Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar has launched an online platform, SkillUP, to equip one million young people by 2030 with the knowledge and skills necessary to fight climate change in their communities, schools and workplaces.
Launched under Masdar’s Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) initiative, SkillUP platform harnesses the appeal of a gamified mobile app to engage young people in the fight against climate change by offering them opportunities to develop skills critical to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Masdar said in a statement on Saturday.
The programme will also enhance their employability, Masdar said.
“Empowering young people to become sustainability champions is the core mission for Y4S as we at Masdar recognise that young people have significant untapped potential to drive sustainable change, and it’s critical that we educate and prepare them now to meaningfully contribute to our global energy transition,” Lamya Fawwaz, Masdar executive director of brand and strategic initiatives, said.
“Masdar works through Y4S to engage students and young professionals wherever they are, and in ways they find compelling, which is why SkillUp’s globally accessible, mobile platform is so promising.”
The UAE is taking the lead regionally and stepping up efforts to hit its target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through a wide-ranging green strategy focused on a shift to renewable energy and the adoption of new technology.
The UAE will host the Cop28 climate conference at Expo City Dubai in 2023. The meeting of world leaders in November 2023 will seek to find solutions to the threats posed by climate change.
At the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties, as it is formally known, leaders will be urged to commit to tougher action on climate change, including cutting the use of coal-fired power stations, reducing reliability on fossil fuels and boosting renewable energy sources.
The Y4S SkillUp platform provides 42 hours of learning and engagement opportunities, from video presentations to information materials, activity sheets, and quizzes, all of which focus on more than 20 skills that are relevant to achieve the SDGs, Masdar said.
Users can complete specific courses to earn certificates for each of the skills. Some focus areas include Stem (science, technology, engineering and math) knowledge, critical reasoning, digital fluency, innovative thinking and new media literacy, among others.
The platform also offers users guided lessons about each of the 17 SDGs. They can define SDG-related challenges in their daily lives and pitch workable solutions for their communities, schools, and workplaces, Masdar said.
The Y4S initiative hosts two year-long education and skill training programmes: the Future Sustainability Leaders and Sustainability Ambassadors schemes.
Both aim to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders by connecting them with global policymakers, corporate decision-makers, entrepreneurs and technology pioneers to learn about best sustainability practices, according to the statement.
The FSL programme targets university and post-graduate students aged 18 to 35, while SA targets students aged 13 to 17 in high school.
Source: The National UAE
Plastic ban, recycled plastic trolleys, efficient energy systems, and more, Grandiose Supermarkets led the way ahead of the ban on Single-use plastic.
Among the industry's leaders in sustainability, Grandiose Supermarkets remain at the forefront. A change ‘maker’, not an ‘adopter’, the corporate giant was the first retail chain to completely replace single-use plastic bags at checkout with free-of-cost paper bags back in 2018. Since pioneering the movement, Grandiose Supermarkets have saved more than 15 million bags (including both in-store and e-commerce sales) which would otherwise end up in landfills and pollute waterways.
In addition to banning single-use plastic shopping bags, Grandiose has heavily invested in shopping trolleys made of recycled ocean plastic. The recyclers utilize ghost fishing nets and ropes which when left at sea cause pollution through toxic gas emissions, statistically killing 100,000 marine animals each year. The materials are made of polypropylene (PP) and every kilogram of the thermoplastic equates to 2.5kg of CO2, which, when recycled, is reduced by 80 % by Grandiose Supermarkets.
Supplementing their efforts to reduce the carbon footprint even further, the retail chain has employed energy-efficient machinery, technology, and store fit-outs to reduce emissions through state-of-the-art fridges, freezers, and storage. Having streamlined operational processes by sourcing and supporting locally grown products, carbon by-products produced through supply chain logistics are also negated. Other measures include having an efficient lighting system which deploys LED lighting and implementing occupancy sensors and day/night sensors to reduce electricity wastage.
Since its inception, Grandiose works to continually add more initiatives to its extensive sustainability portfolio to amplify their True Family Value promise. While these practices make a positive contribution to the environment, they also encourage consumers to partake in the movement, and shop and consume sustainably. This is furthered by hosting child-friendly workshops by Grandiose to ensure environmentally conscious values are inculcated well in their formative years and the principles of recycling are integrated into their daily lives.
