UAE Circular Economy Council Discusses COP28
The UAE Circular Economy Council convened its meeting, presided over by H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment to discuss 'Year of Sustainability' initiatives and COP28.
H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability, attended this crucial meeting held on Sunday.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, H.E. Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and H.E. Eng Dawood Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality
H.E. Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, DG, Municipality and Planning Department in Ajman, H.E. Eng Essa Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary, Sustainable Communities Sector, MOCCAE and H.E. Eng Yousif Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure were also present.
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H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, commented: “The first meeting of the UAE Circular Economy Council in 2023 was particularly significant as we embark on the Year of Sustainability and advance our path to COP28.
"Convening key representatives from the public and private sector, the discussion highlighted the need for cross-industry collaboration and access to information, in order to ensure the success of several waste management and decarburization initiatives that are currently underway."
H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri said: “Announcement by President, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that 2023 will be the “Year of Sustainability” came to confirm our role as a council to highlight UAE's extensive efforts to promote sustainable circularity ahead of COP28.
"We need to showcase the country’s commitment towards fostering a global collaboration in seeking innovative solutions to challenges, such as energy, climate change and other pressing issues related to sustainability.
"One of the priority items that needs to be demonstrated towards a successful COP28 is our ability to adopt circular approaches and innovations to reduce our GHG emissions.
"Our commitment to global climate action, and the UAE's adoption of the National Net Zero by 2050 Pathway, presents our long-term emissions reduction targets as we aim to achieve 18% emission reduction compared to 2019 baseline by 2030."
The Minister highlighted the UAE's achievements in climate action and sustainability, and indicated that one of the priority elements that must be emphasized in 2023 for a successful COP28 is the country's ability to adopt innovative approaches in circular economy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
For this purpose, Her Excellency presented an open invitation to all entities to join a dedicated team to develop the UAE’s sustainable circular economy landscape.
The report identifies relevant historic and recent trends, compares the UAE’s performance to that of other countries, and offers scenario projections for a greener and more circular UAE.
Topics under the spotlight include waste generation, GHG emissions, natural capital, and the use and trade of secondary raw materials. The study also examines the consumption of materials, water, and energy, as well as the reuse and recycling of materials, nutrients, and water.
For his part, His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Head of the Council’s Circular Economy Policies Committee, noted that the Committee recently held intensive workshops and meetings with the government and private sectors as well as international partners.
The workshops were designed to support the implementation of the UAE Circular Economy Policy in four key sectors – manufacturing, green infrastructure, transportation, and food production and consumption – as well as the 23 new policies issued to drive the UAE’s overall transition to a circular economy.
These policies will contribute to addressing all challenges the private sector is facing in its shift to a circular economy and support the country’s green development drive.
The initiatives align with the directives of our wise leadership to fast-track the country’s transition to a circular economy as one of the sustainability, flexibility, and growth drivers of the new economic model as per the Principles of the 50.
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group commented: "BEEAH Group is honoured to host the first meeting of the UAE Circular Economy Council in 2023 at our new Headquarters.
"With His Highness the President of the UAE declaring 2023 as the Year of Sustainability and the nation hosting COP28 later this year, this will be a landmark year of climate and environmental action.
"We are dedicated to contributing to the major milestones that lie ahead. BEEAH Group will continue to build on our circular economy solutions and progress towards the ambitious targets under the UAE's sustainability agenda, shaping a net-zero emissions and zero-waste to landfill future."
The Council reviewed the Cape Industrial Symbiosis Program (WISP), which develops mutually profitable links between companies from all industrial sectors, so that underutilized resources such as energy and water, and/or materials from one company can be recovered, reprocessed and re-used by others.
The meeting agenda also featured an overview of BEEAH’s efforts to implement a circular economy model in its operations as well as a presentation on the Abu Dhabi Emirate Single Use Plastic Policy that came into force on June 1, 2022.
The UAE Circular Economy Council comprises 17 representatives of relevant federal and local government entities, private sector businesses, and international organizations.
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