Al Tayer participates in panel discussion at 3rd Dubai International Project Management Forum

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has participated in a panel discussion on ‘Sustainability and Green Project Management,’ at the Dubai International Project Management Forum 2016. DEWA co-organised the forum, which was held from 22-25 October under the theme ‘Shaping the Future,’ under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council. The forum was held in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and in collaboration with Emaar Properties, at Madinat Jumeirah. The Forum will a large amount of participation by international experts and specialists in project management.

Al Tayer noted DEWA’s efforts on green project management, promising future projects and initiatives that reflect that reflect the priority given by the UAE’s leadership, represented by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to sustainable development, and the long-term vision to predict and shape the future, beginning today.

Responding to a question about encouraging the employment of national resources, in general, and Emirati women, in particular, in the delivery of green projects, being one of the key social objectives of green project management (GPM),

Al Tayer stated that DEWA works to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, to transform the UAE into one of the best countries in the world by 2021. This in turn will strengthen the UAE’s global competitiveness in renewable energy, and green economy technologies and products. 

“We strive to achieve sustainable development in Dubai through launching innovative green initiatives and projects, in adherence with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. DEWA is working to diversify the energy mix so clean energy will generate 7% of Dubai’s total power output by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. Green finance is one of the main pillars of the ambitious strategy. The Dubai Green Fund is being established to support the green economy objectives of Dubai and the UAE. The scale of the fund is AED 100 billion. It is anticipated that green Investment reaches over USD 30 billion in Dubai by 2030. Green project concept is based on the UN principles, programmes and initiatives relating to the environmental commitment, social responsibility, cultural diversity, human rights, workforce and sustainability,” said Al Tayer.

“Green projects aim to reduce the intuition of unrenewable resources, gas emissions and solid and liquid waste by diversifying clean and renewable energy resources. One of the most important projects launched and operated by DEWA is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned capacity to produce 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. It will help to reduce about 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, with a total investment of AED 50 billion. It will help reduce about 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The green initiatives launched by DEWA include the Shams Dubai initiative, which aims to connect Dubai’s rooftops glimmer with photovoltaic panels, which are connected to DEWA’s grid. According to the numbers issued by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) about UAE, GGGI noted that raising the annual investment to 2.4% of the GDP, to spread technology and enhance green efficiency in all economic activities, will increase economic growth by about 4-4.5% by 2030. This economic growth will be capable of facilitating 160,000 new jobs, ensuring green growth and resources to limit effects on the environment,” added Al Tayer.

“We take priority in involving Emirati women in these projects, as part of our ongoing efforts to empower women both professionally and socially. DEWA employs 1,785 female staff in its operations, 601 work in engineering and other technical positions. 78% of DEWA’s female workforce comprise Emirati Nationals. There are 266 female employees in managerial positions in DEWA. Female staff were given over 25,000 training opportunities in the past three years in addition to 125 scholarships. Until this year, 163 female fresh graduates trained in DEWA. Out of this number, 100 are graduates in engineering and other specialised areas,” continued Al Tayer.

“In 2015 and 2016, 60 Emirati female students and staff took part in the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, which DEWA organises in cooperation with UNDP. 60% of the employees who lead the environmental awareness and conservation programmes and community outreach programmes are women. This is an example of our efforts to empower the community through working women. These efforts contributed to achieving 81% satisfaction among female employees. Our efforts to further involve Emirati women in green project management, adhere to the directives of the UAE, to empower the community through women. UAE women now constitute 66% of the public sector’s workforce, 30% of which are in senior posts. Emirati women have become major contributors to sustainable development, and occupy the highest positions in the sovereign, executive, and legislative authorities, as well as their social local and international activities. We have immense pride in the UAE’s international position for treating women with respect, and reducing gender imbalance in the Middle East and North Africa,” concluded Al Tayer.

Al Tayer declared, in response to a question about a misconception that sustainability adds to project costs in the long run, that green growth means achieving economic growth while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, minimising waste and improving efficiency in the use of natural resources. So a green economy is a low-carbon, climate-resilient and resource-efficient economy, keeping in mind the environmental effect of organisations and individuals, as according to environmental footprint standards.

“The UN launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The sustainable goals cover several fields, such as economic growth, social inclusion, and protecting the environment .Green projects require investments in infrastructure, but achieve huge long-term savings, and will largely reduce the UAE’s carbon footprint. We also work to sustain development in the UAE by preparing to bid farewell to the last drop of oil. By that time, our projects will be sustainable, creating a pathway for further prosperity, wellbeing, and growth, for generations to come,” said Al Tayer.

“The wise leadership has a long-term vision that gives priority to adopting sustainability and launching green projects, to transform Dubai into a green economy. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched the World Green Economy Organisation with the support of the Government of Dubai, and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, which will be based in Dubai. The organisation aims to promote cooperation between the countries in the field of green economy,” added Al Tayer.

“Economic benefits are not only restricted to the large savings achieved by green projects, reducing the carbon footprint, limiting greenhouse emissions, and other causes of climate change. We can limit the effects of climate change, a dangerous issue that will affect the entire planet if we do not unite our efforts to tackle it. The negative effects of climate change can affect the economy, environment, and society,” concluded Al Tayer.