Grandiose CEO, James Scott, is set to extend sustainable morals through more initiatives set to launch in 2022, and says, “The UAE is slowly transitioning towards a greener and cleaner future and the vision of Grandiose Supermarkets is attuned with the region’s target to achieve a Net Zero on carbon emissions by 2050. The responsibility of being environmentally conscious rests on all of us but more so on retail chains and corporations for the significant contribution we can make to pull the region out of ‘environmental vulnerability.”
He further said, “The ban on single-use plastic is imperative to modulate operations and progress the future towards a circular approach. Once corporations see the ecological sense in these economic measures, they will not just adopt the change but also embrace it.”
Source: Zawya
In line with its commitment to the net-zero climate impact and to reaching Panasonic Environment Vision 2050, the brand has announced PANASONIC GREEN IMPACT initiative globally with an aim to contribute to society-wide reductions in CO2 emissions by switching customers to energy-saving products and supplying energy-saving solutions and green energy technologies to B2B/B2G customers.
Climate change is a defining issue that requires immediate action to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future. While it may seem that the impact is a slow burn and a direct effect rarely felt, climate change is still a severe threat that could endanger lives on earth. In fact, CO2 emissions continue to increase. In 2021, global emissions increased by nearly 5% over the previous year. According to a report published by Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the world now has a 66% chance of surpassing 1.5°C of global warming over pre-industrial levels within the next decade.
Panasonic GREEN IMPACT Initiative
“As Panasonic, we are now focused on achieving a global CO2 emission of net-zero by 2030 across the entirety of our business operations. Around the world, it is estimated that more than 1 billion customers using Panasonic products every day create 86 million tons of CO2 emissions based on electricity consumption figures. This amounts to approximately 110 million tons of CO2 emissions across our entire value chain, a number that is equivalent to about 1% of total emissions from global electricity consumption. Thus, it is Panasonic's duty to reduce these emissions as they have an enormous impact on our planet. The GREEN IMPACT policy will make Panasonic better in the coming future and thus help us manner a more sustainable future for the coming generations,” commented Mr. Hiroyuki Shibutani, Managing Director, PMMAF.
Panasonic factories located in the various parts of the world use renewable energy for power, and have energy-efficient fixtures and smart lighting, and HVAC system. Meanwhile, in the regions such as the middle east, where the brand doesn’t have production facilities, it continues to provide energy-efficient products helping to reduce the impact by Panasonic customers.
“We will continue and expand upon our work to reduce emissions caused due to the use of our products by developing and providing new technologies and solutions to increase efficiency for our customers in the business and government sectors. By strengthening our efforts in these areas, we aim to accelerate society’s transition to clean energy,” Shibutani added.
By 2050, Panasonic Group aims to create impact that reduces CO2 emissions by more than 300 million tons*1, or about 1% of the current total global emissions*2
*1* 300 million tons calculated with 2020 emission factors
*2* 33.6 billion tons of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2019 (Source: IEA)
Contributing to a "Global Energy Revolution"
In countries around the world, we are now seeing efforts to accelerate the switch to renewable energy in grid power. This has given rise to a movement, including among individual energy consumers, for promoting "electrification" - the process of replacing equipment that burns fossil fuels with electrical equipment - spurring Panasonic Corporation to seize the opportunity to advance its efforts in a range of areas.
Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Critical to the achievement of a carbon neutral society is the popularization of environmentally friendly vehicles. Panasonic is leveraging its battery technology and production know-how cultivated over many years to strengthen its competitiveness (on battery capacity, cost and supply capability) in the development and mass production of lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles (EV). Take, for example, the cylindrical, high-capacity 4680 cell set to become the mainstream: while continuing to improve the strengths of its batteries, which include high quality and high safety, Panasonic aims to lead the industry on cost competitiveness through consistent productivity advancements.
Strengthened competitiveness is extremely important to the evolution and spread of electric vehicles. Combined with advancements on the below-mentioned initiatives for reuse and recycling, we will make exhaustive efforts at reducing the environmental burden.
