.

UK law firms’ annual emissions of 150,000 tonnes of CO2 produced would require 2.5 million trees to be grown for a decade to offset the gases released, according to data equivalency calculations provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

“We noticed we had a waste problem around five years ago. Back then, we were using around 500 reams of paper monthly in our head office alone. Slowly, we’ve started reducing our paper use and printing to come down from 500 reams to about 50 reams per month,” says Gupte.

Joining the Living Business programme helped Al Tamimi & Company to further improve sustainability across its organisation.

A recycling initiative with Living Business is expected to divert 1646 kgs of waste from landfill, representing a 50% decrease in total waste as a result of the project throughout 2022.

From secure printing methods to green office spaces to shared printers, occupancy light sensor installation in meeting rooms, and e-billing, Al Tamimi &Company has also implemented several eco-friendly strategies to reduce its carbon footprint year over year.

“A year ago, the organisation implemented a ‘clean-desk policy’, this is underpinned by staff using a booking system to reserve desks anywhere in the office on a daily basis, this has fostered more agile working practices”, said Gupte

Similarly, the company has transitioned to a more digital approach to doing business, in line with a global trend towards digitalisation in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Among these changes is taking a digital approach towards old-fashioned legal documentation methods.

Gupte explains, “We are slowly expanding our environmental, social and governance profile and are, taking the steps, internally and externally, to reduce our footprint. Our Dubai office is in an ISO-certified building in DIFC that implements numerous sustainability measures. We are [also] encouraging our clients and employees to take a greener approach, even on a personal level, towards their day-to-day activities inside and outside Al Tamimi & Company.”


Sharjah executive council has announced that it will ban the use of single-use plastic bags and materials from 1st of January 2024.

From 1st October this year, sales outlets in the emirate will have to levy a minimum charge of 25 fils on all single-use plastic bags in a plan to gradually reduce the amount of single-use plastic products used in Sharjah's shops and restaurants from now until the full ban comes into force.

This follows a similar ban which was enforced in Abu Dhabi and an introduction of a 25 fils charge for single-use plastic bags in Dubai earlier this year.

The Sharjah Executive Council's ( SEC) decision aims to:

  • Protect the environment from the dangers of plastic pollution and reduce the negative effects resulting from harmful practices
  • Enhance and encourage a culture of environmental protection and sustainability by reducing the consumption of single-use plastic bags and materials, leading to their ban
  • Organise the shift from the consumption of single-use plastic bags and materials, and to provide environmentally friendly alternatives
  • Ensure that multi-use bags and materials are handled sustainably

Over the next few months the council will prepare and begin awareness and educational programmes on the importance of shifting from consuming single-use plastic bags and materials to other sustainable and multi-use alternatives. Businesses will also be responsible for informing customers of the tariff imposed and guiding them to use and providing them with suitable alternatives.

The council will encourage stores to offer reusable products, such as tote and canvas bags, as an alternative to single-use bags. These products will have to meet certain technical specifications and be approved for use by the Department of Municipalities Affairs.

Source: Press Release

Aldar Properties PJSC (‘Aldar’) released its 2021 Sustainability Report today, showcasing the continued evolution of its sustainability strategy, in alignment with international best practice and supported by enhanced governance and data collection. The report also highlights the progress the company has made across its four sustainability pillars of Environment, Economy, Community and People.

By focusing on data quality, Aldar was able to close gaps in data collection and strengthen its capabilities and processes, paving the way for more detailed and stronger reporting of sustainability metrics. This included the launch of a new data management system to streamline reporting across the Group and to track more than 500 non-financial KPIs across the ESG spectrum. The system aligns with international sustainability reporting frameworks including major sustainability indices, GRESB, and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Aldar will soon expand it to incorporate other ESG frameworks and ratings such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

Meanwhile, reflecting both international best practice and Aldar’s own deep commitment, the Group fully embedded sustainability into its governance framework in 2021. This ensures clear accountability at all levels, and that sustainability is given an appropriately high weighting in Aldar’s strategic decision making. Ultimate accountability for the Group’s sustainability strategy and performance rests with its Group Executive Management Committee, which is supported by sustainability councils and sustainability specialists within each business unit.

Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar, said: “The steps we have taken in 2021 to prioritise the environment and impose on ourselves greater accountability and transparency are fully aligned with UAE’s robust sustainability agenda and global international ESG standards. As we continue to support the UAE leadership’s vision and decarbonise our building operations, we are also redefining Middle East real-estate sustainability benchmarks and putting ourselves on track to become industry leaders.”

