Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | Carbon Ambassador Program

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised an introductory workshop on the Carbon Ambassadors Programme (CAP). The workshop was attended by 80 university students and young staff members participating in the 4th CAP launched by DEWA with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in collaboration with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon). The CAP aims to involve the youth in national and global issues as well as enhance their interest on sustainable energy, climate change, and the consumption of natural resources.

The workshop was held at the DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development in Al Hudaiba, Dubai. It aimed to familiarise the participants of the 4th CAP with its nature and importance in engaging young university students and professionals in ambitious activities in green economy and low-carbon development. This builds bridges between the academic, business, and industry sectors. The workshop also highlighted the agenda and planned training courses of the 4th CAP that feature several green-economy topics such as sustainability, climate change, calculation of greenhouse gases, economic principles and basic concepts of solar energy technologies, innovation of disruptive techniques, and blockchain technology among others.

“DEWA places the youth at the top of its priorities and relies on them in implementing its ambitious plans to contribute to the achievement of the economic, environmental and social sustainable development in Dubai and the UAE. This is aligned with the vision and directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The CAP aims to strengthen the role of the youth in environmental awareness, reducing carbon emissions for the protection of the environment and achieving the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021, which has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021. Through the CAP, we seek to present a model of the well-informed citizen,  who is capable of driving sustainability and the green economy in line with the UAE Centennial 2071, UAE Vision 2021, and Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a smart and sustainable city whose environmental elements are clean, healthy, and sustainable,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“We are eager to involve the youth in the efforts to promote energy efficiency, in line with the long-term national initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to build a green economy in the UAE under the theme Green Economy for Sustainable Development and to achieve the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 which aims to reduce energy consumption by 30% by 2030.”

“Through the CAP, we seek to prepare a generation of qualified leaders to achieve the vision of our wise leadership and create a sustainable future. The programme provides an opportunity for the youth to learn more about environmental issues and challenges related to climate change in an integrated knowledge framework that ensures the effective implementation of strategic plans aimed at enhancing sustainability. The training courses are part of the 4th CAP that aims to refine those talents and contribute to the participants’ involvement in supporting sustainable development,” said Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA.

Participants are divided into eight teams of ten each, who will compete to design innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions under one of the pillars of Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021: waste, transportation, energy and water, and manufacturing. Each team will provide a prototype for their innovation to a panel of specialised judges who will select the winning project in accordance with the criteria set by DEWA.