Amna Al Dahak Leads 15th National Dialogue On Climate Ambition For Aluminium Sector Decarbonisation

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) recently held the 15th session of the National Dialogue on Climate Ambition (NDCA) at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) in Al Taweelah. This meeting focused on innovative solutions to decarbonise the aluminium sector, which is crucial as the UAE ranks fifth globally in aluminium production.

The NDCA, initiated in May 2022, serves as a platform to enhance climate ambition across various sectors. It aims to support the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. Monthly meetings engage specific sectors to explore their needs and priorities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised aluminium's potential in achieving the UAE's Net Zero goals. "The aluminium sector is a major asset in helping the UAE achieve a low-carbon future; it is critical to many of the industries central to low-carbon development," she stated.

She further noted that as demand for aluminium increases, it is vital to find ways to produce it sustainably while minimising environmental impact. The session included stakeholders from across the aluminium value chain, such as can-makers and waste management companies, discussing how aluminium can boost the UAE's circular economy.

During the event, Tadweer Group and Yellow Door Energy signed the UAE's Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge, raising total signatories to 140. This pledge encourages companies to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions transparently and develop science-based plans to reduce their carbon footprint.

By signing, companies also commit to integrating climate change mitigation into their business models and engaging society in developing net-zero plans. The pledge aligns with efforts towards achieving national climate neutrality by 2050.

Innovative Solutions at EGA

EGA CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban expressed pride in hosting the NDCA session at their headquarters. He highlighted EGA's commitment not only to producing essential metals but also ensuring sustainable production methods. "Many of the decarbonisation challenges we face are shared with other industries," he said.

The event included discussions on increasing recycling rates for aluminium beverage cans in the UAE. Three roundtables explored developing the aluminium scrap industry, reducing emissions through circularity, and using aluminium across different sectors for emission reduction.

Pioneering Renewable Energy Initiatives

Dr. Al Dahak inaugurated a new industrial data centre powered entirely by renewable energy at Al Taweelah during her visit. EGA developed this centre alongside another in Jebel Ali to deploy AI and automation solutions while cutting IT energy consumption by half.

This initiative marks a significant step towards integrating renewable energy into industrial operations, showcasing EGA's commitment to sustainability and innovation within its processes.

With inputs from WAM