UAE making progress on climate change
Public lighting
Abu Dhabi issued first specifications for public lighting in the Middle East, with estimated energy savings of 67% and carbon savings of 80% compared to current practices and technologies.
Smart meters
Smart grids are redefining energy consumption in the UAE. Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have implemented a smart metering program to automate the meter reading process of water and electricity meters. Dubai will install 1 million smart meters in apartments and villas in five years.
Public transport
By 2020, 20% of all trips in Dubai will be made using public transport, and this number will rise to 30% by 2030. Today, 14% of all journeys made in Dubai are made using public transport.
Green vehicles
Dubai’s first fleet of hybrid taxis is to expected to grow to cover half of all taxis on the road in the emirate by 2021, a number estimated to be around 4,750 taxis. Moreover, 100 electric vehicle charging stations have been deployed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) at gas stations, parks and office buildings.
Waste-toenergy
A number of waste-to-energy facilities are in the construction or approval phase in the UAE and it is expected that these facilities will handle up to 2 million tons of municipal solid waste per year by 2020.
Waste recycling
Sharjah is the leader in ambition for the full diversion of waste from landfill. Its material recovery facility handles around 100,000 tons of waste per day, 67% of which is being recycled.
Wastewater management
A major sewerage network is currently under construction in Abu Dhabi. The Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Program (STEP) will have a capacity of 1.7 million m3/day by 2030 and treated wastewater will be used for irrigation around the city.
Greener manufacturing processes
Dubai has succeeded in reducing its GHG intensity in production by 12% in five years[1]. Instrumental to this success is the effort of the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) in achieving thermal efficiency of 46% to 48% by introducing co-generation and combined cycle configuration in power stations.
Hydroponics
This technique represents the UAE’s adaptive mechanism to cope with dry desert climate by promoting water efficiency and quality of crops. Hydroponics allows the growth of crops through nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil, and there are already 87 commercial farms in the UAE benefitting from this farming method.
Dubai Green Fund
Dubai’s Green Fund will support the implementation of viable green economy programs and projects, totaling Dh100 billion (USD 27 billion). This will serve as seed capital to be combined with resources from local and international investors to accelerate the uptake of green products and services.