DEWA will be sharing its best practices and success stories in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s 2030 through an initiative entitled “SDG Action”.
This initiative will promote DEWA's global excellence and continuous efforts to build a more sustainable environment as well as develop long-term solutions to challenges in accordance with the UN SDGs. SDG Action is a publishing initiative (both online and hard copy) launched by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to support the United Nations’ Decade of Action – the global effort to mobilise governments, businesses and civil society to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The website (sdg-action.org) targets sustainability practitioners from all sectors and attracts around 15,000 readers monthly from across the world. DEWA’s articles have been published in both the online and printed editions, alongside contributions from world-renowned experts.
The hard copy edition was launched in 2021 in conjunction with global events such as the SDGs edition in July (for the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development) the Climate Action edition in October (for COP26). These publications were also distributed in relevant events and talks.
Since 2016, DEWA has strived to align its efforts with the SDGs according to an approach that helps it achieve them effectively. DEWA has reviewed all 169 targets to identify those it is best placed to contribute to in the short, medium, and long term in addition to promoting triple-bottom line sustainability. This is through adopting the best global practices as well as sustainable and integrated solutions. DEWA prioritised six goals to achieve as a pioneering utility for the water and energy sectors.
These practices align with the following SDGs:
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation;
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy;
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth;
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production;
- Goal 13: Climate Action.
In 2018, DEWA worked on an exercise to map its projects and Key Performance Indicators against the UN SDGs to capture its contribution to the Goals. The results were reviewed and verified by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). The results showed that DEWA’s Key Performance Indicators and activities of its divisions contribute to 15 out of 17 SDGs. In 2020, DEWA started a project to update and review the mapping exercise to strengthen its contribution to the SDGs. This will be done by introducing new commitments/key performance indicators (KPIs) and initiatives to address any gaps in DEWA’s contributions to the priority targets.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said,
“At DEWA, all our strategies and plans are guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote Dubai’s position as a global capital for sustainability. As members of the UN Global Compact, we support the UN’s role in achieving the SDGs. Our plans, initiatives, and programmes align with the UN SDGs. DEWA achieved significant results in the Sustainability Culture Indicator with an average of 91.2% in 2020, exceeding the global average for corporates. It is based on the principles of achieving sustainability, strategic commitment, innovation in the field of sustainability, training, and raising awareness regarding sustainability,”
“This achievement crowns our relentless efforts to support the UAE in achieving the UN SDGs 2030 and our vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation. During this period, there is an urging need to mobilise global efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and promote efforts to overcome poverty, inequality, climate change, in addition to developing strategic and vital sectors,”
“DEWA plays a pioneering role in protecting the environment through increasing the use of clean and renewable energy as part of its social responsibility and commitment to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,”
In recognition of its efforts in sustainable development and its efforts to support the UAE in achieving the UN SDGs, DEWA won the UN SDGs Challenge by the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) in 2021.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
