Ministry of Environment and Water discusses implementation of UAE Green Growth Strategy with Emirates Transport

Both parties look forward to activate strategic partnership to drive sustainable development

United Arab Emirates, August 17, 2015 – The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has announced that it has received at its Headquarters in Dubai a delegation from the Emirates Transport to activate a new Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties. The session included discussion and follow-up on the implementation of the UAE Green Growth Strategy which aims to drive sustainable development in line with UAE Vision 2021 and support the national indicators of the Ministry’s operational and strategic plan.

The meeting shed light on the implementation of the UAE Green Growth Strategy, demonstrating its developmental stages and elements in line with the objectives of UAE Vision 2021. It also elaborated the Strategy’s positive impacts and benefits on the environment, economy and the society. The two parties discussed various stages of implementation of the Strategy in accordance with the suggestions issued by the Emirates Green Growth Council. In addition, they deliberated about the establishment of a committee to implement related initiatives such as the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program, Integrated Waste Management, and Sustainable Transport System as per a fixed time line.

Furthermore, both parties discussed the ways in which Emirates Transport can contribute to the Ministry’s initiatives on the air quality index and sustainable treatment of total generated waste. The latter can support the Ministry’s efforts to reduce waste production and enhance the quality of air by improving and implementing the best practices in the use of its vehicles and buses. Emirates Transport agreed to shift to green fuel from gasoline or diesel in order to reduce gas emissions and improve air quality. The discussion also elaborated on the need to adopt initiatives aimed at encouraging recycling and waste reduction across its UAE-wide workshops and stations.

Attendees were also introduced to the Green Public Procurement (GPP) policy and its objectives. They were informed about international best practices to be followed and the phases of its implementation of GPP policy as well.

The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Transport in 2012 to set general regulations and main conditions to promote cooperation in serving society and raising public awareness through a series of educational programs promoting the values of environmental safety. Included in the terms of the MoU is the launching of awareness programs in schools and the promotion of the values of environmental safety in the road and transport segments.

Engineer Yousef Al-Ahmad Al Raisi, Director of Waste Management Department and Acting Director, Government Communication Department; Eng. Essa Al Hashmi, Director of Green Development Department; Ahmed Al-Bairaq, Assistant Expert; and Tomo Mashiba, Specialist – Sustainability Policies represented the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water. The delegation from Emirates Transport included Adel Moussa Hussein, Assistant Director – Sites Management Centre; Saif Al Naqbi, Acting Director – Corporate Communications; and Romy Mansoor, Specialist – Quality Control & Assurance.