EcoWASTE Exhibition & Forum Focuses on Long-Term Solutions to Aftermath of Global Developments

Abu Dhabi, UAE – December XX, 2022: As the GCC progresses with Smart City development, panellists at the World Future Energy Summit, which will run at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in January, will focus on identified strategies to reduce transport Co2  emissions in the new 21st century technology-enhanced environments.

On January 17 – the second day of the three-day Summit - panellists will hold two sessions at the Smart Cities Forum to brainstorm tangible strategies with the first dedicated to mass transit and the second examining the impact of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles and last mile services.

“Switching to electric or hydrogen private vehicles and trucks has some environmental benefits, but it also introduces new challenges as they do not reduce the number of vehicles on roads,” explained part two panel moderator Stephen Severance, the Head of Program Management and Investments at Abu Dhabi’s Masdar. “We need to look at what can be done to reduce private journeys and encourage ‘digital’ journeys and how governments can encourage a switch to cleaner alternatives and which last mile options can be sensibly introduced.”

The sessions come in the wake of the transport sector’s recent COP27 recommitment to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“The Forum will move the recommitment forward and is extremely timely as achieving Net Zero will depend on efficient multi-modal transport systems and associated services that are essential to ensure the sustainable mobility of people and goods,” commented Leen AlSebai, head of the World Future Energy Summit, and GM of RX Middle East, the organisers of the event.

“GCC countries, in particular Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar have invested heavily in their transport networks in the past decade, but there can be no denying that for internal travel, all countries are still heavily reliant on fossil fuel-based car ownership and use, as well as road-based freight. Among other reasons, this is due to the rapid growth of cities and communities that have been designed around cars. The Forum will look at tangible strategies to address this dilemma.”

Speaking ahead of the event, Kyle Weber, Customer Journey & Innovation Manager at CEER Motors, the region’s first omni-channel multi-brand EV store offering a solution to embrace sustainable mobility and first time exhibitor at World Future Energy Summit believes incentivisation is key for EV adoption;  

“We need to incentivise people to opt for EVs which will significantly reduce carbon and noise emissions by making it more convenient for people to make the switch from fuel to electric riding options,” commented Weber. "There is an urgent need to move towards a fully electrified transportation system. With the second-highest ratio of public charging stations per EVs in the world, the UAE is a perfect place to own an electric car. And there are other compelling advantages to EVs including faster acceleration, ease of charging, extended range, increased power, and advanced technology which are some reasons why EVs are now the future of mobility.”

Among panellists charged with delivering remedial insights into the quandary is Peter Harris, International VP of Sustainability of the supply chain multinational UPS. Harris believes corporations now have an important responsibility to set the right example on sustainable logistics and to satisfy increasing customer demand for sustainable solutions. He cites the UPS example of using over 13,000 alternate fuel and advanced technology vehicles in its fleet as part of its plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and achieve 40% alternative fuel in ground operations by 2025. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the environmental impact of our operations is a key ask we receive not only from governments but also from our customers and employees,” he commented.

Forum delegates will also hear of insights from the recent ‘Engineering Net Zero in the GCC’ compiled by the SNC-Lavalin Group, including Atkins and Faithful+Gould, that highlights challenges, opportunities, and recommendations to decarbonize the region’s-built environment, energy, and transport sectors. 

“The Forum will look to build on the progress made in the region with public transport such as the existing metro operations in Dubai and Doha and the soon to launch Riyadh’s metro as well as the bus network improvements in scale and quality,” added AlSebai. “Panellists will however be looking for additional possibilities for short-distance journeys which could be supported by walking, cycling and micro-mobility solutions.”

The 2023 Smart Cities Forum is one of five vertical forums and market sectors at the World Feature Energy Summit, with the others devoted to Climate Change, Energy, Water, EcoWASTE and Solar and Energy.

For more information on the event and how to be involved, please visit https://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com