Wednesday, August 3, 2022 – 4:00 pm
– To ensure the implementation of the UAE’s circular economy policy at the level of all sectors.
DUBAI, 3rd August / WAM / The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has launched a series of dialogue sessions, “Circular Economy Resilience”, with the aim of providing a meeting platform for all stakeholders and stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences, build capacity and explore opportunities to enhance circular economy practices in priority sectors, as part of its efforts. To strengthen the circular economy system in the UAE.
As part of this dialogue series aimed at promoting sustainable economic development, the Ministry organized a specialized workshop for the food and beverage sector in partnership with the Food and Beverage Industry Business Group in the Emirates at the headquarters of Dubai Chambers, with the aim of developing a common understanding of the circular economy in relation to this vital sector, and discussing initiatives and projects The current and potential future in this field, and a broader identification of the challenges and requirements to enhance the application of the concept of circular economy.
The workshop was attended by 120 representatives of companies, institutions and stakeholders in the food and beverage sector, including manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors, in addition to members of the Emirates Council for Circular Economy, representatives of federal and local government agencies concerned with the sector and a number of research and academic institutions.
Her Excellency Maryam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said that the concept of the circular economy is gaining global momentum day after day, in contrast to the economy or regular manufacturing system that depends on the manufacture, use and disposal of products, which are ineffective and unsustainable, in exchange for the benefits of the system Economic, environmental and social circularity, including raising the efficiency of resource use, reducing or even eliminating waste and pollution permanently, enhancing the sustainability of the business environment, creating new jobs, and improving public health, noting that the circular economy is also a vital part of the UAE’s efforts to decarbonize various sectors, This contributes to accelerating the pace of work to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Her Excellency pointed out that adopting and adopting the principles of the circular economy in the food and beverage sector not only supports the policy of the circular economy of the UAE, but also contributes to achieving many sustainable development goals, in addition to the goals of our national initiative on food loss and waste (Naama).
During the workshop activities, Saleh Lootah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Food and Beverage Industry Business Group in the UAE, launched the UAE Agricultural Technology Report for the year 2021, which identifies the local drivers of the agricultural technology revolution that employs the latest technologies to make agriculture more sustainable.
The Secretary General of the group spoke about the circular economy training program for school students, which was developed by the group in cooperation with the “Lootah Biofuel Company”, and aims to educate young people about the circular economy and sustainability, and motivate them to apply the lessons learned in their daily lives.
The workshop activities included a review of a set of sustainable best practices from members of the food and beverage industry business group in the UAE, illustrating their contribution to the circular economy journey.
Under the title “How the Circular Economy Can Make Local Businesses More Competitive”, the workshop featured an open panel discussion, moderated by Christine Morrison, Senior Analyst for Green Growth at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and brought together representatives from government, local and multinational food manufacturers. and retailers to explore the challenges facing food and beverage companies in the UAE and ways to address them, during which a wide range of client information was provided on the application of circular economy principles within the food and beverage sector, and improved their understanding of the actions they must take to support the transition towards more circular food systems.
The workshop concluded its activities with an interactive dialogue that focused on 4 out of 22 policies approved at the last meeting of the Emirates Council for Circular Economy, and related to the food and beverage sector. The dialogue included 4 detailed sessions, each of which was devoted to discussing one of these four policies, and the participants in each session The scope and elements of the policies and proposed new policies to address potential gaps. The participants, including representatives of the relevant federal and local government agencies, identified future procedures and prospects for cooperation to popularize the concept of the circular economy in the sector.
It is worth noting that in the year 2021 the Cabinet approved the UAE circular economy policy 2021-2031, which sets a general framework for achieving sustainable management and effective use of natural resources in the country by adopting sustainable consumption and production methods. Overseeing the implementation of the policy by following up on the implementation of sectoral initiatives, identifying key performance indicators for progress achieved, and aligning federal and local strategies with policy requirements.
Wm/ Mustafa Badr Al-Din