In line with its commitment to develop and implement innovative solutions to protect the environment and promote sustainability, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has organized a series of scientific seminars in cooperation with Abu Dhabi’s academic and educational institutions. Through such initiatives, the ministry aims to support and contribute to the UAE’s Green Economy Strategy launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai earlier this year under the slogan ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development.’
The first scientific seminar was held under the theme ‘Policy Approaches and Their Impact on Green Development Models’ and was organized in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Education Council and INSEAD Innovation & Policy Initiative at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The seminar was presented by Dr. Yasser Al-Saleh, Research Fellow at INSEAD Abu Dhabi Campus who highlighted the expected business impacts of the use of green policies development tools via his study on ‘Green Business Models.’
Eng. Aisha Al Abdooli, Director - Green Development, Ministry of Environment and Water, said: “The state seeks to move forward towards competing with the world’s leading nations and becoming a leader in ‘green’ economics in line with UAE Vision 2021. This will be made possible by implementing the UAE’s strategy for green development, which aims to provide a strategic outline for green development policies at the national level for transforming the country into a greener economy.”
Eng. Al Abdooli added that shifting to a green economy can create more opportunities and gives the UAE competitive advantages in several areas such as renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and green buildings. She further added that the target could be achieved only with the cooperation of all partners, especially those in academe, particularly by investing in green technology researches and developments, supporting the development of the business sector, and promoting a ‘green’ economic diversification policy.
Eng. Al Abdooli thanked the UAE’s government for its efforts in building human capital and local knowledge, and improving the education and research systems for a better teaching quality in addition to hosting high-level international universities in Abu Dhabi. She said this reaffirms the belief that the academic community is a key partner in implementing the UAE’s strategy for green development and that there is therefore a need to build strong partnerships between government, industry and academic sectors.
Several seminars will follow this scientific seminar to add the latest knowledge and technology as well as to explore opportunities for more support and collaboration of experts in governmental and industrial sectors. The Ministry will continue to organize numerous scientific seminars and workshops in collaboration with various academic institutions in the coming months.
It is worth mentioning that the UAE adopted the green economy approach early in 2012 as a path of sustainable development through the UAE Green Economy Strategy. The adoption of this approach comes within the framework of UAE Vision 2021, an ambitious national vision based on the national program announced by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The strategy aims to establish a new stage of development in line with the long-term economic growth that preserves the environment through investment in a range of solutions. There have been particularly effective options adopted in previous years that have been further strengthened and built upon such as renewable and alternative energy, green architecture, and sustainable transport to ensure cleaner production while enhancing efficiency through conservation. The six main tracks, covering the different strategic aspects of economic, social and environmental living – from energy and technology to green investments – will discuss the consequences of climate change and its eventual effect on cities and green living.