ABU DHABI // The Ministry of Environment and Water has released its first State of Green Economy Report, which evaluates the country’s economic growth according to the international sustainability standards.
The report, released to mark Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, aims to document the country’s progress in its efforts to make the economy more energy and resource efficient.
At a press conference on Monday, Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said: “We are very proud of publishing this unique report as the world’s first of its kind in publicly reporting the status of progress towards a green economy.
“The UAE’s successful economic development means that the country has faced environmental challenges arising from the record pace of growth in population, energy and water demand.
“However, with the objective set out under the UAE Vision 2021 to become among the best countries in the world, the UAE has decided to steer its course of progress towards a green economy and to achieve green objectives and economic growth simultaneously.”
He said the ministry, along with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is devising a plan to be adopted by the Cabinet.
“In the coming years, the plan will support the better coordination of national and local policies and encourage industry and citizens to adopt more eco-innovative solutions and eco-friendly behaviour.”
Engineer Aisha Al Abdooli, head of green development at the Ministry of Environment and Water, said: “It was a major challenge to compile such a comprehensive report and we did it in just four months. All the research was done internally. We are very proud of our hard work.
“The private sector is a major support to the public sector. Hence we have also discussed the initiatives taken by the private sector in the country to promote green economy.”
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
