30 January 2015
Roads and Transport Authority - Majdi Abu Zaid:

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the second edition of the Energy and Green Economy Award as part of its policy aimed at motivating employees, sectors & agencies, strategic partners, and customers (including suppliers, contractors and consultants) to propose the best ideas and practices for revamping the concept of green economy and power saving. This drive is in line with the long-term national initiative launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in Jan 2012 under the theme "Green Economy for Sustained Development" comprising six paths; namely green energy, governmental policies, green city, coping with the impacts of climatic changes, green life and the green technology.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA Strategy and Corporate Governance and Head of Energy & Green Economy Committee, said: "The Energy and Green Economy Award reflects RTA's commitment to turn its fifth Strategic Goal (Safety and Environmental Sustainability) into a reality and a life practice through enticing the best ideas and suggestions in this field. This stems from RTA's appreciation of the importance of the green economy concept and its role in generating substantial improvements in the welfare of human beings in terms of eliminating or mitigating environmental risks in view of the scarce resources of ecology (a science that studies the relationship between living organisms and their natural habitat).

"A new category has been added to the Award dedicated to individual applicants starting from the current round in a bid to broaden the scope of participations, motivate RTA employees to contribute initiatives & projects concerned with environmental conservation (such as the clean energy & green buildings), and diffuse the culture of the green economy. The RTA has rolled out an array of initiatives relating to the best practices of energy such as power-saving lighting, the use of biodiesel and hybrid taxi as well as the electric-powered Dubai Metro & Dubai Tram. Such a trend adds to the importance of the Award which aims to inculcate this civilized approach amongst individuals as well as the entire sectors and agencies of the RTA," added Abdul Mohsen.

Udai Al Deesi, Director of Asset Management, Deputy Chair of Energy and Green Economy Committee, and Head of Energy and Green Economy Award at the RTA, said: "The second round of the Energy and Green Economy Award has seen considerable changes to rejuvenate the award such as setting up a committee to assess and apportion responsibilities, realigning of assessment weights, and adding new indicators among other changes introduced with a view to leveraging the motivational levels and the ability to innovate; which serves the objectives of the Award.

"The RTA has recently held a contest in the field of energy and green economy; which attracted the participation of about 500 staffs and the prize presented was an environment-friendly bike which has a self-operated electric charger enabling acceleration without requiring extra effort from the biker. The RTA will continue to commission studies towards migrating to renewable and clean energy sources, and participate in compiling the report about the Energy Condition in 2014 at the Dubai Emirate in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Energy.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2015