Day: February 17, 2024

DUBAI: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) received 6,235 innovative ideas in 2023 through the Afkari internal platform, designed to encourage employees to be innovative and creative.

So far, 85 percent of the approved ideas have been implemented. This has contributed to supporting the innovation and development of DEWA’s services and achieving the highest global competitiveness indicators. These include the lowest electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) in the world at just 1.06 minutes per customer annually, 100 percent availability of electricity and water network services and 99.99 percent availability of DEWA’s key digital services.

‘We are guided by the vision and directives of the wise leadership to adopt innovation to enhance Dubai’s readiness for the future. In this regard, DEWA is keen to provide a work environment that fosters creativity and helps employees to innovate and develop new ideas that accelerate the path of development. Adopting innovation as a principal practice in DEWA’s wor
k environment helps us develop our services and enhance efficiency and performance. The significant response by DEWA’s employees to present their innovative ideas through Afkari reflects their sense of responsibility as partners in success by presenting innovative ideas and suggestions. These develop the services DEWA provides to all stakeholders, including customers and employees. This also paves the way for more success and accomplishments, enhancing DEWA’s competitiveness locally and globally,’ said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.

Afkari is the first creative platform of its kind in Dubai Government that implements the idea management system. Afkari enables employees to vote and comment on other employees’ ideas, just like social media platforms. The platform allows DEWA to benefit from employee suggestions, providing a central repository to manage innovation and ensure continuous improvement.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: As the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi later this month is set to hold crucial global trade talks, Singapore has urged WTO members to take a consensual approach.

‘To secure meaningful deliverables at MC13, members must exercise ‘responsible consensus’, by seeking mutually beneficial approaches, showing openness to trade-offs, and approaching negotiations in an objective and evidence-based manner,’ Jane Lim, Deputy Secretary for Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, said in an email interview with Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Crucial global meet after COP28

She made these remarks as MC13 aims for pivotal reforms into the global trading system, spanning from expanding WTO membership to strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms and adopting digital trade frameworks.

The WTO ministerial meeting also aims to address challenges such as supply-chain disruption, inflation, protectionism, and climate change. In addition, MC13 will exp
lore ways to boost investments in trade technologies for sustainable and resilient supply chains.

Lim underscored that as a small and open economy, Singapore is a strong supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core.

After successfully organising COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in December 2023, the UAE is set to host MC13 from 26th to 29th February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

The WTO ministerial meeting will convene representatives of 164 nations and trading blocs.

UAE’s constructive role

The Singapore official stressed that the UAE has been a constructive player in global trade and is well-placed to facilitate meaningful outcomes at MC13.

The Chair of MC13, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, has been consulting members extensively in the lead-up to MC13, Lim noted.

‘Under the able Chairmanship of Dr Thani, we look forward to working closely with the UAE to secure meaningful outcomes at the Conference. It is paramount fo
r members, both big and small, to work closely to strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system.’

Singapore’s priorities at MC13

About Singapore’s key priorities at MC13, the official said progress on WTO reforms, including consensus on an effective dispute settlement system, is the first one.

Extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions is the next. Meaningful measures to address the pressing food security challenges as well as those relating to sustainability and the environment are the third priority, Lim explained.

‘We are hopeful that a realistic and balanced package can be achieved at MC13.’

Digital trade

As one of the co-convenors of the Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce, Singapore welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on a set of digital trade rules in December 2023 and look forward to the conclusion of negotiations this year, the official explained.

A successful outcome on the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic
transmissions is also critical to further promote digital trade, she stressed.

Aside from digital trade issues, Lim suggested, the WTO must, in the longer run, remain relevant by addressing contemporary challenges such as food security, supply chain resilience, and climate change. In this regard,

Members should exercise ‘flexible multilateralism’ and explore creative modalities, such as through plurilaterals like the Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs), she added.

‘We must also look beyond MC13 to chart a forward-looking agenda for the WTO, to ensure it remains relevant and well-equipped to deal with evolving challenges of the global landscape.’

For example, the WTO is well positioned to address important environmental issues through the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) as well as Member-driven initiatives such as the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) and the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DDP), given the g
rowing nexus between trade and the environment, Lim explained.

Singapore-UAE trade ties

Singapore has consistently had strong trade and investments with the UAE, she said.

Both countries have been free trade agreement partners since 2013, as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA). Bilateral cooperation spans across areas such as food security, digital and green, which are also key contemporary issues in the global economy today, Lim noted.

Given its rising role as a global logistics hub, the UAE has taken the initiative to host MC13, a prominent global meeting. The Emirates, a champion for greater engagement of the Global South, advocates for a more inclusive global trading system.

UAE’s CEPA initiative

In 2021, the UAE started forging the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with major partners worldwide. The CEPAs aim to establish more open, sustainable and mutually beneficial trading relations by removing barriers to trade in goods and services, sim
plifying customs procedures and streamlining supply chains.

UAE has concluded CEPA with 11 countries such as India, Indonesia, Israel, Trkiye, Cambodia, South Korea, Colombia, Georgia, Mauritius, Congo-Brazzaville and Costa Rica. The first five agreements have already come into effect.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Roadmap, a high-level plan outlining global recommendations to bolster Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), was revealed on Day Four of the 12th World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC2024) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). A culmination of four days of vibrant discussions, workshops and events, the roadmap outlines a call to action to catalyse and reinvigorate efforts in EE and ESD focused on addressing the Triple Planetary Crisis.