RE100 Solutions
RE100 Solutions is Panasonic's initiative to power energy consumption across its entire operations with 100% renewable energy generated in-house utilizing combined technologies of pure hydrogen fuel cells, solar cells, and storage batteries. A proof-of-concept started in April 2022 at the fuel cell factory in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture. Panasonic will cultivate new paths for the expansion of renewables through the full-scale application of hydrogen.
"Aquarea" Heat Pump Hot Water Heater
The Panasonic Aquarea hot water heater with built-in heat pump now available on the European market transfers heat captured by a heat pump from ambient air to make hot water with minimal power and with much lower CO2 emissions than conventional heaters powered by fossil fuels. In addition to increased use of power from renewable sources, electrification enables an energy time shift by storing sometimes unreliable renewable power as hot water, thereby limiting the burden on the power grid and contributing to the faster spread of renewables.
Contributing to a Circular Society
Also, critical to resolving the Earth's environmental issues are efforts to create a circular society. Panasonic's initiatives are not dependent on the consumption of natural resources; Panasonic is working towards reduced CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle based on the concept of a circular economy for sustainable growth.
Recycling Resin from Home Appliances
To make the best possible use of resin found in many home appliances, Panasonic is expanding the applications of resin recycled from obsolete home appliances. Panasonic's proprietary technology allows for rapid classification and collection of three types of resin in highly purified form. The resin retrieved through this process is reborn as part of new products. Panasonic is working to develop technologies for the efficient collection and recycling of these kinds of resources, while also minimizing resource investment at the manufacturing stage and improving quality across every process in the resource cycle.
Model for Recycling Battery Materials
As already mentioned, Panasonic is working to strengthen the competitiveness of its EV lithium-ion battery business which also ties into the realization of a circular society. We are strengthening the reuse of resources not only through collection and recycling of batteries according to each country and region's regulations, but also through the recovery of losses in the production phase and discontinued products.
Moreover, as well as working to make products last longer, by developing technologies such as controls on charge/discharge based on the specific characteristics and usage conditions, Panasonic can ensure every battery is used for longer, thereby further advancing its contributions to the achievement of a circular society.
These are just some of Panasonic's wide-reaching initiatives. Panasonic aims to contribute to a carbon neutral future in all facets of society, solving global environmental issues by reducing CO2 emissions from operations and products, offering solutions for operational efficiency, and supplying a range of technologies to harness renewable energy resources.
Not Only For Us, For Future Generations Too
Panasonic embarked on a new organizational structure from April 2022, with divisional companies operating independently. While each company's purpose differs, the common goal is the realization of "an ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind."
Panasonic's founder Konosuke Matsushita declared his goal for achieving this "ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind" when he devised the 250-year plan. Concurrent affluence in both material and spiritual terms is the key to happiness, and Panasonic committed itself to being the one to realize this "ideal society in which every individual is happy" over 250 years. The concept is not one of sacrificing ourselves for the sake of future generations, rather it is about experiencing happiness in living out our lives and making the next era better on top of that.
Essentially, at the root of Panasonic's mission is the concept of achieving a state of well-being - happiness in both body and mind - to pass on to future generations through sustainable management. Sustainability management is achievable by putting that concept into practice, and Panasonic's Basic Business Philosophy revised last year for the first time in 60 years is simply a code of conduct to that end.
Panasonic GREEN IMPACT represents an extremely important component of that mission. The brand stands as one to take on the challenges for people today and for future generations.
Source: Zawya
DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that Dubai Taxi Corp. has added Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet for a trial after operating 172 Tesla vehicles since 2017, according to the Dubai Media Office.
During the trial run, the vehicle will be deployed on the emirate’s taxi fleet to test its efficiency.
Mattar Al-Tayer, director general and RTA’s board chairman, said: “In 2017, RTA started the operation of 172 Tesla vehicles as part of the limousine fleet of the Dubai Taxi comprising 80 Tesla Model S, 50 Tesla Model X, and 42 Tesla Model 3,” he said.
Al-Tayer noted that these vehicles were highly efficient, especially in terms of carbon emissions and customer satisfaction.
“The success of that experiment prompted us to widen the scope of using electric vehicles as part of the Dubai Taxi fleet over the upcoming years,” he said.
