To help achieve environmental sustainability in key sectors, the UAE has launched a new programme which will enhance the water and energy consumption of three major energy-consuming sectors: transport, industries, and construction. The National Water and Energy Demand Management Programme was approved by the country’s Federal Cabinet to enhance the efficiency of these sectors by 40 per cent.
Through the programme, the government plans to roll out several initiatives aimed at reducing the energy consumption within these sectors with the support of strategic partners and stakeholders from the federal and local governments as well as the private sector. Dubbed to be the nation’s largest water and energy efficiency drive, the programme will adopt the highest international standards in the field to achieve targets.
The UAE has committed to reducing energy demand by 40 percent by 2050, as well as increase the share of renewable energy by 50 percent in the country’s source of power while expanding water reuse to 95 percent.
H.E. Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, who witnessed the launch of the programme, said that the programme aims to raise the performance of the sectors through a national rationalisation campaign while promoting collaboration among the stakeholders.
In Dubai, the government has been implementing the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy which aims to source 75 percent of its energy requirements from clean energy by 2050. It has also set the Dubai Demand Side Management Strategy 2030 targeting to reduce the demand for electricity and water by 30 percent by 2030. Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy (DSM) 2030 to reduce electricity consumption by 22 percent and water consumption by 32 percent by 2030.