Commenting on the announcement, Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General at Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), said, ‘The Abu Dhabi Roadmap represents a pivotal moment on our path towards a more sustainable and resilient future, and affirms the UAE’s dedication to enhancing EE to help further catalyse us on that journey. The WEEC2024 served as a dynamic stage to unveil this environmental plan. The mass of knowledge gained and the ideas which have inspired us over the course of this congress
are fitting illustrations of the power of educational initiatives. Now, the Roadmap will continue to propel us in our ongoing work to a greener future.’

Developed with input from a range of stakeholders across 83 countries including UNESCO, IUCN, UNEP, UAE Ministry of Education, UAE Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment (MOCCAE), Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), as well as a whole host of global environmental education experts, the Roadmap was introduced by Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director, Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Management, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi. This unveiling occurred during a dedicated session on the fourth day of WEEC2024.

During the announcement, he emphasised that the discussions from the congress had helped inform The Abu Dhabi Roadmap. However, its inception traces back to COP28, where urgent calls for action and intensified efforts in Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable De
velopment were echoed to confront the ‘Code Red for humanity’ represented by the Triple Planetary Crisis.

Emphasising the significance of the announcement, Julia Heiss, Team Leader for Education and Sustainable Development, UNESCO, said, ‘The 2024 World Environmental Education Congress successfully brought together stakeholders from the global Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) community globally. The event served as a platform for exchanging ideas, innovations, and the latest developments in the field. This global community of practice aims at transforming education to support a more sustainable future not only at the international level but also regionally through the network of Regional Centres of Expertise, and at the country level through the development of comprehensive Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives for the year 2030.’

Echoing the sentiment, Abdul-Majeid Haddad, Deputy Regional Director for West Asia, UNEP, said, ‘Education is one of
the key vehicles to achieve a sustainable future. The Triple Planetary crisis is a clear and present danger, one that needs a coordinated and collaborative action. UNEP’s Strategy is guided by the triple planetary crisis. We are indeed encouraged to see that Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has focused on this crisis and has managed to elicit a response from environment educators from all across the world to take collaborative action towards contributing to tackling this crisis in the 12th World Environment Education Congress conducted in Abu Dhabi.’

Key recommendations include the need to urgently ramp up the pace and scale of EE and ESD, and ensure they are prominent elements in both national and global agendas, with the Roadmap highlighting the essential nature of events such as WEEC to foster better integration and amplify the impact of shared goals.

The plan also encourages the harnessing of AI and smart technologies to help achieve environmental goals while underscoring the importance of placing ethics
and values at the centre of EE and ESD to help foster emotional connections between society and nature. The complexities of the present day were also acknowledged; the Roadmap sets out recommendations for evaluative learning as a feature for improving the efficacy of EE and ESD interventions and combining green skills with green jobs to drive sustainable development effectively.

During his speech about Abu Dhab’s contribution to the global roadmap, Ahmed Baharoon commented, ‘The Roadmap identifies several key actions that tackle climate change, waste management, and biodiversity loss, and can be implemented by countries and communities across the globe. In terms of Abu Dhabi’s implementation, EAD will actively participate in global initiatives like the Greening Education Partnership with UNESCO, alongside expanding local programmes such as the Sustainable Schools Initiative to cover all schools. The efforts will involve promoting circularity and implementing measures like the recent ban on single-use plastic
s, complemented by awareness campaigns to drive behavioural change.’

‘To combat biodiversity loss, Abu Dhabi is collaborating with UNEP and partners such as the Rewilding Academy in the Netherlands and Plant for Planet in Germany to respond to Challenge 6.3 – Education of the UNEP Decade of Ecosystem Restoration Action Plan. To further strengthen these efforts, plans are underway to establish a Regional Centre of Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, close collaboration with partners like IUCN underscores Abu Dhabi’s dedication to developing nature-based learning recommendations,’ added Ahmed Baharoon ending his speech, Ahmed Baharoon invited the world to join the Abu Dhabi Roadmap and help implement its recommendations, drawn from a wealth of experience and expertise. ‘We seek partners, collaborations, and networks to help connect people and create a better tomorrow,’ he concluded.

Day 4 marked the end of four days of engaging conversation and knowledge sharing, wh
ich set the foundation for an exploration of Abu Dhabi’s ecological and educational sites in a series of field trips on Day 5, seamlessly integrating theory into hands-on experiences.

Ahead of the roadmap announcement, the Four Thematic Chairs of WEEC2024; Antonella Bachiorri, Professor of Didactics of Biology and Environmental Education at the University of Parma, Italy; Richard Perry, Chair of the Socio-Scientific Committee; David Zandvliet, Professor at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada, and Gayatri Raghwa, Senior Environment Education Consultant at UNEP, India, summarised the outcome of the event. They addressed the challenges identified from discussions across the four days, highlighting the dimensions that need to be considered, the collective goals of environmental education, and the means to achieve them.

In anticipation of future environmental education endeavours, an exciting announcement was made regarding the 13th World Environmental Education Congress. The upcoming congress is set to t
ake place in Perth, Australia, promising further engagement and advancements in the field of environmental education.

Source: Emirates News Agency