In his view, the experiment supports Dubai’s effort to transform 90 percent of its limo fleet into eco-friendly vehicles by 2026.
Circular economy transition
As part of its drive toward sustainable economic development, the UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to a circular economy.
According to the government, the UAE Circular Economy Council’s policies will cover four main sectors: Manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation.
Furthermore, the council identified 16 circular economy activities that offer opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products and developing AI-driven waste management solutions.
Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Almheiri said: “Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability.”
“Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country,” she added.
Circular economies focus on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimizing waste, and restoring natural systems.
Renewable energy sources fuel economic activity by maintaining the value of raw materials, components, and products.
Source: Arab News (https://arab.news/ynfe9)
Al Masaood Power Division, leaders and experts in power solutions, has signed a distribution agreement with Sunstream International to spearhead the future of solar panel solutions in the GCC.
The agreement, which was signed on June 7, 2022, is aimed at creating the widest and the most sustainable range of patented containerised, towable, and movable solar stations, which can be used in the agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and road construction sectors in the GCC region.
The agreement between Al Masaood Power Division and Sunstream International - a French innovation company with a production site in Germany - also intends to generate green and local electricity even in hazardous, remote, and challenging conditions.
Sustainable energy
Hani El Tannir, CEO, Group Industrial, said: “The UAE and other countries in the Gulf region are ambitiously transitioning toward more sustainable energy sources with solar energy emerging as an important solution to fulfil the energy needs of the region. The UAE is pioneering the adoption of innovation and best-in-class technologies that will help build a sustainable future for the country in line with our commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Other countries across the GCC are also working towards realising their national decarbonisation goals by fostering solar energy as the anchor to national renewable strategies.”
With this agreement, Al Masaood Power Division intends to use Sunstream International’s first generation of mobile and modular plug-and-play solar solutions on a larger scale to meet the energy demand of the GCC, as there is little presence of clouds, 20 per cent around the year in the region. Solar power plants in the region can expect 1,750 to 1,930 hours of full-load operation per year.
Accelerating the shift
Rasso Bartenschlager, General Manager, Al Masaood Power Division, said: “We are a pioneer in power solutions with our top focus on accelerating the shift to sustainable energy sources, solar being one of them. The Middle East is at the center of the global energy transition with a huge influx of investment for renewables, including the solar energy sector. We as a leading power solutions provider understand our role in facilitating the transition to clean and renewable energy sources, with GCC countries switching to green and sustainable economies.
“The GCC solar photovoltaic (PV) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 12.5% during the coming years with the countries in the region targeting to increase the share of renewable energy in their energy mix by 2050. This partnership also represents an important short-term and long-term business opportunity as the GCC countries are an ideal market for renewable energy deployment.”
Hence, such a trend is expected to create opportunities for the market to grow in the near future. Despite trends showing that natural gas will remain the primary source of power in the region, Al Masaood Power Division will continue to heavily invest in renewable energy to provide sustainable electricity through solar energy.
Path to net-zero
Frederic Bouvet-Haas, CEO, Sunstream International said: “It would be challenging to enable net zero strategies and deliver paths to sustainable growth without working together to come up with lasting solutions. We need to understand that the path to net-zero is unique for every nation, but we must find new ways to meet the surging energy demand while rapidly reducing carbon emissions. We, at Sunstream International, believe that innovation will save our planet. The shared agenda to generate green and local electricity is in line with our partner Al Masaood Power Division’s commitment to facilitate the region's transition to clean and renewable energy sources aimed at fostering sustainable economies.”
“After having installed big wind and solar parks worldwide for more than a decade, we have decided to design the first generation of mobile and modular plug-and-play solar solutions, minimising environmental impacts and eliminating the use of concrete or cement. The GCC region is ready for achieving more sustainable production of green electricity, in record time without complex civil work requirements,” he added.
Al Masaood Power Division has been a trailblazer in power solutions since 1970, with a strong focus on fostering innovation, best-in-class technology, and infrastructure to meet the energy needs of the region. Credited to be the first to introduce the hydrogen-powered flying boats and world-class electric generators in the country, the division offers leading power brands such as MTU, Leroy-Somer, and Volvo Penta generators and after-sales services to the UAE and Bahrain.
