Carbon Neutrality Should be a Post-Pandemic Goal
In April this year, the World Economic Forum noted that as a result of lockdowns around the world as countries attempted to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, air quality was found to have improved. With the majority of people limiting their travel throughout most of 2020, whether local or international, this has had a notable impact on the environment – which emphasizes the value of making the move towards businesses, and indeed countries, becoming more sustainable and embracing carbon neutrality. As the world adjusts to the COVID-19 reality and anticipates what a pandemic-free future may look like, there is no better time to accelerate an ecological transition.
The UAE has clear and admirable ambitions towards making the country more sustainable in terms of environmental impact, as detailed in the Energy Strategy 2050. Not only does the strategy seek to reduce the carbon footprint of power generation by 70%, it wants to increase the consumption efficiency of individuals and corporates by 40%.
Bart Holsters
General Manager UAE, ENGIE Solutions
This is the time for businesses of all kinds – from corporate entities to industrial behemoths – to seriously consider the value of adopting measures that contribute to the UAE leadership’s vision for the future. While the advantages for the environment and air quality are undeniable, there are also tangible benefits to the bottom-line. Energy-efficient buildings and industrial facilities are also more cost-efficient, as utilities bills will be lowered. Energy transition, or the transformation into becoming a carbon neutral business, is a combination of improved performance while also contributing to the common good, and the common good is good for business.
While it may seem like the journey towards becoming carbon-neutral is a long and perhaps even unrealistic one, the fact of the matter is that with today’s smart technology, it is more attainable than ever before. ENGIE Group is an example of how achievable it is; between 2015 – 2019, the Group has reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 59%, shifted 93% of activities to be low-carbon, multiplied its solar energy production capacity six-fold and increased its wind energy production capacity by 20%, with a 9-gigawatt increase in renewable energies. Our journey isn’t over yet, but the progress has been significant – and demonstrates that it is possible to make a gradual shift towards carbon neutrality.
Industrial players in particular can take advantage of ENGIE’s experience to become more sustainable. The UAE’s industrial sector is stronger today than ever before. While this is a boon for the economy, industrial processes typically consume large quantities of energy and water – quite possibly even the largest share of utilities in society. Transforming industrial facilities to be carbon neutral should, therefore, be a priority.
Reducing energy consumption is an obvious place to start. Given the climate in the Middle East, buildings in the UAE are heavy on energy consumption, particularly in the hotter months. This leads to significant utilities costs, as well as the carbon toll of energy production. Air conditioning is, of course, a necessity, but smart technologies can be deployed in existing facilities that contribute towards a low-carbon outcome via energy management practices. Not only can these that can monitor, adjust, and improve air quality as well as energy consumption, they can also offer long-term operational and systems performance, so that businesses can experience a tangible effect on both their expenditures and their carbon footprint.
Taking the first step towards becoming carbon neutral is within reach regardless of business size or sector. Not only is it within reach, but it should be a top consideration in the months to come. The global impact of COVID-19 has demonstrated how much the environment can benefit when we produce less carbon. It has also shown us that we – as people, businesses, and communities – can be more adaptable and flexible than we ever thought possible. These are lessons we can learn from the unfortunate circumstances of 2020, and that we should take into consideration as we plan ahead. Whatever the ‘new normal’ may be, the environment can, and should, be at the heart of a post-pandemic world. Business and the planet will both benefit as a result – and that’s a win-win situation, if ever there was one.