• Home

Key features of Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030

ABU DHABI - Addressing the challenges posed by climate change, focusing on monitoring and ensuring air quality, implementing measures towards better water resources management, highlighting habits on habitats and biodiversity, and effective waste management are ourcurrent priority areas, according to Dr. Richard Perry, Executive Director –Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Sector, at the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi (EAD).

Dr. Perry was offering a presentation at a workshop that was organized at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies. More than 30 experts, faculty and students attended the event that brought out the various aspects of Abu Dhabi’s environment program.

Dr Steve Griffiths, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute, said: “Masdar Institute is pioneering advanced energy and sustainable technologies and therefore is deeply concerned with environmental sustainability. The presentation by Dr. Perry not only provided insights regarding Abu Dhabi’s Environment Vision 2030, but also offered students an opportunity to learn about internship and employment prospects at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. We thank the UAE’s wise leadership for making environmental protection a nationally recognized issue that may be the source of future employment for our students.”

The presentation by Dr. Perry covered internship and recruitment opportunities for Masdar Institute students, the five priority areas of research and the alignment of its current mandate with the Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030.

The five priority areas of Environment Vision 2030 include minimizing impact of climate change, ensuring clean air and limited noise pollution contributing to safe and healthy living conditions, efficient management and conservation of water resources, preservation of habitats, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, as well as enhanced value creation through optimized material flows and waste management.

The Environment Vision 2030 program is still a work in progress and comprises dual focus areas – pragmatic thresholds and idealistic sustainability values. While the former aims to prevent the vicious circles of pollution and depletion by setting minimum thresholds for preserving the environment, the latter aims to create virtuous cycles that enhance the environment by pursuing idealistic states of long-term sustainability.

Dr. Perry said: “On the pragmatic segment, the program seeks to implement measures for capping emissions of air pollutants, limiting depletion of natural resources and protecting sensitive habitats without impacting upon Economic 2030 objectives, while the other side of the spectrum involves in exporting green knowledge services, investing in natural capital and promoting voluntary green standards. At the same time, the program suggests that increasing electricity and water efficiency, improving fuel efficiency in vehicles, as well as using renewable energy and eliminating waste will contribute significantly in achieving the main objectives.”

At the request of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) is developing the Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030 policy agenda as an integral part of Abu Dhabi Government’s holistic policy agenda framework encompassing the driving Economic, Environmental and Social Agendas that together will steer the Emirate towards sustainable development.

The Environmental Vision 2030 has been developed through an extensive consultative process involving stakeholders from across the board with the intent that it serves not only to protect the environment but also to complement the economic and social agenda for Abu Dhabi, as well as build upon existing environmental initiatives.

Established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change.