Greg Fewer, Group Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, added: “As with any long-term commitment, there is a need for regular review and enhancement. In 2021, our goal was to accelerate our sustainability capabilities and put in place the infrastructure to accurately measure the progress of our ambitious targets. We achieved this by enhancing data collection, increasing our levels of governance, and expanding our sustainability teams. We are now in a position to expedite our agenda and report the areas of progress most important to our stakeholders more robustly.”

ENVIRONMENT PILLAR

To bolster its commitment to the environment, the company has strengthened it alignment with sustainability best practices and the UAE’s net zero targets and is working on its own Net Zero Action Plan, the details of which are due to be announced later in 2022. 

Leveraging enhanced methodologies, Aldar has also improved the quality of measurements in its carbon footprint, setting the environmental baseline for the Group’s decarbonisation journey. The company’s partial carbon footprint in 2021, including Scope 1, 2 and Scope 3, was 1,932,952 tCO2e, with some 73.7% of Aldar’s total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions coming from electricity and 23.3% from cooling. The company’s Scope 3 emissions at the Group level represent around 87.3% of its carbon footprint.

In 2021, Aldar also took significant measures to reduce energy consumption across its portfolio by 20%. The Group’s ambitious retrofit project is the largest of its kind in the UAE and is expected to remove 80,000 tons of carbon emissions annually across the company’s 80 hotel, school, commercial, leisure and residential assets. The wide-ranging retrofit project will save Aldar AED 40 million per year in energy consumption costs and demonstrates that landlords have large economically actionable projects that can help both the bottom line and the environment immediately. In addition, the company in 2021 also built its first solar hybrid power plant at one of its construction sites and signed a clean energy agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity to provide clean energy sources for up to five years.

ECONOMY PILLAR

Aldar is a strategic partner of the national In-Country Value (ICV) programme, a UAE government programme headed by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology. It aims to boost economic performance and support local industries by redirecting higher portions of public spending into the national economy. Through its involvement with the ICV programme, Aldar prioritises engaging with local contractors, consultants and suppliers (including SMEs) to reinvest in the local economy. During 2021, Aldar recirculated AED 8.8 billion to the local economy through ICV. Aldar Projects also signed development project contracts worth AED 8.5 billion, including 16 contracts with UAE‑based companies.

COMMUNITY PILLAR

Aldar is committed to creating positive social and environmental impacts that benefit communities across the UAE and beyond. Last year, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, numerous impactful initiatives were supported to benefit wider communities, which are managed in partnership with organisations such as Sandooq Al Watan, Ma’an, UAE Team Emirates and Special Olympics UAE. In 2021, Aldar also signed an MOU with Zayed Higher Organisation to create opportunities and provide greater accessibility for People of Determination.

PEOPLE PILLAR

Reflecting Aldar’s commitment to Emiratisation, the company brought the percentage of UAE nationals in the corporate workforce to 35% from 29% in 2020.  At the same time, the proportion of women employed at Aldar rose to 42% in 2021, up from 31% in 2020.

For further information on Aldar’s ESG strategy and the 2021 sustainability report, please visit: aldar.com/en/sustainability

Source: Press release

The strategic partnership underlines Dubai’s position as a global capital for shaping the future and forging sustainable urban societies

Dubai, UAE: The Museum of the Future has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to showcase unique technologies and solutions related to the future of environmental sustainability and renewable energy. The agreement aims to pave the way for constructive research that helps provide solutions for today’s ecological challenges. This agreement is working towards enhancing Dubai’s position as a leading city of the future that sets a benchmark for low-carbon urban societies and sustainable development.

The partnership was announced at the ‘Tomorrow, Today’ exhibition, which highlights concepts and solutions, such as energy and environmental innovations, that, on a wider scale, can help solve global challenges. Spread across 900 square metres, the exhibition showcases existing solutions and concepts that demonstrate the application of advanced technology in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability.

This partnership comes as a result of the interest of the Museum of the Future in providing solutions designed to meet future needs through applying technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They have the potential to contribute to building sustainable low-carbon urban societies and promote sustainable development in the green economy.

The ‘Tomorrow, Today’ exhibition, located on the museum’s second floor, also focuses on other key areas including space, health, cities, and technology in the near future. Each exhibit offers visitors a unique experience that aims to inspire and encourage them to reimagine the world of tomorrow. 

