A federal strategy, expected to outline how to reduce the UAE’s environmental impact across seven economic sectors, is set to be presented to the Cabinet this spring.
The green growth strategy is being prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Water in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Global Green Growth Institute. It will provide guidelines and targets for the oil and gas sector, as well as water, electricity, transport, buildings, waste, industry and agriculture.
The strategy was supposed to be finished in September last year but after a last verification workshop with the 70 different entities involved, the document should be ready for review at the highest level this spring, said Aisha Al Abdooli, under secretary for environmental affairs at the Ministry.
“We are now wrapping up the whole project together in order to submit it to the Cabinet,” she said.
The strategy aims to help the UAE develop a competitive, knowledge-based economy and promote social development.
Other broad goals include reducing the country’s environmental impact, promoting clean energy and adaptation to climate change as well as ensuring that existing resources are used efficiently. The goals set within it were developed together with the entities that will be affected and follow up on measures that some of the players are already taking.
“The objective was to have a national umbrella for all the initiatives and plans in the country,” Ms Al Abdooli said.
Among the initiatives already taking place, she mentioned steps taken by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to reduce gas flaring in oil production, an inefficient and polluting practice, by up to 78 per cent between 1995 and 2010. The company had outlined “a zero-flaring strategy” for the near future, she said.
In addition, investment in energy efficiency, green buildings and renewable energy projects in the country was increasing, with 33 projects registered under the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. In its efforts to reduce the global human impact on climate change, the scheme uses strict criteria to help finance projects in developing countries by using funding provided by industrialised states.
The UAE will be discussing its new strategy and steps it has already taken at an international conference to be held on March 4 and 5. The Global Conference Partnership for Action on Green Economy will gather high-profile delegates representing national governments and UN institutions.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
