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Dubai Crown Prince To Approve Policies Uplifting Environmental Protection Efforts | |
| Sumita Pawar |
A report says HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, chaired a meeting of the Council, which explored opportunities emerging in the circular economy and adopted a new green procurement policy for the Dubai government and a shared services function designed to enhance the efficiency of government services.
The report said that Sheikh Hamdan said that the President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had made the Year of Sustainability a bigger responsibility for Dubai to help the environment.
He said, "The UAE has created the ideal conditions for promoting environmental protection and sustainability, guided by the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We have also developed an agile legislative framework that allows us to keep pace with new developments and changes in the environmental sphere. The leadership’s support has also enabled us to raise our position as a business and investment destination that is at the forefront of promoting sustainability, encouraging green projects, and embracing the concept of the circular economy."
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"Dubai has taken initiatives to ensure we are at the forefront of global efforts to overcome the challenges of climate change. In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai seeks to set an example for an environment- and people-friendly city that is committed to preserving the planet for future generations."
"We aim to strike a balance between economic growth and sustainability as the UAE prepares to host COP28," His Highness added.
His Highness stressed that Dubai leads global cities in promoting sustainable development focused on providing the highest levels of service for its citizens and residents, as mentioned in the report.
Dubai also compares itself to the best in the world in order to keep improving its economy and the lives of its people.
He further said, "The government is not alone in this journey. The private sector is a strategic partner that significantly contributes to Dubai’s efforts to build an environmentally friendly city and create an attractive business destination. We are all working hand in hand to serve our society and advance inclusive and sustainable development."
Commenting on the report on circular economy opportunities, the Executive Council approved plans to take advantage of opportunities in the circular economy by reducing the total demand for consumables and limiting the disposal of these materials so that they can be reused on a regular basis. In addition, the meeting explored how the environmental footprint of various industries and key sectors like construction, food, packaging, and waste management can be reduced.
These efforts will build on the big steps that Dubai has already taken to reduce its impact on the environment and help the circular economy.
Since 2012, projects started by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority have helped get renewable energy sources to contribute 9% of the total production capacity.
According to the report, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy adopted the 2016-2021 Carbon Emissions Strategy to reduce emissions by 22% and reduce energy and water consumption by 30%. In addition, the implementation of the single-use bag reduction policy was implemented in mid-2022, resulting in positive outcomes apart from various other initiatives introduced by various government and private entities.
The Executive Council also approved the Green Procurement Policy, a key initiative to support the circular economy, which aims to stimulate the local supply chain, adopt more sustainable practices, broaden the use of sustainable materials, create a competitive environment, reduce the environmental footprint, and enhance financial efficiency, all of which will raise Dubai’s reputation as a city that uses its resources sustainably.
As further mentioned in the report, the policy, which was piloted with several government entities to assess its practicality ahead of implementation, includes the development of measurable environmental and technical standards for procuring green products in line with Dubai’s efforts to boost environment protection and encourage the private sector to adopt green technology, green products, and green services, as well as high sustainability standards in all government procurement.
During the first phase of its implementation, the Green Procurement Policy will focus on four types of government purchases: building materials, IT devices, lighting materials, and waste management.
The Executive Council also approved a Shared Services function that will help the government do a better job of making Dubai an attractive place for businesses.
The concept focuses on providing proactive, specialised, and seamless services for customers and government entities, leading to enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the government. The platform features a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the level of support services.
The Executive Council also said that all government information should be sent through a single channel of communication.
This move reflects the objectives of the 360-Services Policy, which the Council adopted in 2022 to further raise Dubai’s status as a leader in government services, strengthen quality and coordination mechanisms, and raise the government’s financial efficiency.