Public-private partnership must for green economy

A strategy with ambitious goals and clear pillars, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy aims to provide seven per cent of Dubai's energy from clean energy sources by 2020.

The UAE reiterated its commitment to develop and implement green initiatives across all sectors at the World Climate Summit in Paris, making a strong case for a green transition to a robust low-carbon economy that is strongly aligned to the UN Climate Agreement 2015.
In the presence of President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson of Iceland, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and special envoy for energy and climate change, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launched the State of Green Economy Report 2016. To mobilise the UAE's transformation into a green economy, the report provides an overview of initiatives that promote innovation and policy tools that help accelerate the process. The UAE wants to become a model of transformation into a green economy, demonstrating that growing without eroding natural resources is feasible.
"We are here together, united in our desire to make a positive impact for the betterment of our planet and nations," said Al Tayer.
"Last month, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy. The strategy has a target of 75 per cent of all Dubai's total power output being sourced from clean energy by 2050."
A strategy with ambitious goals and clear pillars, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy aims to provide seven per cent of Dubai's energy from clean energy sources by 2020. This target will increase to 25 per cent by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2050. It consists of five main pillars. The first, infrastructure, includes initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site project to generate electricity from solar energy in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, and total investment of Dh50 billion. The remaining pillars cover legislation, funding, building capacities and skills, and an environmentally-friendly energy mix.
Al Tayer added: "While many around the world talk about adopting a green economy, Dubai is among the first to have joined with the world to curb its carbon footprint and combat climate change, and is already leading by example. Our strategy involves moving from a carbon-intensive economy to a greener one, by the Dubai Green Fund, which is worth $27 billion, encouraging green investment and green growth. We are here today, to reinforce our commitment to forming a combined declaration, calling for commitment to a series of concrete actions within the framework of the Road to Paris 2015."
Al Tayer also said that the UAE is one of the first countries to have endorsed the extension of the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries. "We are the first in the Arabian Gulf to sign the Copenhagen Accord at COP15, to support a long-term agreement to reduce emissions. In the same year, we established The Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. Dubai Carbon specialises in the Clean Development Mechanism, and applying best practices in reducing emissions in the Emirate of Dubai."
"We need to encourage collaboration between the public and private sectors to achieve a green economy, while mobilising new strategies and innovative solutions to achieve our goal of sustaining green growth. Public-private partnerships are key to this, as is the goal to make Dubai a global hub for green finance, to accelerate green projects by using public and private capital. Reiterating our commitment to sustainable development goals, The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) was launched by Shaikh Mohammed in 2015, to help millions of underprivileged people, who are in desperate need of drinkable water around the world. This initiative also has an annual $1 million global award to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity around the world," added Al Tayer.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com
"The UNDP, as part of its global efforts to attain sustainable development and a green economy, is proud of its enduring and fruitful partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, as demonstrated by today's launch of the second edition of the State of Green Economy Report which showcases the vital role of innovation in all areas of the green economy," said Frode Mooring, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the UAE.
"We are honoured to be partners in the production and launch of this report in Dubai, a city pioneering the global transition to a green economy as a result of its commitment, clear vision, and innovative approach to development," added Mooring.
"The subjects in this report are likely to be discussed at the World Green Economy Summit (WGES) on the fifth and sixth of October 2016 as well as at the Water, Energy Technology and Environment Exhibition on the fourth to the sixth of October in Dubai in the UAE, and I would like to take the opportunity to invite everyone to attend these important events as well," Al Tayer said.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com