Special Features
Mohammed Bin Rashid launches UAE Strategy for Green Development
Vice-President, Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced today the launch of a long term national initiative to build green economy in the UAE under the slogan: "A green economy for sustainable development ".Through this initiative, the UAE aims to become one of the world leaders in this area as well as a centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies, and to maintain a sustainable environment to support long-term economic growth.
The initiative includes a range of programs and policies in the areas of energy, agriculture, investment and sustainable transport in addition to new environmental and constructional policies that aim to raise the quality of life in the country.
While announcing the initiative, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum asserted that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, seeks to become a global hub and a successful model of the new green economy, so as to enhance the country’s competitiveness and sustainability of its development and preserve its environment for future generations.
Sheikh Mohammed said: "Our goal from this national initiative is clear, that is to build an economy that protects the environment as well as an environment that supports the growth of the economy. We in the UAE, within the vision 2021, are striving to build a diversified economy based on knowledge and innovation, through which we can provide excellent employment opportunities to our citizens. Through this, we can protect our natural and environmental resources, and strengthen our competitive position in global markets, especially in the areas of renewable energy products and technologies on the green economy".
He added: "We are serious about the transformation of our development process to reach the first positions on the global level. During the next nine years and up to the year 2021 we will launch a range of initiatives and projects in all areas to achieve our goal".
Sheikh Mohammed went on : "I ask everyone to prepare for a new phase in the growth of the UAE ".
"We chose to launch this national initiative to coincide with the World Future Energy Summit 2012 in Abu Dhabi which will be attended by 26 thousand people and delegations from 140 countries, so as to reaffirm our commitment to the world of our serious endeavour to diversify energy sources and preserve the environment, as well as to become a model for all countries that want to strive to achieve the same goal.", added Sheikh Mohammed.
The Green Economy Initiative includes six major fields covering a wide range of legislation, policies, programs and projects.
The first field of green energy consists of a group of programs and policies aimed to promote the production and use of renewable energy and related technologies as well as to promote the use of clean fuel for energy production. It also calls for the work to develop standards and enhance the efficiency of energy consumption in both the public and private sectors.
The second field includes government policies aimed to encourage investments in green economy and to facilitate the production, import, export and re-export of green products and technologies, as well as to work to create job opportunities for citizens in these areas and preparation of national cadres in this field.
The third field of the initiative comes under the title of the green city. It consists of a large group of urban planning policies aimed to preserve the environment and to raise the efficiency of housing and buildings environmentally. It also includes initiatives to promote environment friendly transportation or the so-called sustainable transport. This is in addition to programs designed to purify the air in cities in the UAE to provide a healthy environment for all.
The fourth field consists of means for dealing with the effects of climate change through policies and programs designed to reduce carbon emissions from industrial and commercial sites. It will also promote organic agriculture through a series of incentives at the federal and local levels. It also includes programmes to maintain biodiversity and to protect the ecological balance, wildlife and marine environment in the UAE.
The fifth field of the Green Economy Initiative is called the green life, which involves a set of policies and programs aimed at rationalising the use of water resources, electricity, and natural resources as well as projects to recycle waste generated by commercial or individual uses. It also includes awareness-raising initiatives and environmental education.
The sixth field of the Green Economy Initiative includes development and promotion of green technology, and its first phase of its implementation includes carbon capture and conversion of waste into energy.
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