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Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has made environmental sustainability a priority with stringent policies and procedures in place to ensure the emirate is prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change challenges such as extreme weather conditions, droughts, wildfires, storms, Flooding and sea level rise, which in turn affect biodiversity, food security and water availability.
As part of Abu Dhabi’s preparations to meet these challenges, DMT is continuing to implement the ‘Maritime Plan: Abu Dhabi Coastal and Marine Framework Plan’, developed in coordination with many government agency stakeholders as part of its Components of the strategy ensure the long-term viability of coastal and marine areas.
It sets out strict policies and procedures for developing Abu Dhabi’s waterfront, which include minimum marine protection standards and ground standards for habitable spaces.
The framework provides strategic planning guidance and direction for all waterways and coastal and marine areas within the emirate. The plan ensures that investments and projects in Abu Dhabi’s marine and coastal areas are sustainable by establishing a comprehensive, streamlined and up-to-date regulatory framework.
Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman of DMT, said: “The impacts of climate change vary and our resilience planning is tailored to the needs of our emirate and the environmental factors affecting the region. We are implementing several initiatives and policies across different sectors, To ensure that future generations can enjoy the overall long-term impact of all our efforts.
“For example, design standards and building codes are critical to making cities more resilient to climate change. Changes in building heights, foundation design, moisture buildup, and debris damage can improve urban resilience. Surfaces are clad with shatter-resistant membranes as one of the necessary specifications for new buildings to make their cities more resilient to climate impacts and allow them to recover more quickly.”
DMT also launched estidama, a sustainable development programme, the first of its kind for the Middle East, which aims to plan, design, build and operate sustainable Involves an area on the other side of the harsh climatic nature of the Middle East. As part of its pearl rating system, estidama encourages water, energy and waste minimization and the use of local materials to improve the supply chain of sustainable and recycled materials and products.
Through the Transport Mobility Management Strategy (TMM) and the Ground Transport Master Plan, Abu Dhabi is working to deliver sustainable mobility solutions through responsible use of resources, reduction of pollution and protection of Abu Dhabi’s unique environment. It embraces public transport infrastructure powered by renewable energy technologies and alternative fuels, promises to reduce CO2 emissions in all aspects of transport, from design to construction to operation, and promises to encourage walking, cycling and respect for the natural environment.
DMT is working to move towards sustainable transportation by introducing autonomous and shared vehicles, adaptive traffic signals and data-driven last-mile mobility solutions.
Al Ahbabi said: “We recently launched our autonomous TXAI and Robobus services in Abu Dhabi as part of our efforts to build an intelligent transportation system that supports the development of various sectors and facilitates the mobility of its residents and visitors. With the help of intelligent transportation , Abu Dhabi can reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, improve transport accessibility and affordability, promote economic growth and protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions, while improving the quality of life of our residents.
“We have a huge opportunity to invest in nature and showcase our natural capital. We can improve urban green spaces by planting more trees to absorb carbon emissions and protecting and restoring coastal habitats such as wetlands and mangroves. Over the past two years, We have seen how the private, public and third-party sectors have successfully joined forces to tackle this pandemic. This collaboration needs to continue so we can meet the challenges of climate change and the resulting rise in sea levels.”
DMT is constantly assessing the impact of its policies to ensure they are properly updated to protect Abu Dhabi’s shoreline development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect fragile habitats. The ministry aims to position Abu Dhabi as a benchmark for integrated sustainable development planning and prudent management and development of natural resources.
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