Source: Zawya
Initiative aims to promote the emirate’s environmental and biological diversity
The Abu Dhabi authorities have installed bird boxes in parts of the capital to provide safe places for the animals to nest.
It has also provided bird baths and feeders for them to get through the hot summer.
The Department of Municipalities and Transport is leading the project, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Sunday.
It aims to promote the emirate’s environmental and biological diversity.
Photos of the initiative showed wooden bird boxes hanging from trees in several parks.
Abu Dhabi has long been committed to safeguarding the environment.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi's latest annual report highlighted its success stories.
The 2021 report highlighted the launch of a coral reef rehabilitation project in the region, which led to the rehabilitation of a million pieces of coral reef in the capital.
The agency also released 150 turtles back into their natural habitat.
Source: The National News
The new policies will focus on four main sectors of manufacturing, food, infrastructure and transport
The UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country's transition to a circular economy, as part of its push towards sustainable economic development.
The UAE Circular Economy Council's policies will focus on four main sectors: manufacturing, food, infrastructure and transport, the government said on Sunday.
“Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability,” said Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security.
“Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country.”
The UAE, which has pledged to reach its net-zero carbon goal by 2050, has announced measures to drive sustainable economic growth and work towards its climate change targets.
A circular economy is an economic system that focuses on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimising waste and regenerating natural systems. Raw materials, components and products keep their value for as long as possible, while renewable energy sources are used to fuel economic activity.
Adopting circular economy principles could deliver $26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030, according to the Global Commission on Economy and Climate.
Last week, the Abu Dhabi government said it would invest Dh10 billion ($2.72bn) to double the size of its manufacturing sector by 2031. To support this, it will develop a new circular economy regulatory framework to ensure that the industry is operating on a sustainable basis.
The UAE Circular Economy Council approved the 22 policies during its second meeting this year.
During the meeting, the council highlighted eight relevant trends, including waste-to-resource, reuse, artificial intelligence, remanufacturing, bio-based materials and repair work.
It also identified at least 16 circular economy activities that open opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products, developing artificial intelligence-enabled waste management solutions and remanufacturing electronic waste.
“Many key stakeholders in the UAE have already started to embrace circular economy principles,” the minister said.
With 45 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions resulting from manufacturing cars, clothes, food and other products used daily, the circular economy has great potential to reduce emissions and mitigate the climate crisis, she said.
The committee continues to implement the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 through programmes and projects that are set to attract investments to this field, said Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and head of the council’s Circular Economy Policies Committee.
“Efforts are also being exerted to establish a circular economy database, in addition to offering incentives to encourage the private sector to shift towards clean production methods, thereby enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness as one of the leading circular economies regionally and globally,” he said.
Approved in January 2021, the UAE Circular Economy Policy identifies the best approach to the country’s transition to a circular economy. Its objectives include building a sustainable economy and promoting efficient use of natural resources. It also encourages the private sector to shift to cleaner industrial production methods by using AI and other advanced technologies.
The UAE Circular Economy Council comprises 17 representatives of federal and local government entities, private sector businesses and international organisations.
Source: The National News
Nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) of businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia do not have a framework governing their environment, social and governance (ESG) standards, and around half of those who do are not sure their employees fully understand it.
These were the top findings of an exclusive study of 200 decision makers in the two countries commissioned by ASDA’A BCW, the region’s leading integrated communications agency, to mark the launch OnePoint5, its new ESG advisory dedicated to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). Its name is inspired by the world’s most important sustainability goal – limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
OnePoint5 aims to strengthen the voice of the Mena region on ESG issues while helping clients to adopt more sustainable business practices. The new advisory arrives as Egypt prepares to host the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in November, to be followed by COP28 in the UAE in 2023.
Out of the 200 opinion elites interviewed, 41 per cent said their business already had an ESG framework in place, while a third (33 per cent) said they were developing one. A quarter (26 per cent) admitted their company had no ESG policy. Underscoring the need for raised awareness of the benefits of ESG standards, over half (52 per cent) of respondents who said their company had introduced an ESG framework said they did not fully understand it.
