Dubai (WAM)
Experts emphasized that the UAE has a strategic vision aimed at accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals, inspiring the world in the sectors of green buildings, smart cities, and expanding the clean energy network, coinciding with being the host country for the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate (COP28) in 2023.
Experts concerned with the field of sustainable development, who represent a number of international bodies in this regard, noted the speech of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, during his participation in the “Forum of Major Economies on Energy and Climate Change”, in which His Highness called for The need for concerted efforts of the international community, in an effort to consolidate the values of peace, peace, stability and cooperation, as they are essential enablers of sustainable economic and social development in the present and the future.
Habiba Al Marashi, founding member of the Emirates Environmental Working Group and member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Green Building Council, stressed that the state’s sustainable development strategy is one of the important tributaries of the national economy, including several sectors, the most important of which is the urban sector that seeks to support sustainable development goals by providing energy and water, while reducing Consumption of existing natural resources in order to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. She stressed the need to adopt a specific vision in order to provide a healthy environment for generations, within the country’s strategic vision for carbon neutrality 2050, and to raise public awareness of the meaning of carbon neutrality, and then find mechanisms and ways to achieve these goals. She pointed out that the Emirates Green Building Council periodically has research and studies in this field, in addition to the Sustainable Building Award and the Green Building Award, which are awards that cover Arab countries, not just the UAE. She said: “We have partnerships with Arab countries; Because the development that is taking place in the sisterly countries is positively reflected on the rest of the countries in the region.” She added that state institutions are working as a beehive in preparation for “COP 28” in 2023.
Hanifa Yammer, Head of Sustainability Services for the Middle East and Africa at JLL International Group, said that the world’s trend towards a green environment is important, especially since sustainability plays an important role in the climate change journey, praising the UAE’s role through its initiatives in supporting countries to reach carbon neutrality. She indicated the need to move to the implementation stage of commitments after educating people about the need to reach “zero carbon” at the levels of companies, cities and countries, with a focus on opportunities that bring the competencies of foreign innovation to share the best solutions with developers and architects who are an integral part of the sustainable environment.
She described the UAE’s vision for carbon neutrality as ambitious and strong, pointing out that the world will follow “COP 28” this year in the Arab Republic of Egypt and then the next version in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, for the first time in the region, calling for giving way to the private sector in the region to participate Governments to implement the sustainable development agenda.
Franco Atassi, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure for the Middle East, member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Green Building Council, called on institutional stakeholders to participate in addressing climate change crises in the course of reducing the carbon footprint, praising the efforts of the wise leadership in the country The UAE and its rational government for its interest in sustainability from an institutional and legislative perspective, and building governmental and semi-governmental initiatives towards a greener environment. He pointed out that he is honored that he is within the system of achievements being achieved in the UAE, and among the work team as a technology provider and solutions provider to help the country’s path towards a sustainable environment and reduce carbon emissions, describing carbon neutrality as a multi-stage journey for stakeholders from developers to companies, and said that this The efforts are a technical, cultural and behavioral change before it becomes a strategy and a vision, and we are working through our branches in the countries of the world to contribute to achieving the goal of “zero carbon” by 2030.
Strategy 2050
Dr. Hossam Chowdhury, Director of Studies at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, spoke about the buildings of the future in the UAE, and what cities can do to connect with each other to be sustainable and inspire the world. He said that the UAE is doing a lot to achieve its goals within its 2050 strategy, and from an academic perspective on future buildings and smart technologies, we share knowledge. He pointed to the need to ensure how to promote sustainable development goals, especially that Abu Dhabi and Dubai ranked first and second as the smartest cities in the Middle East and North Africa for 2021 for the second time in a row, according to the annual IMD Smart Cities Index, stressing the continuation of efforts to enhance awareness through initiatives, including The efforts of the Roads and Transport Authority, which plays a major role in relation to bicycle paths for electric vehicles and others, all of which are well received by the public, in addition to the interest in renewable energy, the state’s investment of more than $50 million in clean energy, and the expansion of smart grids for sustainable buildings.
#Experts #UAE #strategic #vision #COP28