Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision for sustainable development has been praised by the UN secretary general.
Sustainability, the global green economy and the launch of the World Green Economy Organisation, or WGEO, were among the initiatives for which Ban Ki-moon applauded Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The WGEO has its permanent headquarters in Dubai and Mr Ban thanked the nation for becoming its first member.
He made the comments during a meeting with Saeed Al Tayer, chairman of the WGEO, in which he was briefed on cooperation between the UN and the organisation.
“Joined by the UAE as its first member country, WGEO will support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate and increase global awareness on climate change to enhance the shift towards a green economy,” Mr Al Tayer said.
He said that Dubai had launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, under which sustainable sources would provide 7 per cent of the emirate’s energy by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030, and 75 per cent by 2050.
The strategy includes initiatives such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which has a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030.
The emirate is also working to reduce carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021 and become the city with the lowest carbon footprint worldwide, reducing demand to 30 per cent by 2030.
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s sustainable building is the largest government building in the world to receive a platinum rating for green buildings under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Mr Al Tayer said.
It has a 660KW solar power station and uses 66 per cent less energy and 48 per cent less water than other buildings, the state news agency Wam reported.
Source: The National