Sunil John, President – Mena of BCW and Founder of ASDA’A BCW, said the research indicated that the Middle East’s business community had work to do to meet the high expectations of their governments on sustainability best practice.
“OnePoint5 can help client develop a strong ESG proposition to deliver greater value for their shareholders and stakeholders,” said John. “The specialist advisory will be led by Stephen Worsley, Senior Vice President at ASDA’A BCW. A communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience, he has advised clients in the sustainability and energy sectors, including Masdar, Total, Zayed Sustainability Prize, Engie and First Solar.”
OnePoint5 offers four key services: Advice & counsel to client decision makers to ensure sustainability thinking is central to their business planning and disclosure; auditing and gap analysis to understand a client’s sustainability impacts; designing operational plans to help integrate best practices; and communications strategies and plans to help clients inform and motivate employees and internal stakeholders, as well as amplify external stakeholder awareness of their sustainability commitments.
“The gap between awareness of the acute need to advance sustainable development and action on the ground by much of the business community needs closing,” added John. “Consultancies like OnePoint5 can help clients address this so-called ‘say-do’ gap, by combining the skills of experienced communicators with the technical abilities of sustainability specialists.”
He said: “The UAE, Saudi Arabia and several other countries in Mena have pledged to go Net Zero and are enacting a wave of reforms aimed at raising the bar for transparency, good governance and sustainability – that is not to mention the massive infrastructure projects being undertaken, from The Line in Saudi Arabia to Expo 2020 in Dubai, the most sustainable Expo ever staged and the planned venue for COP28 next year. The message is clear: all of us need to raise our game.”
The survey further revealed that Middle East businesses need to pick up the pace on climate action, with about two-thirds (61 per cent) of decision makers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia saying that global warming was already having an impact on the way their business operates.
While governance standards also show room for improvement, 40 per cent of businesses in the two countries claim to have robust policies to combat bribery, corruption and unethical behaviour. Forty-six per cent of respondents in the UAE and 43 per cent in Saudi Arabia said they had a whistle-blower policy in place to expose corruption.
The survey was conducted by PSB Middle East, the wholly owned data and analytics subsidiary of ASDA’A BCW, from May 22 to 29, 2022. The interview sample, comprising decision makers directly involved in ESG affairs, was evenly split between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Source: Khaleej Times
Masdar City, the pioneering sustainable community and technology and innovation hub in Abu Dhabi, has announced its latest development – Masdar City Square (MC2), which will advance its contribution to the UAE Net-Zero by 2050 Strategy. Work on the development will begin this year and is scheduled for completion in 2024.
In a statement, Masdar City said that the new project will cover an area of 29,000sqm and have a gross floor area of 50,000sqm. Built in coordination with its consulting partners Woods Bagot and Faithful+Gould, MC2 will extend Masdar City’s commitment to Net Zero, sustainability, technology, and wellbeing by nurturing an expanded community of businesses operating in harmony with the environment, the statement added.
The development includes seven single- and multi-tenant office buildings and a parking facility, all reflecting innovative design, the statement continued. Six of the buildings will be built to the highest green construction specifications while the MC2 Headquarters building will be Abu Dhabi’s first Net Zero energy office building, meaning it will use no more energy than it produces by integrating energy efficiency-focused design and systems and renewable energy technologies.
This contribution to Net Zero is of great importance to the UAE, which in 2021 became the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to commit to achieving Net Zero emissions through its UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. The MC2 Headquarters building will be immediately identifiable by its innovative solar photovoltaic panel canopy.
Speaking at the occasion of the groundbreaking, Ahmed Baghoum, Acting Executive Director, Masdar City, said: “Masdar City is already home to one of the world’s largest clusters of green buildings with Estidama and LEED certifications. With the completion of MC2, and its seven new green buildings, including Abu Dhabi’s first Net Zero energy office building, we are further demonstrating how urban development can be both economically and environmentally sound and sustainable. Masdar City is proud to serve as a testbed for sustainable urban development and we look forward to seeing how MC2 enriches Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE.”
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by key representatives from Masdar, Masdar City and development partners, including Ahmed Baghoum, Acting Executive Director of Masdar City and Abdul Aziz Bin Shafar, CEO of ASGC. Six of the MC2 buildings will be 4-Pearl Estidama, LEED Platinum, and WELL Gold certified.
