Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, has organised a graduation ceremony for the third batch of the Carbon Ambassadors Programme in Dubai.
The programme empowers youth and involves them in sustainable development goals, and develops their skills to become effective in implementing Dubai’s strategies and growth. Partners of the programme supervised teams of delegates and a panel of judges evaluated the projects, to select the best three teams. DEWA launched the programme in collaboration with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, DCCE, and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.
The Carbon Ambassadors Programme honoured the first three winning projects, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MoCCAE, ranked first, the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, ranked second, and Mai Dubai ranked third. The entities who took part in innovative projects were also recognised including Emirates National Oil Company Group, Dubai Economy, DEWA, and the UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia.
"Raising awareness about the need to reduce carbon emissions and the right approach to achieve this reduction is important if we are going to achieve environmental friendliness and sustainably conserve our natural resources. This is one of the main objectives of the UAE Vision 2021. The Carbon Ambassadors Programme plays a major role in achieving this objective," said Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
"The programme is one of the important initiatives that increase the involvement of youth in achieving the UAE’s objectives and strategies and enhancing their innovative and creative skills in environmental conservation by reducing carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are one of the main causes of climate change, and represent the most important challenge that the world is currently facing," he added.
The minister highlighted that the MoCCAE is committed to cooperating with all organisations in the UAE to consolidate efforts to achieve a better future for the next generation. He also commended DEWA’s key role in environmental work.
In turn, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, expressed his happiness with the success of the programme for the third consecutive year, with the graduation of 180 ambassadors.
Al Tayer affirmed that DEWA encourages innovation by providing suitable tools and training programmes to develop knowledge capabilities. He added that DEWA provides all the necessary requirements to ensure the success of the Carbon Ambassadors Programme to instil a culture of sustainability and drive development in the UAE.