World Nature Conservation Day, celebrated annually on the 28th of July, brings people together to reflect and act on the most pressing environmental issues of our time. This year, Sharaf DG Energy is celebrating the day by sharing insights on how UAE businesses can foster nature conservation by contributing to create a world where humans and nature thrive together.
Humans have become increasingly comfortable with using goods and services that harm nature, for example, the consumption of single-use plastics and polluting sources of energy such as coal, oil, and gas. Fossil fuels are widely used for electricity generation, transportation and innumerable industrial processes. Despite being aware of the negative implications on the environment, communities continue to use them, producing significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions daily.
A report issued by NOAA and NASA showcased that 2010-2019 was the warmest decade since record keeping commenced 140 years ago. Scientists behind the report have declared carbon dioxide as the most potent greenhouse gas and the primary contributor to global warming.
People often believe that global warming only occurs in the colder regions however this could not be further from the truth. UAE residents will also eventually be affected by the effects of global warming, as even the slightest change in temperature could drastically impact the desert’s ecosystem. Desertification, the degradation of land in arid to dry and sub-humid areas, affects the livelihood of millions of people, who heavily rely on the benefits that dryland ecosystems provide.
Sharaf DG Energy, the energy vertical of the Sharaf Group – one of the biggest conglomerates in the Middle East who have been operating in the region for the last 45 years, has taken the lead to front-end responsible business practices. The organization now plays a key role in spreading awareness about energy and environmental conservation, providing renewable energy services for greening businesses, as well as the day-to-day lives of residents.
Mr. Sanjay Dabur, Vice-President and Head of Energy Business at Sharaf DG Energy, said“On the occasion of World Conservation Day, we want to encourage local businesses to help protect the UAE from the effects of global warming in the desert ecosystem and reverse the impacts of CO2 pollution by implementing energy and environment conservation measures.”
“While most of the emphasis has been put on government entities to tackle the impact of climate change, there are clear opportunities for the private sector to play a bigger role. Therefore, it is important for businesses to recognize that nature provides the most effective and cost-efficient solutions to many of the challenges we face, and key to a healthier environment.”
Dubai has taken concrete steps to safeguard its seas, biodiversity, and desert ecosystems. Initiatives such as Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, which started in 2004, aims to conserve the vast expanses of the dry desert land. Additionally, to combat global warming, the Dubai government announced the development of the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in 2012–the world’s largest single-site solar park with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030, which will produce enough clean electricity to sufficiently meet the energy needs for the next 25 years.
To support the government’s vision, Sharaf DG Energy urges businesses to implement energy conservation measures such as installing solar PV systems on their premises as well as proposes smart LED lighting solutions to maximize energy efficiency at work place. With zero trace of toxic compounds or elements such as mercury and tungsten, LED lights positively impact the environment as they drastically reduce electricity consumption, ensuring that organizations’are more ecologically-sound.
Moreover, organizations could start to implement ecofriendly team building days; collectively volunteering at wildlife conservation facilities or taking part in beach-up clean ups to make a prominent social difference. Simple acts made by business leaders could have a knock-on effect, encouraging employees to undertake best practices at home and at work and aid in protecting the UAE’s ecosystem and environment.
Sharaf DG Energy is a turn-key solar energy solutions provider and aims to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels at a commercial, industrial and an individual level. The company has already contributed to the production of 20,000,000 kWh of clean energy from it’s solar power projects at key locations such as Dubai Airports, Dubai Healthcare City, Dry Docks, Retail Logistics, just to name a few. This is equivalent to carbon sequestered by 18,000 acres of forests in one year and avoiding CO2 emissions from 5,782,000 liters of petrol, thereby directly contributing to Dubai’s nature conservation goals.
