Dubai saves Dh5 millon from emission cuts

dubai - Reductions come from clean development mechanism projects in the emirate

Dubai recorded nearly half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2016, Dubai Carbon said on Tuesday.

Ivano Iannelli, CEO of Dubai Carbon, the low-carbon economy enabler, said the reductions come from clean development mechanism (CDM) projects in the emirate, which have been approved by the United Nations, and are in line with Dubai's Carbon Abatement Strategy. He also revealed that the emissions reduction was recorded at 419,500 tonnes of CO2 in 2016, and that the monetary savings achieved equalled Dh5,080,564.

This was attained through Dubai's 13MW photovoltaic plant, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's energy efficient chillers - Testiac - and Union Cement Company's waste heat-to-energy plant.

Dubai Carbon says a number of projects and activities in the renewable energy sector will further reduce emissions in the coming years.
"As a leading developer of CDM projects, we highly appreciate Dubai's ambitious carbon abatement initiatives," said Iannelli.

The emirate has achieved a milestone in the energy sector with seven projects registered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change CDM programme in 2016. In addition to these, a number of other CDM projects are being developed by Dubai Carbon.

Furthermore, Dubai Carbon will work on CDM registration for Empower District Cooling PoA, UAE Fostering an ESCO Industry PoA, UAE Efficient Lighting PoA and Dubal Exhaust Fan Energy Efficiency Project in the near future.

"We aim to offer an opportunity for public and private entities to be part of this UN-approved initiative while benefiting from the financial return of the carbon credits. The UAE, especially Dubai, is actively working towards turning the Paris Agreement into action, and I hope this will hopefully motivate organisations and governments across the region to follow the example," Iannelli said.

Improvements
Speaking on the areas where improvements can be made that will reduce carbon emissions, Iannelli pointed to waste management, waste transportation and district cooling. A key issue, he explained, was that many people thought of waste management as being synonymous with recycling. This was not the case, he stressed, and that companies needed to understand how improving efficiency in different parts of the value chain was just as important.
Another project that Dubai Carbon would soon be a part of involved the installation of solar panels on school rooftops in Dubai, and then teaching young students about the importance of solar energy and using it wisely. Iannelli revealed that two schools had been selected for the pilot project and that several more would be added to the project list in the near future.

"Looking at the future, UAE's sustainability targets are becoming more ambitious. I believe that through collaboration and active public-private partnership, we can meet these goals and make Dubai the world's leading sustainable city," Iannelli concluded.

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com