ABU DHABI // Developing cleaner fuels and reducing the waste that ends up in landfills are among the aims of a green growth strategy being presented to the Cabinet.
Encouraging renewable energy is also in the plan, due to be submitted by the end of September.
The strategy will identify environmental objectives across seven sectors – oil and gas, water and electricity, transport, buildings, waste, industry and agriculture – and set goals to be achieved by 2021, 2030 and 2050, said Aisha Al Abdooli of the Ministry of Environment and Water, who is in charge of the strategy.
“The key objective is to integrate economic, social and environmental goals,” she said.
The Ministry of Environment is driving the effort in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Global Green Growth Institute.
Encouraging green growth aids the environment and would increase the UAE’s economic competitiveness, Ms Al Abdooli said.
The strategy is being developed in cooperation with 70 private and public bodies from the seven sectors, who were invited to provide feedback during a workshop earlier this year.
Renewable energy, cleaner fuels and energy-efficient technologies were among the topics discussed.
The strategy also hopes to encourage recycling and the creation of more waste-to-energy plants.
The latter are already being developed in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, Ms Al Abdooli said.
The document will be presented to industry figures during workshops this summer before being presented to the Cabinet by the end of September.
