DEWA organises awareness session on climate change and sustainability

DUBAI, 1st October, 2015 (WAM) -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, has organised an awareness session for its key governmental, commercial, and industrial partners about adopting sustainability practices and rationalisation standards. The session also touched on causes of climate change and the role of government and the private sector in tackling this issue.

The session was part of DEWA?s strategy to support its customers and its efforts to establish environmental awareness in all sectors across the emirate. The session was held at DEWA?s Sustainable Building in Al Quoz. Participants were received by Mohammed Abdul Kareem Al Shamsi, Senior Manager of Climate Change and Sustainability, Huda Al Mutawa, Senior Manager of Key Account Management, Sultan Al Zaabi, Project Manager of Conservation, Outreach and Engagement, and a number of Key Accounts Department staff at DEWA.

The session was attended by 13 government departments, organisations, and companies that are DEWA?s key accounts, including Dubai Police, Ministry of Health, Dubai Chamber, DP World, Jumeirah Group, Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL), du, Dubai Natural Gas Company Limited, Dubai Cables (Ducab), Chalhoub Group, Aswaq, Grand Millennium Dubai, and Marriott Dubai Harbour and Suites.

"DEWA is committed to sharing best energy conservation practices with its partners from the government and private sectors. This supports the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy demand by 30 percent by 2030. Organising this session supports our ongoing efforts to establish the foundations of environmental sustainability and support the sustainable development of Dubai by use of electricity, water, and natural resources sensibly to ensure their sustainability for generations to come. We urge everyone to adopt a conscious and responsible lifestyle.

This in turn, supports our efforts to decrease Dubai?s carbon footprint and enhance the happiness and comfort of the people in a healthy environment that is ideal for living, working, and visiting. These efforts contribute to achieving the Dubai Plan 2021 for Dubai to be a smart city whose environmental elements are clean, healthy and sustainable, and DEWA?s vision to become a sustainable innovative world class utility," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.

"DEWA has a range of awareness programmes and innovative initiatives throughout the year to encourage all society to adopt positive everyday behaviour to rationalise their use of water and electricity. DEWA organises comprehensive awareness initiatives, programmes, and activities for the residential, commercial, industrial, and government sectors throughout the year. These support DEWA?s strategic objective to raise awareness of all members of society. We have organised this session as part of these activities to get support of decision makers from our key customers," said Abdullah Al Hajri, Executive Vice President of Customer Services at DEWA.

"DEWA works to achieve Dubai?s vision to save the environment by launching awareness initiatives and programmes that promote environmental awareness to all customers in Dubai. These also encourage them to adopt a sensible and responsible lifestyle in using electricity and water to save natural resources, protect the environment, reduce the carbon footprint, and ensure sustainable natural resources for us and for generations to come," said Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA.

The session started with a presentation by Al Zaabi who talked about the role of large enterprises and key accounts in driving the sustainable development. These roles should be aligned with the Dubai Plan 2021 and its goals for Dubai to have sustainable resources and its environmental elements are on a par with the best international practices. He also reviewed some of the procedures and steps that organisations can take to achieve tangible results in reducing use and cost, and contributing to a sustainable environment. He noted that implementing rationalisation standards has environmental, financial, and social benefits.