The summit will build on the Dubai Declaration to enable the emirate to develop into the capital of the green economy.
Dubai — The private and public sectors must collaborate to build a green and sustainable future. This will help Dubai in its drive to become the capital of the green economy, industry experts said.
Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and with the support of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the DSCE and MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and chairman of the organising committee for the World Green Economy Summit (WGES), hosted a Press conference at the Armani Hotel on Monday to provide details about the second World Green Economy Summit 2015.
The summit, due to be held on April 22 and 23 under the theme ‘Global Partnerships, Sustainable Future’, will build on the Dubai Declaration, a key outcome of WGES 2014, a list of commitments agreed by Dubai in order to enable the emirate to develop into the capital of the green economy.
“In line with His Highness’ vision and innovation strategy for 2015, we have been developing strategies to promote sustainable development, green initiatives and partnerships, aiming to encourage innovation within key national sectors like renewable energy, with the purpose of making our country a global hub for green economy. This is also a result of Dubai Declaration announced last year to make Dubai a capital of green economy and a role model on both regional and international levels,” said Al Tayer.
“Today, we expand efforts to achieve our goals of green economy and sustainable development. We previously set ourselves the goal of ensuring that seven per cent of our energy requirements were met by renewables by 2020. At the start of this year, we committed ourselves to raise our target to 15 per cent by 2030.
“To support this, Dewa also launched an operational plan to reduce energy demand by 30 per cent, including eight major programmes: specifications and regulations of green buildings, retrofitting of existing buildings, districts’ central cooling, raise standards and efficiency of equipment and lighting, reusing treated water for irrigation, the efficiency of external lighting, loads management. The costs of this project would be Dh30 billion, while revenues will reach about Dh82 billion with net savings of up to Dh52 billion.”
“In Dubai, and the wider UAE, conferences such as the World Green Economy Summit provide a platform for regional and international organisations to discuss green policy and initiatives and will provide an opportunity for the private and public sector to collaborate towards building a more green and sustainable future.
“In order to effect global climate change, we need a global approach,” added Al Tayer.