GREEN SOLUTIONS
Dubai has set aggressive targets to diversify its energy sources, clean up its industries, and convert much of its landfill waste into energy as part of efforts to join the ranks of the most sustainable cities.
For true engagement to have a lasting impact, there must clear conviction and a strategy that cascades down from the leadership and touches every aspect of society. The green economy is not a matter of a single project or initiative; it concerns us all. Countries such as Denmark and the UAE are excellent examples of this; there is clear strategy from the top down that gives direction to the entire economy. The UAE's energy sector is going through vast changes as the country strives to become more sustainable and encourage closer cooperation between private and public entities in pursuit of this endeavor. This directional overhaul will see a future energy mix of conventional, renewables, and nuclear, in addition to reducing consumption. Leaders in both government and private business are engaged in revamping our relationship with the green economy. Opportunities can flourish with new businesses developing in areas such as renewables. The green economy is not a target; it is a journey. When it comes to educating investors on the importance of the green economy, conferences like the World Green Summit are useful. Awareness at the C-level and with government officials is imperative, as is engagement amongst stakeholders. Crucially, the private sector has adapted to this well, and we see further projects coming online with significant public-private collaboration. The youth will play a major role in shaping the future of these initiatives, and there is strong interest, awareness, and engagement in major green economy events across the UAE.
Dubai is leading the way in the region. The GCC is changing from a region that is dependent on fossil fuels to one that is diversifying its energy strategy and including renewables as a source of power. Aggressive targets have been set for development here too. In terms of the green economy, sustainability, and smart cities, it starts with waste management, which is where GESS has made a significant contribution by pioneering the first landfill gas-to-energy project with the support and encouragement of Dubai Municipality. We are working to move away from landfilling our waste in order to achieve zero waste by the 2021 timeline set by Dubai Municipality Waste Department. GESS is also targeting landfills, all of which need to be degassed. We are also seeking to capture harmful landfill gases that landfills emit and generate power from them as part of our efforts to create value out of something that harms the environment. Landfill gas power generation is a stable source of power and is being used all over the world, just not yet in this region. GESS powering the first landfill gas-to-energy project for the Dubai Municipality at the Al Qusais landfill is thus an important step. We have installed pipes in the ground that are degassing 6,000Ncbm of gas per hour, which has the capability to generate 12MW of electricity. Once expanded, our goal is to connect that power to the grid and be part of the aggressive targets Dubai has set.
GREEN SOLUTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Former Minister of Economy,
The ministry's way forward is to spur more international collaboration, whether inside the country through FDI flows and encouraging foreign entrepeneurship or outside the country through China's highly-valued Belt and Road Initiative.
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Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director General, Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA)
In addition to pursuing an aggressively innovative trade and industrial policy, DAFZA is working behind the scenes to boost Dubai's role as the world's most dynamic hub for global halal services.
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Hatem Sleiman, Regional Vice-President, Head of Network, Middle East and South Asia, Western Union
Technology, globalization, and migration will ensure that no matter the nationalization policies carried out by regional governments, the remittance spout is unlikely to dry up any time soon.
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Hamdan AlShamsi, Senior Partner, Hamdan AlShamsi Lawyers & Legal Consultants
With the expected increase of business in the region, Hamdan AlShamsi Lawyers & Legal Consultants stands ready to assist new or current businesses with the implementation of ideas and the protection of IP.
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Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
Through its digital arm, DEWA seeks to disrupt the entire business of public utilities by becoming the world's first digital utility to use autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage.
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Will Goodwin, Managing Director, The Priory Group
Social media can lead to living a virtual life, with limited face-to-face interaction, avoidance, and often misconstrued reality. This may lead to mental health-related issues such as depression, loss of individual value, low confidence, and anxiety.
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Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Duty Free (DDF)
One of the leading airport retailers in the world, DDF currently operates some 40,000sqm of retail space at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, reporting sales over USD2.029 billion in 2019.
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