Dubai Municipality on Wednesday launched its corporate policy on climate change, which is the first of its kind at the UAE level. The move is part of its ongoing efforts to support the goals and directions of the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his vision in achieving green sustainable development for the Emirate of Dubai. The policy is also in line with the sustainable development goals of the Municipality. 

On this occasion, Eng. Hussein Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality stated that Dubai Municipality's climate change policy is an extension of the path of initiatives and projects undertaken by the Emirate at the corporate level to address and adapt to the repercussions of this phenomenon and is also to support the process of transforming the Emirate of Dubai into a low-carbon green economy.

He was also proud to note that Dubai Municipality has become one of the first government entities to produce a corporate climate change policy in keeping with the goal for Dubai to become number one in all fields.

He added that the policy outlines the main climate change issues which must be addressed, targeting both the reduction of emissions (mitigation) and adaptation to the impacts of climate change with respect to all operations and activities of Municipality services at the level of the Emirate of Dubai.

He also stated that the announcement of this policy is taking place in conjunction with many other programmes and initiatives adopted by Dubai Municipality to deal with Climate Change.  “Examples include the Car Free Day initiative, Blue Carbon Project, Coastal Protection Project, as well as projects concerned with the extraction of methane gas from the landfills, and waste-to-energy,” Lootah pointed out.

He added that the Climate Change Policy was developed using examples from best applicable international practices. “This included not only from government sources, but the climate change policies of large international private sector corporations such as Intel and the Coca-Cola Company. Their corporate policies have paved the way for the implementation of many successful programmes and initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation,” said Lootah.

He added that the policy objectives also include finding some kind of cooperation and partnership between the public sector and the academic and research institutions to benefit from the related studies and research and employ them to serve the orientations and objectives of the emirate.

“Also, the Climate Change Policy is in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2021, launched by the Executive Council of Dubai, headed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. It is also aligned  with the UAE Vision 2021, which acknowledges that climate change effects caused by human activities may already be occurring and could get worse in the future. The Vision commits the UAE to find ways to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change by reducing vulnerabilities (weaknesses) to its effects by increasing the flexibility of communities, environmental and economic systems, including the productive sectors and vital infrastructure.

Eng. Alia Al Harmoudi, Director of Environment Department stated that the launch of Dubai Municipality's climate change policy at the corporate level is in fact a pledge and commitment from all municipal sectors to work hard to take all necessary measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions resulting from their different processes and activities. She added that the Policy is a commitment from the Government to take all necessary  actions and measures to protect the environment and conserve  the natural resources of the Emirate from the impacts of climate change.

Al Harmoudi also noted that the main objectives of this policy are to spread awareness and knowledge about climate change, increase institutional capacities to manage this phenomenon, and facilitate collaboration amongst local and federal authorities to combat climate change.

She said the launch of this policy is an affirmation from the Environment Department - the competent environmental authority in the Emirate – of the importance of the topic of climate change and it is also considered an invitation to all government agencies, private sector and civil organizations to work to find solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from activities and operations and the adoption of eco-friendly practices.

She also illustrated that the purpose of having a corporate climate change policy is to create a planning and implementation umbrella for all relevant initiatives, thereby ensuring the best use of available resources to manage this complex challenge.  As the Policy covers both climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, it will better enable all sectors involved in the full range of climate change management activities to achieve their goals with maximum effect.  Such goals of Dubai Municipality include the integrated protection of the coastal zone and marine environment of the Emirate, conservation of biodiversity; protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and fisheries, and conservation of ground water and soil quality in the Emirate of Dubai.