Indian Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athwale, lauded the United Arab Emirates’ sustainability efforts during the recent “Green Minds: Circularity, Sustainability and Net Zero” session organized by the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC).
As the chief guest at the event, Minister Athwale emphasized the growing cooperation between India and the UAE in environmental initiatives. He highlighted the UAE’s ambitious target of deriving 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, praising projects such as Masdar City, Dubai Metro, and various eco-friendly community developments. “The UAE has made impressive strides in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy production,” Athwale stated. “These efforts align with India’s own push towards sustainability and reduced reliance on single-use plastics.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to showcase India’s progress, noting that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the Indian economy has become the 5th largest globally. He mentioned that India has lifted 250 million people out of poverty in the last five years and has emerged as a pioneer in renewable energy production.
The session featured insights from various sustainability experts, including Mahel Al Kaabi, Advisor to the Circularity Council, Government of Dubai. Al Kaabi detailed the UAE’s $13 billion investment in carbon capture technology, which aims to remove 2.3 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates NBD, discussed the growing importance of green financing in the region, predicting its mainstream adoption within the next decade.Other speakers included Reena Vij from IBM, who stressed the importance of data quality in sustainability efforts, and Saimulla Khan from Fakhruddin Group, who addressed sustainability challenges in the real estate sector.
The IBPC event underscored the mutual commitment of India and the UAE to sustainable development and environmental protection. It highlighted the potential for further collaboration between the two nations in addressing global climate challenges and promoting circular economy initiatives.The UAE’s Circular Economy Policy, involving collaboration with federal and local governments and businesses to implement sustainable practices across various sectors, could serve as a valuable model for India.
By Vinod Kumar (Dubai)