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Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and His Highness’s keenness for Dubai to be a role model in the field of preserving the environment and applying the highest standards of sustainability, the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai celebrated the “Day of Global Environment », which falls on the fifth of June of each year, affirming its commitment to keeping pace with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, and supporting the UAE’s strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, while continuing to lead the transformational journey towards a sustainable tourism sector that is more aware and committed to preserving the environment. , consolidating the emirate’s position as one of the world’s leading sustainable tourism destinations.
As part of Dubai’s relentless efforts to preserve the environment and support the UAE’s sustainable development goals, the “Dubai Sustainable Tourism” initiative of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai has succeeded in achieving many achievements since its inception within the framework of the department’s efforts to preserve the environment and sustainability standards within its system. Tourism, at a time when the department continues to improve and develop its initiatives and comprehensive strategy in line with the continuous urban and tourism progress in the emirate.
In conjunction with the “Year of Sustainability” and in support of the state’s efforts to reduce plastic consumption, the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai played a vital role in implementing the “Dubai Initiative” initiative, which was launched in 2022, and succeeded in inspiring various segments of society to change their consumption behavior for reusable plastic water bottles. One, and placing drinking water devices in offices and homes, as well as adopting sustainable alternatives such as using refillable water bottles and benefiting from free drinking stations, which numbered 50 stations distributed over a number of important sites in the emirate.
The initiative has succeeded, in light of the collective efforts and fruitful cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, as well as members of society, and in partnership with Talabat, in reducing the consumption of more than 10 million plastic bottles of 500 ml capacity since the launch of the initiative.
Outstanding achievements
Yousef Lootah, Acting Executive Director of the Corporate Strategy and Performance Sector at the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, said: “On World Environment Day, we celebrate the international efforts made to preserve the environment, as well as Dubai’s distinguished achievements in the field of sustainable tourism, which came in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God bless him, to unify and support environmental efforts to build a sustainable world and to adopt best practices in this field.
Among the most prominent of these achievements is the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative, which enabled us to upgrade the sustainable tourism system at the level of the emirate. On collective efforts aimed at adopting sustainable alternatives at the local level.
He added, “We are keen to consolidate the positive transformation of our tourism system through our strategies, partnerships and innovative initiatives, including the carbon calculation tool, which is an effective tool in measuring the carbon footprint of the hospitality sector in Dubai.”
In this regard, Dubai is preparing to highlight its unremitting efforts and exceptional initiatives in limiting the effects of climate change in the international arena. In the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which will continue in its 2023 session to unify global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and bring together the signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to assess the progress made in combating the effects of climate change.
Carbon calculation
The Carbon Calculation Tool, which was launched in the context of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative in 2017, is one of the innovative systems that contribute to measuring the carbon footprint of establishments in the hospitality sector in the emirate, and enhances opportunities for cost savings and better management of energy, water and waste consumption. efficiency.
The “Dubai Sustainable Tourism” initiative requires hotels to have 19 standards that cover various requirements, including sustainable management, performance measures, and training of employees and guests on sustainability. In turn, hotels will work by improving sustainability processes within their facilities to enhance the competitiveness of Dubai’s economy, while these requirements are consistent with Dubai’s strategy to reduce carbon emissions, which aims to reduce the carbon footprint.
Believing in the importance of concerted local and global efforts to achieve sustainable goals, the Dubai Sustainable Tourism initiative is keen to enhance cooperation with partners and stakeholders in the sector, including Etihad ESCO, the Emirates Environment Working Group, the Emirates Green Building Council, Gombuk, and the Emirates Green Building Council. Emirates Nature is also working on launching educational initiatives and comprehensive training programs to disseminate knowledge in sustainable practices that can be applied in hotels and tourist resorts, in a way that contributes to achieving Dubai’s vision aimed at establishing a sustainable tourism system, and then consolidating its global position in this field.
And based on the wise vision of the wise leadership, Dubai continues its march towards a green future and a more sustainable tourism system, and the Department of Economy and Tourism is working to have a tangible role in this direction, especially through the “Dubai Sustainable Tourism” initiative, which is based on an integrated strategy that adopts the principles of responsible and subsidized tourism. With conscious choices, so that all institutions can contribute to making a positive and lasting impact on the environment.