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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023 KHALEEJ TIMES
UAE SETTING THE STAGE FOR AN IMPACTFUL EVENT
A Global Call to Action on Climate Change Uniting nations to combat climate change and foster sustainability for a brighter future, the UAE has set the stage to host the biggest event of the year — COP28 Anam Khan
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OP28, or the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a much-awaited pivotal global event dedicated to addressing climate issues. The UAE is hosting this landmark event strating from November 30. The two-week conference will serve as a platform for nations worldwide to come together and discuss strategies, set policies, and make a commitment to combat climate change. The importance of COP28 cannot be overstated. Climate change poses a severe threat to the world, causing rising temperatures, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and other ecological imbalances. It endangers our environment, economy, and, most crucially, our overall well-being. The UAE, as the host of COP28, demonstrates its strong commitment to addressing climate issues. The country has embarked on a path toward sustainability, investing in renewable energy, sustainable practices, and climate-resilient infrastructure. The UAE’s Vision 2050 outlines its goal to achieve netzero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The UAE is not only setting ambitious climate goals but also taking concrete actions to meet them. As part of COP28 preparations, the AUS as a member of the Universities Climate Network (UCN), a network comprising UAE-based universities and higher education institutions, is focusing on COP28, facilitating dialogues, workshops, public events and youth participation in the lead-up to COP28 and beyond. The college is also a member of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a domestic alliance of stakeholders led by Emirates Nature-WWF and the flagship non-state actor programme for the UAE, aiming to increase momentum towards achieving net zero targets in line with science and the Paris Agreement. Today, AUS is preparing to co-host the Conference of Youth (COY18) — focusing on capacity building and policy training to prepare young people for participation at COP.
Change Starts Today Transforming waste materials for healthy living on a healthy planet
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t Beko, the company strives to minimise the impact we have on the environment. With the biggest part of our carbon emissions resulting from the use of our products by our consumers, we not only need to look at how we produce our products and the materials we use, but we also need to ensure we are bringing energy-efficient products to the market. As a company, we are committed to improving the average energy efficiency of our products year after year, explains Onur Dostel, Regional Managing Director MENA — Arçelik A.Ş. “We are also working to increase the use of recycled materials within our appliances. Our washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, and dishwashers now feature parts made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. By transforming waste materials for use in our appliances, we are taking small steps to reduce the embedded carbon footprint of our products, whilst also promoting the circularity of materials,” he said. Recycled plastic bottles are used in the production of our RecycledTub washing machines and washer-dryer tubs, accounting for up to 10 per cent of the materials used in each tub. In 2022, we used approximately 58.2 million recycled waste PET bottles in washing machines and washer-dryers. By transforming recycled plastic bottles into high-performance materials, we are taking small steps to reduce the embedded carbon footprint of our products, as well as the use of virgin plastic. What’s more, to help make your life easier, our RecycledTub range features a host of innovative technologies, such as AquaTech, which delivers quicker, more gentle washes. Using innovative technology, we recycle fishing nets and industrial thread waste, transforming them into high-performance materials used in the door décor plastic, display cover, and inner plastic display cover of our RecycledNet ovens. And, to help you achieve faster, more even cooking results, a selection of our RecycledNet ovens feature our innovative AeroPerfect technology. A total of 8.83 tonnes of recycled fishing net waste and 218 tonnes of recycled industrial thread were used in parts for ovens, washing machines and dishwashers in 2022.
Onur Dostel Regional Managing Director MENA Arçelik A.Ş. Save time, water and energy with Beko’s AutoDose technology. Our AutoDose Connected dishwashers use liquid or gel detergent and automatically detect how much detergent and rinse aid to use, for healthy living on a healthy planet. You can also control and monitor your dishwashers from your smartphone or tablet with our HomeWhiz app. Alternatively, you can also use voice control to operate your dishwasher using Amazon Alexa. These clever dishwashers can also detect when you’re running low on detergent and can automatically order more to arrive before you run out. “We invite everyone to come and share this journey by making sustainability the easy choice - come join us in making the planet a healthier place,” adds Dostel. Beko, one of Europe’s top three large home appliance brands*, has been ranked 17th on the ‘Real Leaders Top 300 Impact Companies of 2023’ list that recognizes organisations making a positive social or environmental impact. Our parent company Arçelik has achieved recognition in the Corporate Knights’ “2023 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World” list for the third consecutive year.
