National Experts Programme launches new UAE Environmental Identity project and app

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) and e, collaborated with NEP to deliver the project.

Held at COP28 in Expo City Dubai, the launch ceremony was attended by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment. As well as leading the UAE's drive to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Almheiri is also an NEP Mentor.

In this role, she works closely with the programme's sector participants, passing on her specialised expertise, leadership skills, and guidance to help them make a transformative impact in their sector.

Serving as a tool to collect data, UAEEI aims to measure the environmental footprint of individuals in the UAE, capturing data based on consumer choices to provide decision-makers with clear information to drive future policies.

It also aims to empower individuals to actively offset their carbon footprint as the UAE works towards reducing its emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.

Commenting on the launch, Almheiri said, "The Environmental Identity App indeed shines a light on our climate innovators in the UAE. In this new era of climate innovation, our success as a sustainable nation will be defined by the launchpads we create for climate innovators to take their work from the lab into the real world.

"It also serves as a groundbreaking solution that will help measure - and in turn - reduce their impact on the environment and is another step forward in our national vision to preserve the environment for future generations by enabling the people to make informed choices."

She added, "I am grateful for the National Experts Programme launched by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to identify a new generation of technical experts and innovators. The UAEEI is the outcome of a launchpad like NEP combining academic rigour, active mentoring, and funding pathways."

Spearheaded by Abdulla Al Remeithi, NEP Fellow, and Director - Environment Policy, Regulation and Climate Change at Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the initiative is sponsored by the Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi, EAD, and Mubadala.

The UAEEI is the culmination of Abdulla's Capstone Project in NEP 1.0, which received funding from NEP's legacy partner, Mubadala, to launch the innovative national initiative.

Al Remeithi, said, "The UAE Environmental Identity is a national project and a revolutionary initiative designed to create a global role model - redefining our role in the global fight against climate change.

"Ultimately, this initiative's goal is to create a positive and tangible impact, reducing the national environmental footprint and contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. It also stands as a transformative solution, aligning with numerous forthcoming efforts in our pipeline." (ANI/WAM)