Abu Dhabi: The UAE authorities have developed nine main developmental initiatives to accelerate the country’s journey towards a ‘green economy’, according to the UAE State of Green Economy Report.
The country has framed 30 national indicators to measure the performance and progress of the green initiatives, Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, said on Monday while releasing the report at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
He said the report aims to monitor and document the country’s progress in its green efforts in accordance with the green development strategy.
This is in line with the UAE Strategy for Green Development launched in 2012 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the slogan ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’.
Bin Fahd said the report provides a clear and comprehensive picture of the UAE’s green economy to inform policy and decision-makers as well as the general public of the country’s green efforts in both the public and private sectors.
The five-chapter report includes the latest information about the economic, social and environmental benefits of the green economy. The report also discusses the future prospects of the green agenda.
The minister said the UAE’s successful economic development means that the country is facing environmental challenges from the record pace of growth in population, energy and water demand, and urbanisation. However, under the objective set out in the UAE Vision 2021 to become among the best countries in the world, the UAE has decided to progress towards a green economy.
The ministry, together with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is currently finalising the implementation plan of the Green Strategy to be adopted by the Cabinet. “In the coming years, the plan will support the better coordination of national and local policies and encourage industry and citizens to adopt more eco-innovative solutions and eco-friendly behavior,” Bin Fahad said.
As part of the strategy implementation, the ministry will compile the State of Green Economy Report on a regular basis, monitoring and reporting the progress.
The Ministry of Environment and Water, in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, organised the first global conference on the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) in Dubai in March 2014. The ministry also hosted at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi the Regional Office of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