“We embarked on a journey to make a difference with a holistic sustainability approach. By making sustainability a business model and integrating it into everything we do, Beko strives to reduce human environmental damage through developing high-performance, durable, affordable home appliances that are also eco-friendly,” elaborates Dostel. In line with its sustainability vision, “healthy living is only possible on a healthy planet”, Beko focuses on empowering generations to live healthier lives, knowing that this is only possible on a healthy planet with a more sustainable existence. Sustainable practices are deeply woven through Beko’s DNA. Its parent company Arçelik’s manufacturing plants in Eskisehir, Turkey and Ulmi, Romania, have been awarded Sustainability Lighthouse status by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for their implementation and use of cutting-edge technology to enhance energy and water efficiency. These plants are prime examples of Arçelik’s commitment to a net-zero future, with numerous environmentally friendly measures including the use of 100 per cent green electricity, ensuring resource efficiency, and implementing advanced wastewater treatment. “We hear our consumers and strive to be a positive force for change in line with the shift in consumer demand. At Beko, we have been focusing on environmentally friendly living for a number of years, raising awareness and democratizing technology that makes eco-living possible, affordable, and convenient,” Dostel adds. “Through our strategic investments in green energy, energy efficiency and green financing, we aim to achieve our robust emission reduction targets,” Bozkurt emphasises. “We have committed to the Science Based Targets Initiative to become a Net Zero Company by 2050 in line with the Science Based Targets Net Zero Standard, and our company’s 2030 targets fit into the principles of sustainable growth and value creation and are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” “In line with the near zero-waste concept, we aim to increase the waste recycling rate in manufacturing to 99 per cent in global operations by 2030. Thanks to these practices endorsing circular economy, we reduce waste generation and the amount of waste regularly sent to landfills or for incineration, excluding those sent for energy recovery,” Onur concludes.
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KHALEEJ TIMES MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2023
COP28: UAE SETTING THE STAGE FOR AN IMPACTFUL EVENT
Laying the Foundations for a Greener Future ALEC is pioneering new sustainable construction paradigms and elevating the standards for efficiency in the industry
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hen it comes to advancing the decarbonisation agenda, few sectors have a greater role to play than construction. Building operations and construction account for nearly 40 per cent of global energy-related CO2 emissions. But with an evergrowing global population and rampant urbanisation, scaling back activities isn’t an option. The need of the hour, therefore, is for greater sustainability in the sector. Fortunately, construction firms in the region are taking note, and leading the charge is ALEC. “Sustainability lies at the core of our business philosophy. We are dedicated to aligning with the decarbonisation agendas of regional governments and championing a greener future for the construction sector as a whole,” said Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC. In a demonstration of this commitment, the company, which has constructed many of the region’s iconic developments such as Sea-
Barry Lewis CEO at ALEC World Abu Dhabi, One Za’abeel Tower, the Dubai Hills Mall and the Dubai Airport Terminal 3, recently joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative that promotes responsible business practices and the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lewis explained three of the ten principles of the UNGC pertain to the environment. “By joining this initiative, we commit to implementing the Global Compact’s ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption, and to report on our progress on these efforts annually.” ALEC also joined the Emirates Green Building Council, an industry forum focused on enhancing sustainability in the local built environment.
Moreover, ALEC is currently developing the carbon baseline for its operations and implementing a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy, which it hopes will become a playbook for its industry peers to follow. This involves employing modern methods of construction, such as offsite construction and modular volumetric, and digitalisation operations by integrating technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and more. At its construction sites, the company is increasingly leveraging solar energy generation and hybrid and electric-powered equipment and tools. The company carries out its construction operations in line with the ISO 14001: 2015 Environmental Management System. “Across our diverse portfolio, a total of seven projects have earned the distinguished LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, including the platinum-rated Saudi Arabia at Expo 2020 Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, our efforts to shape environmentally-conscious construction practices have translated into three of our projects earning the two Pearl Estidama rating, along with the achievement of a three-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certification in Qatar,” said Lewis. With year-to-date revenue growth of over 25 per cent, ALEC is proof that economic growth and environmental stewardship can indeed go hand in hand.
