Environment

The UAE as a whole, of which Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, ranked 25th in Yale University’s 2014 Environmental Performance Index, with the UAE scoring higher than any other Middle Eastern nation. Sustainability is a key focus moving forward and is included in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Since 2008, all new buildings in Abu Dhabi must comply with Estidama, the emirate’s sustainable building framework, while in January 2014 Abu Dhabi launched a Water Resources Management Strategy to increase the efficiency of water use among the population. Meanwhile, in an effort to reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons, the emirate is exploring alternatives such as nuclear and renewable energy, with these expected to generate 25% and 7%, respectively, of its energy needs by 2020.

This chapter contains an interview with Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary-General, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.