“At DEWA, we enhance national and global partnerships to forecast and shape the future to serve humankind. This supports the preparations for the next 50 years, and the Seventh of the Principles of the 50 highlights the strategic goal to make the UAE a future global leader; and the Dubai 10X initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to place Dubai 10 years ahead of leading global cities,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve the wise leadership's vision, DEWA was one of the first entities to support the Museum of the Future. DEWA has built a solar power plant that supplies the museum with clean energy. This has contributed to the museum being the first in the Middle East to apply for the Platinum Rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the highest ranking for green buildings worldwide. We are glad today to strengthen our partnership with the Museum of the Future. This will make the museum a new global platform that highlights DEWA’s leading global achievements in sustainability, clean and renewable energy, investing in the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies to provide futuristic innovative solutions and advanced services in accordance with the highest standards of quality, efficiency and sustainability. This enhances the quality of life and develops Dubai’s competitive abilities further,” added Al Tayer.

"Through this partnership, we will work to select the best innovations and technologies to display in the museum, and we will work to support the government initiatives to contribute to making Dubai the smart city of the future, in addition to discovering more future technologies," added Al Tayer.

His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: “strategic partnerships play a pivotal role in achieving the museum’s vision and enhancing Dubai’s leading position as a global laboratory for promising future technologies and concepts.”

HE Belhoul added: “DEWA’s captivating experience at the museum will introduce visitors to future innovations and concepts related to the production of clean energy and the transition to a green economy. This partnership will support the museum's important contribution to the UAE’s future. It will encourage people to have their own perspective about the future and empower them to act upon it.”

HE Belhoul concluded: "The ‘Tomorrow, Today’ exhibition represents a scientific environment that motivates global talents to innovate and develop solutions as a response to future challenges. More broadly, the museum provides a testbed for developing innovations in areas such as robotics and technology alongside evaluating their impact on society. Ultimately, the museum provides visitors with a unique interactive experience that enables them to gain insights into the future and allows them to explore its various sectors.”

The Museum of the Future is an architectural masterpiece in the heart of Dubai. It is considered a global icon for shaping a better future for humanity. A future based on innovation, creativity, cooperation, communication, and an openness to new ideas. The museum’s façade is 77 metres high and comprises 1,024 individual steel panels. It is also engraved with inspirational quotes from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, written in Arabic calligraphy.

Source: Zawya

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that RTA had achieved the targeted energy efficiency performance indicators 2021 and reduced total energy consumption in all operations and projects by 18%, when compared with the average consumption from 2016 to 2019. It also managed to reduce the total emissions by 13% and energy costs by 10% during the same period.


“Sustainability is a key pillar of RTA’s strategic goals and objectives, and the concept of sustainability has become deeply rooted in RTA’s corporate performance. Protecting the environment, optimising the use of energy, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring assets sustainability have become priorities. RTA has a well-defined roadmap that aims to achieve zero-emission from public transport in Dubai by 2050. In the process, RTA is becoming the first government entity in the Middle East and North Africa to develop an integrated roadmap targeting public transport and its infrastructure,” said Al Tayer.


Indicators and Results


“As compared to the average in the years from 2016 to 2019, RTA Energy Analysis Report 2021 showed a decrease in the total energy consumption by 18%, and gasoline consumption by 36%. This drop is attributed to the increased use of hybrid and electric taxis by Dubai Taxi Corporation, along with a 15% decrease in diesel consumption, despite an increase in the public bus fleet.


“RTA has carried out a process to upgrade its old fleet of buses to replace them with modern buses equipped with eco-friendly Euro 6 engines compatible with the European specifications for carbon emissions. The report also indicated an increase in electricity consumption by 11%, as a result of the operation of the 15-kilometre Dubai Metro Route 2020, which includes seven stations,” explained Al Tayer.


Projects and Initiatives 


“RTA has implemented 36 energy and green economy initiatives in 2021, resulting in record savings of AED 85 million, 68 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 55 million gallons of water, 21 million litres of gasoline, 1.8 million litres of diesel, and a reduction of approximately 86 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. It also diverted about 450,000 tons of waste from landfill through effective waste management practices,” explained Al Tayer. 


“RTA has accomplished over 95% of green economy initiatives and projects, and future directions are guided by a range of factors, including soft and shared mobility, sustainable transport, circular economy, self-driving vehicles for passengers and goods, and developing services based on customer needs and future skills,” concluded Al Tayer.