A Sustainability Frontrunner in Higher Education Pioneering sustainability in higher education ahead of COP28, AUS is leading the way in climate action and knowledge sharing for a greener future
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s all eyes turn to the UAE this November for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the American University of Sharjah (AUS) is assuming a leadership position in preparation for this global event. Recognised as one of the top five institutions for community engagement in sustainability worldwide by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education 2022 Sustainable Campus Index, AUS has developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that aligns the university’s sustainability efforts with the UAE’s 2050 Net Zero strategic plan. This focus on sustainability has named AUS as a member of the Universities Climate Network
(UCN), a network comprising UAEbased universities and higher education institutions facilitating dialogues, workshops, public events and youth participation in the leadup to COP28 and beyond. It is also a member of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a domestic alliance of stakeholders led by Emirates Nature-WWF and the flagship non-state actor program for the UAE, aiming to increase momentum towards achieving net zero targets in line with science and the Paris Agreement. Today, AUS is preparing to cohost the Conference of Youth (COY18) — focusing on capacity building and policy training to pre-
Focused on nurturing climate-conscious leaders, AUS has been actively engaging with the university community in the lead-up to COP28 through a series of programmes.”
pare young people for participation at COP. It is also leading two out of four UCN pillars, namely Student Youth Engagement and Campus Carbon Neutrality. Its students will be participating as delegates and ambassadors in the Student Energy Summit (SES). Its faculty and students will be presenting their research at the Greening Education Hub and Youth Hub at COP28 Green Zone. Focused on nurturing climateconscious leaders, AUS has been actively engaging with the university community in the lead-up to COP28 through a series of programmes, the most prominent of which are the Green Living and Learning Community, Expo City Climate Ambassador Program and AUS EcoRep program. Approximately 72 per cent of all AUS undergraduate and graduate courses have at least some component related to sustainability. AUS remains at the forefront of climate action, actively promoting change through knowledge and research. To learn more about AUS in COP28, visit w.aus.edu/kts-cop28
How to Improve Indoor and Outdoor Environment Quality The service provider is accelerating progress towards a more sustainable future by reducing its carbon footprint and helping customers establish a healthy indoor environment
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magine a world where your everyday choices have a profound impact on the environment. As the global community converges at COP28 to tackle the pressing climate crisis, the spotlight is turning towards companies that are using innovative technology to cut emissions and create healthier surroundings like The Healthy Home, a premium health and wellness service provider in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. They provide eco-friendly treatments for services such as AC cleaning, pest control, mattress, sofa and carpet cleaning and deep cleaning, along with other home and personal wellness services. The science behind AC maintenance plays an important role in this pursuit, wherein a regularly serviced AC system improves its efficiency, leading to lower energy consumption, enhancement of the indoor air quality, along with cutting costs for customers and better breathing with a reduced impact on the environment. Moreover, AC maintenance extends the lifespan of systems, minimising waste and contributing to sustainability. By reducing energy consumption and supporting efficiency, regular AC cleaning and maintenance plays a part in addressing climate challenges. Beyond the indoor environment, well-maintained AC systems also
help reduce outdoor air pollution, contributing to cleaner air and healthier outdoor spaces. Beyond providing organic treatment options and eco-friendly products, The Healthy Home takes its commitment to environmental preservation a step further through a partnership with TreeNation. This involves active participation in reforestation efforts, where a tree is planted for every completed service. Not only does this initiative offset emissions, but it also significantly contributes to the critical reforestation efforts required to achieve net-zero emissions.
The Healthy Home is accelerating progress towards a more sustainable future by reducing its carbon footprint and helping its customers establish a healthy and sustainable indoor environment, while being cautious of the impact on the overall global environment. The mission is to continue aiding the public in better understanding the transformative potential of improved IEQ, while also taking steps to reduce emissions for a sustainable future. For more information, visit https://thehealthyhome.me