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Private, public sectors going green: Minister

Abu Dhabi - Dubai is setting the stage as a hub for sustainable development, including private sectors that are contributing their businesses in line with the vision.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment for UAE spoke to Khaleej Times about how the UAE is reaching the vision as a clean energy nation, highlighting that the event in itself is an example of the country's green agenda.
"For us, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is the platform where real action is taking place when it comes to seeing results on climate change. It is the platform where we see how renewable energy is fostering and shaping up for a better region and a better world.
"We really encourage everyone to come, we have 150 attendees from all over the world and we are focusing directly on the right people from private sectors, governments and youth academia," Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
The minister pointed out that the country currently has multiple projects up its sleeve.
"Masdar is one of the projects we are doing here, Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority is also doing many projects, including a 350MW (megawatt) tender that is still under the final evaluation."
He noted that Dubai is setting the stage as a hub for sustainable development, including private sectors that are contributing their businesses in line with the vision.
"Besides the excellent project with Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the private sector is also very encouraging."
"For example, Dubai Port is doing more than 88,000 solar panels covering their area in the free zone, which is going to contribute almost 40 per cent of the total consumptions of that area."
Dr Al Zeyoudi also noted that Majid Al Futtaim, whose most notable properties include Carrefour and the Mall of the Emirates, have committed seven per cent in total, noting that "it is not only the government sectors, it is also the private sectors that we have who are trying to achieve these visions."
- jasmine@khaleejtimes.com