The year 2021 saw the official operation of the Dubai Metro Route 2020 Project, which serves densely populated districts inhabited by 270 thousand inhabitants . The path of the route was based on several perimeters namely the anticipated number of riders in each station, commercial activities around, and the link with other public transit means at each station such as buses, which contributes to Dubai’s sustainable growth. 


The year also saw the completion of numerous road and bridge projects, highlighted by constructing roads spanning 138 lane-kilometres with 9 flyovers to serve Expo 2020 Dubai. It opened model public bus stations, pedestrian bridges, and cycling tracks to transform Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city, which entails the provision of suitable options to encourage people to practice cycling. 

Source: Press release

Committed to maintaining Swiss sustainable standards, Swissotel Al Ghurair has taken another big step forward by introducing an internal water filtration unit to provide guests with clean and fresh drinking water.

Since 2018, Swissotel Al Ghurair is connected to the iconic Al Ghurair Centre, one of Dubai’s first shopping malls, welcoming guests on a journey centered on guest well-being and a conscious effort to reduce its ecological footprint .

Proving to be a great place to work and support the local community, the hotel has been advancing its sustainability plans.

Filtering system

Filtration systems treat the freshwater discards through various chemical and microbiological processes, which are then carefully bottled and distributed across guest rooms and dining areas. The hotel has a small number of staff certified to manage the bottling and filtration room within the hotel, where hygiene and hygiene measures are strictly measured.

Approved by the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Authority and Observe Accor’s safety standards, the filtered water is completely safe and for hotel guests to consume.

General Manager Dominic Arel said of the programme: “At Swissotel Al Ghurair, we invite guests to discover and join our approach to sustainability. Through our The Vitality corner, we integrate sustainability and wellbeing, offering homemade jams and syrups; our à la carte menu includes homegrown vegetables, seasonal fruit and sustainably sourced fish.

Sustainable projects

“Meanwhile, at the heart of the hotel, we offer our colleagues sustainable programs, including free academic and physical exercise classes, the Adopt Plants initiative follows Accor’s 21 Planet guidelines, and has a plastic-free policy In addition, we believe in giving back to the local community through healthy collaborations with institutions such as Evolvin’ Women, Emirates Down Syndrome Academy, Al Jalila Foundation and Zulekha Hospital. Sustainability remains a focus for the Swissotel Al Ghurair team, both within the team’s talent and culture the key of.”

“One of my passion projects is a water filtration system in a hotel, I have been working on this project since last August and I am very pleased with the support of my engineering and housekeeping team in making this project a reality. Everyday We clean, fill and seal 1,800 bottles and provide fresh drinking water to our guests, drastically reducing single-use plastic and energy, as well as wasting water.

“Together we have joined the Dubai Government’s Dubai Can Initiative, and with the support of Accor, our stakeholders and employees, we make it our responsibility to protect and conserve water resources for a better tomorrow. Life is a journey , live a good life.”

Air conditioning usage represents 70% of the UAE’s electricity use during the summer and this has a huge impact on the environment

About half of UAE residents (47% of) aim to make their homes as environmentally friendly as possible, with more than half (55%) considering sustainability a key factor when purchasing electronic products, a study said.

The survey conducted by cooling experts Taqeef and AC manufacturer O General explores the role of sustainability in people’s lifestyles and purchasing habits.

A third (33%) of respondents consider sustainability to be as important as price in their product choices and 27% would switch to another electronic brand if the goods offered are better for the environment. 29% are aware that the more sustainable the electronic goods are, the more they save in utility bills. 30% would prefer if electronic brands focused more on explaining sustainability parameters such as energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, said the survey.

“This survey shows us that environmental credentials are increasingly driving the purchasing choices of UAE consumers as they look for new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In a region where cooling is considered an essential, it’s really encouraging to see that sustainability is becoming as important as brand and price for many when choosing a new AC,” said Tariq Al Ghussein, Chairman and CEO of Taqeef.

“Air conditioning usage represents 70% of the UAE’s electricity use during the summer and this has a huge impact on the environment, but we can mitigate this impact with cooling technology that’s high on energy efficiency. O General’s new inverter wall-mounted (AC) series has been specifically designed for the Middle East, and sets a new standard of innovative indoor cooling that’s both smart and sustainable,” he said.

Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Source: Zawya