DUBAI - From the use of hybrid taxis to the CNG-powered buses and electric metro as well as battery-powered abras, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been constantly on the hunt for eco-friendly transport solutions. Apart from these pilot projects, the RTA’s various departments are also chalking out policies to bring down the emission levels from private vehicles.

Naser Abu Shehab, Director of Strategic Transportation Planning at the RTA, spoke with Khaleej Times about the current emission standards in Dubai, the pilot projects and the UAE’s aspirations to take a lead role in the regional sustainability race.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. As a transport regulating authority, what is the RTA’s role in controlling emission levels from private vehicles in Dubai?

A. The RTA has both the regulatory and implementing responsibility in relation to transportation environmental issues. The Strategy and Corporate Governance sector is responsible for suggesting, formulating and assessing such policies and regulations in coordination with relevant entities while the RTA executive arms, including Licensing Agency, are responsible for implementing and monitoring vehicle emission standards. As known, emission tests form an integral part of vehicle testing procedures that need to be conducted for the purpose of registration and licensing of all types of vehicles. In addition, the Licensing Agency has the right to monitor adherence to emission standards by vehicles operating on Dubai roads. This is done in coordination with relevant local entities including the Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality.

What are the current standards of acceptable emission in Dubai?

Current emission standards used to test vehicles for the purpose of registration deal with the measurement of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon levels only; the acceptable levels of these emissions are 4.5 per cent and 800 ppm, respectively, and are considered to be relaxed. The UAE is a member of the Kyoto Protocol and, hence, the RTA has plans to gradually adopt the more strict Euro 4 and 5 standards.

How is the air pollution being monitored currently?

Currently, the air pollution is monitored through the emission tests carried by the RTA’s Licensing Agency at the time of vehicle registration and by the Dubai Municipality via a number of strategically distributed stations within the emirate to measure environmental pollution levels. Field campaigns to check the level of vehicle emissions utilising different tools and equipment are within the RTA short-term future plans.

Is the RTA working in partnership with other government bodies like the Ministry of Environment?

Clearly, environmental regulations and standards, including vehicle emission standards, are federal level issues which require a close coordination between the RTA and all relevant federal entities, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Economy, Accreditation entities… etc. The RTA has already started dialogue with the relevant entities in an effort to modify the current vehicle emission standards.

What are the current measures or efforts put in place by the RTA in its transport system?

The RTA highly values environmental sustainability. This is clearly reflected in the RTA’s corporate strategic plan. One of the eight strategic objectives stated in that plan is devoted to “Safety and Environmental Sustainability”.

The RTA has attained a number of remarkable environmental achievements which include the launch of a highly environment-friendly metro system with very low levels of noise and energy pollution (straw currents), the use of EURO 4 and 5 engines with the highest international environmental standards in all of its new buses, use of specially imported low sulphur content diesel (50 ppm) for all new buses, completion of an almost three-year programme of hybrid taxi pilot project as a preparation for a comprehensive future plan which aims at replacing Dubai taxi fleet with hybrid vehicles.

RTA’s recent environmental initiatives

· devoted one main branch of the Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport to creative environmental initiative and practices

· studying different policies related to the renewal of old vehicles and aligning vehicle licensing fee with age, the engine size and amount of emissions

· continuous evaluation of environment-friendly technologies including compressed natural gas (CNG) engines; a pilot project will start with CNG-powered public buses

· preparation and release of the environment protection policy and environment management system

· preparation of an environmental management plan that aims at reducing the environmental impact of road construction activities