The buildings in MC2 add to Masdar City’s legacy as a regional pioneer in Net Zero and green construction, the developer said. In 2017, Masdar City announced the completion of its Eco-Villa Project, the UAE’s first Net Zero energy villa. The 405sqm villa was the first in the country to achieve a Four-Pearl rating, using around 72% less energy and 35% less water than a conventional villa of the same size in Abu Dhabi, mitigating 63 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
MC2 will be located adjacent to Masdar City’s existing development centred around the Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and the Siemens Middle East Headquarters. MC2 will incorporate the existing International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Headquarters and will include courtyards, a day-care, an amphitheatre plaza, shaded pedestrian boulevards, a fitness centre, a meditation room, and more.
Faithful+Gould, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been awarded a project management consultancy services contract, while global architectural and consulting firm Woods Bagot will handle design and construction supervision consultancy for the MC2 project. Woods Bagot previously designed the IRENA Headquarters in Masdar City.
Masdar City, which opened in 2010, is one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments and the only planned and approved R&D cluster in Abu Dhabi. A 10 MW solar array and rooftop panels provide the City 1MW of solar energy to meet some of its power needs. All buildings within Masdar City are mandated to achieve at minimum a 3-Pearl Estidama rating, meaning they are designed to reduce energy consumption by at least 40% and reduce water consumption by at least 40% compared to provided standards.
The City is home to over 1000 companies, dedicated to developing innovative technologies across the sectors of renewables, energy storage, artificial intelligence, health, space, and mobility. These include, among others, IRENA, the UAE Space Agency, Siemens, the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and its two pillar entities, Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and ASPIRE, Tabreed, Honeywell, and the MBZUAI. Masdar City is also home to the leading health technology company G42 Healthcare (G42), which is known for introducing one of the world’s largest Covid-19 testing and diagnostics laboratories.
Source: ME Construction News
A first initiative from the Partnering for Sustainability programme is a continuation of Schneider’s initiatives to empower its extensive ecosystem of partners to move toward a more sustainable future
UAE - Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced the launch of the inaugural Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Awards to recognise the critical role that Schneider’s partners play in delivering a more resilient and sustainable electric world.
A first initiative from the Partnering for Sustainability programme is a continuation of Schneider’s initiatives to empower its extensive ecosystem of partners to move toward a more sustainable future.
It includes comprehensive education and training, a simplified product portfolio, an open and collaborative support ecosystem and access to expertise and resources on digital transformation.
Designed to empower partners to become more sustainable in their own practices and support their customers on the path to net-zero, the program provides four easy steps that partners can follow to future-proof their businesses.
The Schneider Electric Sustainability Impact Awards will recognize a wide range of partners in two categories:
*Sustainability: Impact for my company: for partners who exhibit sustainability leadership in decarbonizing their operations,
*Sustainability and Efficiency: Impact for customers: for partners who demonstrate sustainability leadership by helping customers to achieve their decarbonization goals.
Entries will be carefully assessed on how they are leveraging energy and automation digital solutions to electrify operations, reduce energy supply, increase operational efficiency and embrace circularity across the value chain.
Eligibility requirements
These awards are open to all organizations worldwide that work with Schneider Electric to enable efficiency and sustainability. Partner organizations need to be one of the following business types to take part in the program: Homebuilders; IT Partners; Partner Builders; Design Firms; Contractors; System Integrators; EcoXperts; OEMs; Industrial Automation System Integrators; Machine Integrators and Industrial Automation Distributors.
Schneider Electric said the nominations will officially be accepted starting from July 1 until November 25. These will be later shortlisted for the Regional Awards, before streamlining further for the Global Award and the final winner will be announced at a special ceremony in January next year.
On the debut partner awards, Rohan Kelkar, Executive Vice President (Power Products) said: "We are all on the same mission - to accelerate the path to net-zero. At Schneider, we want to recognize those who are embedding positive change in their business operations. Partners who excel at this set a precedent for others to follow."
"We know there’s power in numbers and together we can deliver a significantly larger impact through considered sustainable and efficient practices," he added.
Source: Zawya
