Ajman: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has organized the 7th National Dialogue for Climate Ambition (NDCA), focusing on waste management. The program was hosted by the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department under the theme ‘Innovation in waste management as an accelerator to achieve net-zero targets’ at Ajman Accelerators (Ajman X) offices.
Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, remarked the significance of encouraging the adoption of integrated waste management principles through necessary legislation as well as strategies and supporting economic activities that make use of waste as a resource.
The waste sector is one of the key enablers of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction efforts. In line with our second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, we are working to reduce waste generation, expand waste treatment, and transform waste into a clean source of energy.
Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, stated.
The Minister added that “the comprehensive framework will focus on accelerating R&D and innovation to develop waste management technologies and solutions that align with the circular economy principles, and can balance GHG emission reduction and waste treatment in a climate-smart way.”
The session was also attended by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Mr. Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, and Ms. Aseela Al Mualla, Director General of the Fujairah Environment Authority.
The program highlighted national initiatives to carry out best practices in waste management to promote the journey to net-zero. The event had a participation of 70 representatives of federal and local government entities and private sector companies.
MOCCAE has made agreements with five leading cement factories to partially support their operations with alternative fuel generated by Emirates RDF instead of coal.
The event also witnessed keynote presentations by Emirates Nature-WWF, part of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), Mr. Dustin Olson, CEO of PureCycle, on ‘Advancing sustainability with digital-first approach’, Ms. Vidya Ramnath, President of Emerson MEA, on ‘Innovation and technology as accelerators on net-zero journey’, and Mr. John Grainger, COO for Environmental Solutions at Dulsco, on the company’s recycling and treatment facilities and carbon footprint offsetting plans.