The hidden fuel: energy efficiency lessons from the UAE

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the World Economic Forum or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The UAE’s Demand Side Management (DSM) Programme aims to drive energy efficiency by targeting high-impact sectors like the built environment
• Through private-public partnerships, advanced tech, and policy support, the initiative seeks to optimize resource use and reduce emissions, aligning with the UAE's Net Zero Strategy

🔭 The context: The built environment, a major energy consumer in the UAE, has seen significant energy savings through retrofits and green codes under the DSM
• The initiative is structured to incentivize private investments, exemplified by the Government Buildings Retrofit Project, which exclusively uses private funding

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Energy efficiency reduces environmental impact while offering economic benefits, positioning it as a crucial tool for sustainable development and lower carbon footprints, especially in emerging markets facing similar challenges

⏭️ What's next: The DSM Programme aims to meet near-term climate targets like a 31% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, with a broader goal to achieve net-zero by 2050
• Scaling efforts in transport and agriculture will require enhanced infrastructure and regulatory support

💬 One quote: “The UAE’s experience in energy efficiency… offers an example to other emerging markets and the wider world” – Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy & Petroleum Affairs, UAE

📈 One stat: The DSM Programme achieved an 11.2 million-tonne reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2023

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