The Ministry of Environment and Water in collaboration with the UAE Cabinet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Green Growth Global Institute, organized in January the closing session of interactive workshops for the green growth strategy with the participation of relevant strategic partners.
The workshops reviewed the strategic priorities and suggested programs conforming with UAE Vision 2021 and the six main paths set by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. These paths cover all vital sectors in the UAE, including oil and gas, water and electricity, transportation, construction, waste management, land use and agriculture.
Aisha Al Abdouli, Acting Undersecretary for Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Water and supervisor of the executive office of the green growth strategy, noted that the concluding session aims to review the latest updates of a work plan to draw the green growth roadmap, along with a summary of the key results and outcomes of analytical studies on ecological, social and economic aspects conducted in 2013. Studies have been conducted on the UAE’s current situation, the costs involved in controlling exhaust gases, and the comparative experiences of four countries pioneering in sustainable growth. One study assessed the economic, social and ecological effects of adopting green growth in the UAE. Results showed the importance of transforming the UAE into a green economy and the resulting benefits of such a move, such as attracting green investments, generating jobs, and ensuring sustainability in the consumption of natural resources.
In her speech, Al Abdouli noted that the strategic roadmap was drawn to determine priorities and directions to be followed in achieving the UAE Vision 2021 goals and attaining sustainable growth through the adoption of the green economy concept. These visions conform with the recently announced UAE National Agenda for 2021.
The strategy takes current and future initiatives into consideration instead of starting from scratch. The implementation of vital procedures for achieving integration and collaboration between various economic sectors is also suggested. Through this roadmap the UAE green growth strategy will be executed with reference to the results of several comprehensive and analytic studies of current ecological, economic and legal aspects. These studies highlight the importance of the coordination and integration of policies among the Emirates’ various sectors. One study noted current initiatives and projects at the federal and local level, with the commitment of the UAE’s higher authorities to the adoption and development of a green growth path reflected in strategic plans such as Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, Dubai Energy Vision 2020, Sharjah Vision 2030, and Al Fujairah Vision 2040.
From the beginning the group has been keen to consult with all relevant authorities in the UAE, whether federal, local, or from the private sector. Over 200 experts from authorities involved in the seven major sectors of the UAE economy (oil and gas, water and electricity, transportation, construction, waste management, land use, and agriculture) participated. Knowledge was shared via interactive workshops and bilateral meetings which reviewed the future visions of every sector along with the challenges and obstacles to their fulfilment and determined the necessary requirements.
Among the key outcomes of the workshops was the unanimous agreement among participants on the significance of adopting green strategies. This, however, calls for linear integration across various sectors and the consolidation of local and federal policies, as well as the activation of a system for measuring and controlling emissions, reducing consumption, effectively managing the use of energy and water resources, building up human capacities, and increasing the number of awareness and education programs.