Speakers Included:
HE Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Environment and Water
Peter Wilson, Environmental Expert
Dr. Chris De Freitas, Scientist and Assistant Dean at the University of Auckland
Rami AbuLaila, Associate Member of the Masdar Clean Tech Fund and ADFEC
Mr Mario Seneviratne, Director of Green Technologies
Mr Richard Smith, Technical Director , Atkins Middle East
The 10th Corporate Social Responsibility Network Seminar of the Emirates Environmental Group and its first in 2007 was organized on Wednesday for discussing the potential business risks or opportunities involved with ‘Climate Change’. The day long seminar held at the Renaissance Hotel saw a large assembly of delegations from some of the major private and public sector companies in the Gulf region. One of the main objectives of the seminar was to throw light on the climatic and environmental issues attached to the rapidly growing industrial sectors of the UAE and the region, and its overall impacts for corporate and community stakeholders.
The event was graced by the presence of HE Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Environment and Water, who expressed his continuous support to EEG events and activities. He also encouraged greater engagement with the corporate sector on pressing environmental issues such as global warming, which affect both the people and the environment of the country.
Among the Chief Speakers at the seminar were Peter Wilson, environmental expert and Dr. Chris De Freitas, scientist and Assistant Dean at the University of Auckland. Mr. Wilson gave an overview of Climate Change and whether it is a moral or a political issue. Dr. de Freitas gave a riveting talk on the scientific evidence supporting the alternative view on Climate Change, backed up by years of research and field work in climate science.
Other key speakers included Rami AbuLaila, an associate member of the Masdar Clean Tech Fund and ADFEC who spoke on the objectives, key drivers and the structure of the UAE industrial model and the Masdar Initiative being undertaken by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC). Another interesting presentation, on the Bill Clinton Initiative, was delivered by Mario Seneviratne, Director of Green Technologies.
Marcus Chandler, Corporate Environmental Manager of Dolphin Energy and Richard Smith, Technical Director of Atkins Middle East presented two informative and insightful presentations on clean technologies. Speaking about the Dolphin Gas project, Marcus Chandler outlined the engineering initiatives employed in the pioneering gas project to optimize energy use and minimise atmospheric emissions. Richard Smith, discussed the key issues related to zero carbon design in the construction and architectural domain and potential solutions. Stimulating rounds of questions and discussions followed the presentations, resulting in a lively exchange of views and opinions.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network is a platform created by the Emirates Environmental Group for bringing private corporations to explore effective management of corporate social responsibility and community participation. As part of the annual activities of the Network, the EEG has been regularly organising seminars and workshops covering a vast range of topics related to environment protection and business issues in the implementation of CSR objectives. The seminars in the past have brought together rich perspectives from key actors in the government and business sector at local, regional and global levels.
Ms. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of EEG stressed on the importance of corporate involvement in environment initiatives on the occasion. Speaking at the seminar, Ms. Marashi said, “Business has a responsibility beyond its basic responsibility to its shareholders; a responsibility to the people of the communities in which it operates. We are all aware that climate change can pose a real and pervasive threat to business as well as to the environment. The aim of our CSR seminar is to take an in-depth look at some of the most significant issues and concerns on climate change that are relevant to business in our region.” Mrs. Al Marashi also spoke about the launching of a local network of the United Nations Global Compact, which is a premier global voluntary CSR network encompassing 3,500 organisations in 100 countries. EEG is a focal point of the Global Compact and Chairperson Al Marashi is a member of its distinguished international Board. The NGO will be facilitating the induction of companies operating in the GCC region into the Global Compact’s world wide network, and work towards this is already underway.
The current edition of the seminar was aimed at understanding and assessing the challenges of climate change and the role of business in addressing and combating the issue. The seminar presented the inside perspective on the climate action policies from corporates, technologies and mechanisms practiced around the world and the best practices to reduce green house gas emissions. The seminar saw an unequivocal stand on energy efficiency, carbon efficiency and clean technologies from the group of experts, practitioners and representatives from the public and private sectors.
The focus of the presentations and interactive sessions of the seminar was on examining climate change policy and its applications, both locally and internationally. The seminar focussed on the measures that are currently underway and those that could be adopted by companies in the UAE to address climate change either as a business risk or as an opportunity for growth. The results of the seminar are expected to be a path forward for advancing corporate climate change strategy and responsible practices in the Gulf region.
The seminar was rounded up with the Chairperson Ms. Habiba Al Marashi thanking and presenting certificates of participation to the speakers and the new founding members Dnata, ECAT, Emaar, GEMS, and Sama Dubai. An optional visit to two local office buildings that conform to the highest international “Green Building” (buildings designed and constructed along environmentally friendly considerations) standards was organised by EEG for the benefit of the delegates.
