Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) saved about 8,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted in 2015 through new green initiatives.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the RTA Board, said the push to fight global warming is yielding tangible benefits.
“In 2015, RTA launched the Electric Bus with a battery chargeable up to 80 per cent within less than 30 minutes. With a fully charged battery, the bus can travel 200km, and has a speed of 100km/h. RTA has also engaged in a pilot project for operating a bus powered by compressed natural gas, and a project for measuring the carbon footprint of vehicles in the emirate of Dubai.
“It had also successfully launched the trial run of environment-friendly hybrid taxi vehicles in 2008. It intends to increase the fleet of these vehicles to as much as 50 per cent by 2020. These vehicles have carbon emissions rates 30 per cent lower than other vehicles.
"In keeping with the Dubai Government policy to bring happiness to people, RTA launched services via smart phones, which contributed to environmental conservation efforts. Each transaction performed online or via smart apps saves the customer travelling 28km, and reduces carbon emissions by 15kg. In 2015, RTA saved about 8,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide,” said Al Tayer during a ceremony to honour authorities, companies and individuals winning the third Energy and Green Economy Award.
Al Tayer presented Green Frond trophies to winners of the award. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) won the Energy and Green Economy Award in the category of strategic partners, and Serco won the award in the category of RTA’s clients. The Public Transport Agency won the Best RTA’s Agency/Sector for the Electric Bus project and won the Best Project Award for Reusing and Recycling Bus Maintenance Wastes.
Rami Asaad Bin Shamsa won the Energy and Green Economy Award in the individuals’ category. Al Tayer also honoured members of the judges panel as well as the Chair and Members of the Energy and Green Economy Award’s team at RTA.
“Over the past three years, RTA has accomplished 45 projects, initiatives related to energy and green economy. It has also set the Green Economy Section at RTA’s level. It has introduced green building codes at world-class standards and is planning to obtain LEED certification for Route 2020 Project, which would be on the go fairly soon. RTA is also seeking to convert all street lights to lights using LED technology by 2030, which would reduce the carbon footprint by more than 3,000 tonnes per annum,” said Al Tayer.
