United Arab Emirates:

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has launched the National Green Certificates Programme, which aims to promote environmentally friendly building practices in line with the objectives of the National Demand-side Management Programme and the National Green Building Regulation.

The National Green Certificates Programme sets specific standards for building classification in regard to energy efficiency, water management, indoor air quality, and the use of sustainable building materials.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will offer consultations for participating businesses to ensure the highest level of sustainability.

Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The Programme is a framework for classifications and requirements for enhancing sustainability and cutting down the carbon footprint of commercial buildings through identifying unified basics that ensure the latest world-class criteria for sustainable buildings are applied.”

“We at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure are committed to advancing sustainable, environment-friendly practices across the board.

The programme is another step in our journey to drive a green economy and sustainable development.”

For his part, Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, said that the Programme aligns with the ministry’s keenness to integrate environmental sustainability and decarbonisation measures in the building sector. It will help reduce energy and water consumption and slash the sector’s carbon footprint. This will contribute to the UAE’s net-zero by 2050 target and will help build an infrastructure that can meet the development needs of the future.

To support the Programme, the ministry signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The first MoU was with First Abu Dhabi Bank, where they agreed to explore potential collaborations in green finance solutions to enhance the UAE’s built environment sector.

This includes participation in the National Green Certificates Programme and supporting the UAE’s energy efficiency targets through innovative financing solutions.

It also includes the development and promotion of green finance products for the built environment sector and the execution of joint initiatives to promote energy-efficient practices and technologies in the industry.

The second MoU was with Aldar Properties to implement green finance solutions specifically tailored to enhance the built environment sector in the UAE. This includes Aldar Properties’ participation in the Programme, discovering the potential to finance this Programme, and providing technical services. They also agreed to implement joint initiatives to promote energy-efficient practices and technologies in the built environment sector.

The third was with Pact Carbon, where the company joins the Programme and supports other participants access global markets to sell carbon credits.

The fourth MoU was with Meagle Energy to establish a framework of cooperation between the parties to provide energy auditing and Measurement and Verification (M&V) services to the Ministry for the National Green Certificates Programme. Meagle Energy will conduct energy audits in accordance with the standards and guidelines set forth by MoEI.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has announced the launch of the Satgate project in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).

The project aims to employ satellite and AI technologies to improve the efficiency of locating ships, monitoring sea condition, and forecasting the weather to enhance the UAE’s position as a top-notch maritime hub globally.

The Satgate project seeks to develop a database of ships that call at UAE ports and help maintain the security of maritime facilities and coasts by tracing the location of ships that are not connected to tracking devices.

Satgate is a transformational project that is part of the performance agreements for 2023-2024, aiming to implement national priorities and achieve the requirements of the next phase of development in the UAE.

Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, emphasised the project’s importance in driving maritime security, improving the competitiveness of the national maritime sector, and attracting international investors.

He said, “This move comes within the UAE’s approach to leverage its leading space technologies to achieve growth and progress across the board. Improving our tracking systems using advanced technology will enhance maritime transport and mitigate risks, which will contribute to increasing trade and transport traffic through UAE ports. Innovations in the maritime sector don’t only benefit the economy but also help us achieve a sustainable development through preserving and developing the marine environment.”