Dubai, 4 December 2023
The Climate Neutral Real Estate (CNRE) Programme was launched in the Gulf Region at the 28th session of the annual United Nations climate summit – COP 28. The event, organized in cooperation with the Emirates Environmental Group and Knauf Insulation, which took place at the Slovenia Business Centre at the Expo City in Dubai and brought together over 80 government officials – including HE Sharon Dijksma, Mayor of Utrecht and HE Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam – knowledge institutions and industry representatives from the Netherlands, UAE, KSA and Oman.
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) was delighted to be part of this holistic discussion. EEG Chairperson Mrs. Habiba Al Mar’ashi stated, “It is very enriching to see entities from various sectors and parts of the world converging at one location to share best practices and the latest news in the built environment. It is only through such a unified approach to tackle climate change issues that we can actually implement adaptation and mitigation strategies that will drive the change towards net zero. The session was truly remarkable and had positive outcomes, gaining valuable perspectives from the diverse speakers that were present at the event”.
The roundtable discussions elaborated on leading technologies in the different disciplines such as net zero architecture, retrofitting, solar technology, building automation and AI, sustainable cooling and water for the built environment, as well as accountability. By means of this gathering the CNRE programme strives for collaboration between the Netherlands, UAE, KSA and Oman in order to achieve a higher climate performance. Solving global challenges together contributes to synergies on this important theme in the framework of COP28 and beyond, accelerating sustainable impact.
“Many of the challenges we currently face come together in urban environments – addressing the water-energy-food nexus will be crucial to create sustainable and resilient cities. Circular and nature- based solutions offer key innovations in this context, which bring benefits from both an environmental, climate as well as socio-economic point of view. That is why I’m very happy to have joined the regional launch of the Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region Programme, which holds large potential to contribute to sustainable urban environments “ stated Afke van Rijn, Director-General for the Environment and International Affairs at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands.
Real estate in the region has developed at a breathtaking pace, often with horizons for durability only spanning a few decades. Many buildings are up for a retrofit. The perfect opportunity presents itself to reduce the large energy and water footprint associated with these buildings. Construction materials have gone through an evolution as well.
Photos by: SeeingThings Photography & Film
The CNRE Gulf Region programme is a public-private partnership between the Dutch Government and knowledge institutes, technology companies and technology providers. This programme aims to enable real estate to become climate neutral in energy supply.
For more information about the CNRE, please consult: Climate Neutral Real Estate – Dutch Energ Solutions (dutch-energysolutions.nl)
About the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai, represent, support and protects the interests of the Dutch government in the United Arab Emirates. They provide services to Dutch nationals who live, work, travel or do business in the UAE. There are approximately 7500 Dutch residents and over 300 Dutch businesses active in the UAE. Including FDI, the total value of bilateral trade between the Netherlands and the UAE totals € 8 billion (AED 32 billion). The Kingdom of the Netherlands’ focus sectors in the UAE are agri-food, water, energy, and healthcare.
For more information, please visit www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-arab-emirates. You can also email dba-ea@minbuza.nl for Dubai and/or abu-ea@minbuza.nl for Abu Dhabi.
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a professional working group established in 1991 in the United Arab Emirates. It is devoted to protecting the environment through the means of education, action programmes and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact, the Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), EEG is a full Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
For more information please visit: www.eeg-uae.org
Knauf Insulation is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of insulation products and solutions. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, we represent one of the fastest growing and most respected names in insulation worldwide.
For more information please visit: www.knaufinsulation.com
