Masdar City has published its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, showcasing significant achievements in sustainable real estate, energy and water conservation, and waste management, emphasizing the company’s commitment to accelerating the UAE’s journey to Net Zero by 2050.

"We are proud to present Masdar City’s 2023 ESG report, which reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainable urban development and innovation," said Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City.

"This year, we achieved significant milestones, including a 30% reduction in energy use intensity and the completion of the UAE's first net-zero energy office building. These accomplishments are a testament to our dedication to pioneering sustainable practices that align with the UAE's net-zero by 2050 strategy and our vision to lead the world in climate action and sustainable urban living."

The report details impressive year-on-year progress across key environmental indicators.

Home to over 1,000 companies, Masdar City achieved a 30.6% reduction in energy use intensity in 2023, against the ASHRAE baseline, equivalent to eliminating 3,392.6 tons of carbon dioxide emissions or removing 807 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road for a year.

Energy use intensity was reduced due to passive design and managing energy performance.

Meanwhile, water conservation efforts yielded an 18.3% reduction in potable water consumption compared to the Estidama PBRS baseline, saving 42,901 cubic meters of water – enough to fill 17.2 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Water usage is reduced by optimizing water usage in operations, and utilization of treated wastewater for landscaping purposes.

On the waste management front, the urban development achieved a 57% operation waste diversion from landfill rate through composting and recycling, resulting in the mitigation of 92.4 tons of carbon emissions.

Furthermore, construction waste reduction is improved by employing prefabrication and modular design techniques at the design and construction phases.

This was also the year that Masdar City launched the first net-zero energy commercial buildings in the UAE.

Labelled NZ1, the office building is designed to consume 53% less energy than an equivalent conventional building, while on-site photovoltaic solar panels generate 101% of the building’s annual energy needs. Masdar City also broke ground on the Net Zero Mosque which similarly produces as much energy as it consumes.

Additionally, 17 buildings in the city have obtained green building certifications, contributing to make Masdar City the home to one of the world’s largest clusters of LEED Platinum-certified buildings.

Masdar City also continued to drive innovation in sustainable urban planning and development, through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge research and developments clusters including energy, artificial intelligence, life sciences, mobility, space-tech, and agri-tech.

Looking ahead, Masdar City remains committed to advancing sustainability and social initiatives. By 2025, the city is aiming for a 45% reduction in energy use and improved water use efficiency.

Plans are also underway to expand renewable energy capacity, including the development of a photovoltaic plant for Khazna Data Centers, with a capacity of 7MW at its peak.

Masdar City will also continue to welcome key stakeholders, organize B2B networking events and give back to the local community through social programs.

The 2023 Masdar City ESG Report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, ensuring stakeholders have access to comprehensive and reliable information about the city’s sustainability performance that is comparable to the performance of listed firms worldwide.