Sustainability meet calls for innovation

Sunaina Rana / Emirates Business

Responsible business practices and innovation can be catalysts for sustainable development.
To drive this home, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG) hosted the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum at Rosewood Hotel, Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
The two-day forum would be giving an opportunity to the leaders from around the Emirates and globe to share their ideas and get exposed to some of the latest sustainability methodologies.
In her inaugural speech, HE Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), pointed out the environmental changes that have been affecting the world and also leading to a number of species getting extinct. She revealed that The Global Burden of Disease Projects has reported that 5.5 million people across the world have suffered a premature death due to air pollution as well as climate change.
Al Mubarak underlined that developing strategy and tracking performance relied on good data and EAD and its affiliated entity AGEDI are doing their best in this regard. With local climate modeling, we are now better able to predict the impact of climate change on the UAE, she added. EAD has been working innovatively to create the right conditions to drive resource use efficiently, Al Mubarak said. “Working with others, we will define a volume of water that can be supplied sustainably, economically and environmentally.”
Stressing the importance of sustainability, Huda Al Houqani, ADSG Director, also reflected on the theme of the forum ‘innovation’. She said, “We are glad that our forum is prioritising on the drive of innovation. Innovation for Sustainability is crucial as we are searching for a sustainable lifestyle that would be beneficial for all the species and
not primarily focus on human race.” Houqani stated, “We have taken this platform to celebrate and recognise the Sustainability achievements in the region.
We feel that we have achieved
a milestone in 2015 and hence we should celebrate.” She added, “ADSG is honouring the leaders who help developing and building innovative sustainable future.”
More than 30 highly talented sustainability professionals are participating in the forum and would speak during the event and discuss the various causes and measures that could help in achieving a sustainable life. The event will also hold panel discussions that would highlight the key issues in sustainability and innovation.