Climate Change & Energy Call for...
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Climate Change & Energy CALL FOR SUPPORT By consuming more natural resources than what the planet can provide, humanity is degrading habitats that are key for the survival of plants and animals. Burning energy also produces carbon dioxide, which is causing our planet to warm and our climate to change. The Gulf region is particularly at risk from climate change and yet has some of the highest per capita ecological footprints in the world 1 . According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report, over 70% of the UAE’s ecological footprint is from carbon emissions due largely to our energy and water consumption. The average UAE resident consumes 5 times more energy and 3 times more water than the average global citizen. Electricity generation and water desalination processes in the country are energy intensive and have a further impact on our Ecological Footprint. If everyone lived like the average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planet Earths to sustain us. This is why reducing our Ecological Footprint is the most essential step we can take towards living within the means of our one planet. Shams 1* - a 100MW concentrated solar power plant © Shams Power Company LIVING WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ONE PLANET If everyone lived like the average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planet Earths 1 Ecological Footprint: an indicator that measures humanity’s pressure on nature *Shams Power Company is not associated with EWS-WWF.
Transcript of Climate Change & Energy Call for...
Climate Change & EnergyCall for Support
By consuming more natural resources than what the planet can provide, humanity is degrading habitats that are key for the survival of plants and animals. Burning energy also produces carbon dioxide, which is causing our planet to warm and our climate to change. The Gulf region is particularly at risk from climate change and yet has some of the highest per capita ecological footprints in the world1. According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report, over 70% of the UAE’s ecological footprint is from carbon emissions due largely to our
energy and water consumption. The average UAE resident consumes 5 times more energy and 3 times more water than the average global citizen. Electricity generation and water desalination processes in the country are energy intensive and have a further impact on our Ecological Footprint. If everyone lived like the average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planet Earths to sustain us. This is why reducing our Ecological Footprint is the most essential step we can take towards living within the means of our one planet.
Shams 1* - a 100MW concentrated solar power plant
© S
ham
s Po
wer
Com
pany
living within thE limitS of onE planEt
if everyone lived like the average uaE resident, we would need 4.5 planet Earths
1Ecological Footprint: an indicator that measures humanity’s pressure on nature
*Shams Power Company is not associated with EWS-WWF.
We are engaging with the government to facilitate policy change, working with businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and motivating the wider community to live more sustainable lifestyles.
Through the Ecological Footprint Initiative, EWS-WWF is helping the UAE government set low carbon policies, standards and regulations.
Through our Heroes of the UAE Private Sector Programme, EWS-WWF is initiating the first voluntary carbon emissions reduction programme for businesses in the UAE.
As a NGO, we are also ideally positioned to convene knowledge sharing platforms and dialogue with all sectors of society, to improve the adoption of environmentally responsible policies and lifestyles.
To help reduce the UAE Ecological Footprint, EWS-WWF embarked on the Ecological Footprint Initiative in 2007. The Initiative is a public-private partnership with the UAE government and the private sector to better understand options to reduce the footprint from the energy and water sector. This work has demonstrated that the UAE could reduce its carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. We are also collaborating with the government to implement an energy efficiency standard for indoor lighting. Once implemented, this standard will help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1 million tons (equivalent to taking over 165,000 cars off the road per year) and help the UAE save up to AED 700 million per year.
The Heroes of the UAE Private Sector Programme assists UAE businesses to realise substantial financial and carbon dioxide savings by reducing water and electricity consumption. So far, 50 companies in the UAE have set 10% emission reduction targets through this initiative. Five companies have become verified Corporate Heroes by achieving substantial water and electricity use reductions over 12 months, for example, ArchCorp reduced its electricity consumption by 55% and its water consumption by 89%. EWS-WWF can also help your company to reduce its carbon footprint.
Call for Support
what iS EwS-wwf Doing to rEDuCE thE uaE’S footprint?
what iS thE ECologiCal footprint initiativE?
what iS thE hEroES of thE uaE privatE SECtor?
Enhance the transition to a low carbon economyOur research on Climate Change & Energy is helping to create the necessary policy conditions to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and accelerate the adoption of renewables and energy efficiency in the UAE. This would save the economy at least AED 700 million every year. It would also generate thousands of jobs in the clean energy sector, boost innovation in low carbon technologies, enhance energy security and provide consumers with access to the most energy efficient appliances to live more sustainable lifestyles.
Speed up change in the private sectorOur existing Heroes of the UAE Private Sector Programme would be enhanced so that companies measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprints as a core part of their business.This will lead to the private sector and the UAE economy becoming more competitive, create new jobs, develop opportunities for entrepreneurs, increase readiness of businesses to compete on the global stage and enhance the market conditions for low carbon technologies.
inspire the community to take actionThe development of workshops, panel discussions and publications will help us touch the hearts and minds of government and industry leaders as well as the wider community. The aim is to shape a more ambitious agenda and advance the debate around clean energy and footprint reduction in the UAE and Gulf region.
Call for Support
how your Support Can hElp We can achieve a clean, safe future but we must start now and we need your help ! Your financial assistance for our work on Climate Change & Energy will enable us to:
Please contact us and find out how you can contribute towards our work in tackling climate change and reducing the country’s Ecological Footprint. To achieve the above and catalyze change at scale, we need a minimum of AED 2 million per year over the next five years. It is only thanks to your contributions, big or small, that we can make a real impact towards a more sustainable future for the country and our planet. Together, our actions add up.
our work on Climate and Energy policyOur policy unit works with businesses and government in the following ways: • conducting research on climate change and energy policy to help set
appropriate policies, visions and strategies• facilitating open dialogue and knowledge sharing between stakeholders,
for effective implementation and adoption of policies• delivering practical tools, guides and engagement platforms for
companies to reduce their carbon footprint• advising on how existing plans and policies need to be adjusted to
reduce the footprint and tackle climate change
our mission “To work with people and institutions within the UAE and the region, to conserve biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce the ecological footprint through education, awareness, policy, and science-based conservation initiatives”
a leading uaE environmental ngo
Established in 2001 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western region
and Chairman of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD).
Emirates wildlife Society in association with wwf (EwS-wwf)
over 10 years…… of recognized leadership in protecting the UAE’s natural wealth
3 themes• Conserving biodiversity,• Tackling climate change,• Reducing our Ecological
Footprint.
EWS-WWF Head OfficeP.O. Box 45553 Abu Dhabi
United Arab EmiratesT: +971 2 634 7117F: +971 2 634 1220
EWS-WWF Dubai OfficeP.O. Box 454891 Dubai
United Arab EmiratesT: +971 4 354 9776F: +971 4 354 9774
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For more information, please contact:Tanzeed Alam Policy Director
Nicolas DelaunayDirector Business Development & Marketing
www.ewswwf.ae @ews_wwf /ews.wwf wwfuae
