Abu Dhabi’s wins Prestigious Environment Capital 2015 Award

Abu Dhabi’s wins Prestigious Environment Capital 2015 Award

ABU DHABI has been named the Arab Environment Capital of 2015. According to Dr. Al Jaber “Abu Dhabi’s impressive achievements in the field of environment have catalysed the preservation of resources while managing the city’s remarkable growth…” This award was many years in the making and appears to be well-deserved. His Highness/Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces are to be commended for efforts made to focus on the environment and to encourage the “…principles of sustainable development…”

One of the more recent key projects at the moment is the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science. This is a joint project by the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

According to the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, its purpose is:

Aiming to expand global water security through promoting scientific best practices and collaboration in rain enhancement research, the program will identify scientifically verified and sustainably implementable methods of enhancing precipitation to increase rainfall in the UAE, as well as other arid and semi-arid areas in the region.

The $5 million dollar programme will support up to five awards annually. It is anticipated that the awards will be valued up to $1.5 million each, and dispersed over a three year period. All awards will be selected by a two-stage merit review process, and announced in January 2016 following which a new cycle will commence.”

MASDAR the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company is also at the forefront of Green initiatives in the region and worldwide.

The MASDAR Shams 1 project is one of Abu Dhabi’s flagship clean energy project.  The project has been designed to displace 175,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or taking approximately 15,000 cars off the road. It is one of the largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants in the world with a total net rated power output of 100MegaWatts.

MASDARS’s international wind and solar projects in the United Kingdom, Spain and other countries show its global ambitions and reach.  The low-carbon Masdar city is being built on a 600-hectare plot of land close to Abu Dhabi International Airport, around 15km away from downtown Abu Dhabi - around 40,000 residents and 50,000 commuters are expected inside the city when it is completed in 2030.  The city is powered by an on-site 10MegaWatt solar plant and rooftop solar panels on the Masdar Institute.

ABU DHABI echoes many of the same sentiments on environmental preservation that are heard around the world: “To protect and conserve the environment for people’s well-being and a better life for all. Its vision is towards a sustainable environment for a sustainable future.”

As in many other countries, Abu Dhabi’s Environmental Agency (EAD) was established in 1996. Its goal is the protection and preservation of the environment, and promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Its efforts are focused on the integrated sustainable management of the air quality, water resources, conserving marine, terrestrial wildlife and reducing the effects of climate change in the UAE through initiatives and awareness programmes. The EAD serves as the country’s authority for implementing environmental regulatory controls and laws in order to protect the environment of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi; they coordinate with other agencies such as the Federal Environmental Agency and the Ministry of Environment and Water and other regulatory authorities.

Working very closely amongst themselves, these various agencies have formulated working relationships that have fostered cooperation resulting in the prestigious Arab Environment Capital Award 2015.

Articles covering the award are also in The National UAE and Gulf News Environmental.

Due to the many positive aspects of living and doing business in Abu Dhabi, the city is experiencing an unprecedented influx of companies and individuals. Already possessing a large expat community, the city continues to attract people from all corners of the world to live and do business and the continued focus on environmental factors and quality of life will continue to ensure that living and working in Abu Dhabi is a rewarding experience.

James Swallow is Commercial Director of Middle East based PRO Partner Group. PRO Partner Group specialises in providing foreign investors and companies with a seamless and financially efficient means to setting up a profitable corporate presence in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Contact James direct on james@propartnergroup.com for further information.

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