ENPARK pioneers drive to promote carbon neutral environment in UAE

The initiative will seek to measure and quantify the greenhouse gas generated by each entity within TECOM Business Parks and chart a roadmap for achieving a tangible reduction in corresponding emissions.

Under the carbon footprint assessment, CO2 emissions will be measured from specific activities, processes and operations, with a particular focus on energy use, consumption pattern, waste and transport.

The resulting carbon report will provide a breakdown of CO2 emissions by individual business parks.

The carbon footprint or amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated by an organization or individual per year can be compensated by way of a carbon offset - a financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

To demonstrate its profound commitment to green policies, TECOM Business Parks will adopt carbon-offset projects to ensure that one carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases.

Dr. Amina Al Rustamani, CEO of TECOM Business Parks, said:

"TECOM Investments has relentlessly pioneered the green drive in Dubai, while endorsing the adoption and implementation of sustainable development policy in the region. We realize the urgency of addressing the challenges related to global warming and hope that by reducing carbon emissions, we can contribute to a better environment."

ENPARK was launched in June 2007 with the aim of providing an enabling platform for sustainable business operations through the integration of eco-friendly policies, standards, education programmes and technologies, combining environmental, social and economic elements to reflect Dubai's benchmark for sustainable development.

Ali Bin Towaih, Executive Director of ENPARK, said: "For almost three years now, we have consistently achieved outstanding success in offering sustainability solutions. The carbon footprint assessment reflects the readiness of ENPARK and its sister entities in implementing further sustainable development policies that focus on scientific and economic measures. It will also open doors to formulate a clean development mechanism for projects within TECOM Business Parks and throughout the region."

Bin Towaih added: "ENPARK marks the World Environment Day 2008 by urging corporates to implement environment-friendly guidelines wherever they operate in the world."

ENPARK's carbon assessment will also work towards attracting talent in the carbon emission and trading industry, bringing investments that will shift ways in which companies choose to technologically-operate their business and build an ever stronger knowledge-based economy.

It will also serve to highlight a more scientific approach for carbon reduction among companies in the region.

While there are six categories of greenhouse gases, the carbon dioxide (CO2) is usually the most referred to and is measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e).

ENPARK's immense work has already contributed positively to the effects of reducing carbon emissions in the region largely stemmed from the implementation of the region's first ever formal sustainable development (SD) policy in August 2006.

The entity has since then put into place sustainable development measures across all components of TECOM Business Parks comprising Dubai Internet City (DIC), Dubai Media City (DMC), Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV), Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Studio City (DSC), International Media Production Zone (IMPZ), Dubiotech, Dubai Outsource Zone (DOZ), and ENPARK.

The revised model of TECOM Business Parks aims to incorporate TECOM's free zone clusters under one umbrella enabling industry-knowledge across the company's vast sectors to be made more accessible and shared conveniently with each entity.