As part of the UAE’s 2021 Sustainability Agenda and Dubai’s commitment to join the global battle against climate change, the emirate has signed the Air Quality Declaration alongside 34 global leading cities at the C40 World Mayors Summit 2019
The Air Quality Declaration includes the following cities: London, Los Angeles, Washington, Berlin, Austin, Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Amman, Delhi, Durban, Guadalajara, Heidelberg, Houston, Jakarta, Lima, Lisbon, Madrid, Medellin, Mexico City, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Portland, Quezon, Quito, Rotterdam, Seoul, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, and Warsaw.
Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, secretary-general of the Executive Council of Dubai and vice-president of the Asian and East Asian cities in the C40 Steering Committee, said, “Improving air quality for the Emirate’s residents and visitors is at the top of our environmental health priorities, and we are confident this signing will contribute to furthering our sustainability agenda, and to a healthier environment for all.”
Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami, director general of Dubai Health Authority, said, “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues affecting the global community today, and taking part in the Air Quality Declaration is a significant step towards unifying global efforts in reducing climate change’s effects on the environment.”
Dubai signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the city of Medellin, Colombia to share best practices and innovations in the fields of technology, energy, water, mobility and waste management.
The C40 Summit provides a platform for cities to kick-off strategic partnerships and discuss challenges of climate change, as well as come up with effective solutions to fix it.
“Dubai Municipality seeks to achieve a balance between developmental and environmental needs. We’ve implemented a number of strategic projects in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, including the Air Quality Strategy 2017-2021, which we launched in 2017. Our city will achieve the national target of 90 per cent clean air by 2021," said Dawood Al Hajri, director-general of Dubai Municipality.
The Air Quality Improvement Declaration obliges cities to set ambitious targets to reduce pollution; implement policies to raise air quality by 2030; and publish periodic reports on progress - based on the agreement of city mayors that breathing fresh air is a human right.
They have agreed on a range of policies and programmess to achieve that goal, including: encouraging public transport; low or zero-carbon emissions; encouraging alternative modes of transportation such as walking and cycling; and motivating the involvement of private and public entities to create a better future.
“DEWA’s efforts, along with other government and private entities in Dubai have reduced the net carbon emissions of the emirate by 19 per cent two years ahead of the target date. It has also exceeded the Carbon Emissions Strategy’s target to reduce emissions by 16 per cent by 2021,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
