The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) conducted a workshop entitled “Sustainability in ICTs”, under its sustainability efforts and in line with UAE Vision 2021: towards achieving a ‘Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure’. The workshop, attended by representatives from a number of international and local entities operating in the field of ICT, aimed to discuss relevant challenges and learn about practices of technology solution providers to reach 100% sustainable products. It also highlighted the efforts of organizations in preserving UAE’s environment, and educating the public on best practices to realize an effective consumption of tech products.
During his keynote speech, Eng. Saeed Belhoul, Chairman of Sustainability Committee and Director of E-Government Operations at TDRA, said: “Under the guidance of the wise leadership, we are striving in the UAE to be among the best nations in various fields and sectors, and that includes sustainable development. The UAE government is working to ensure environmental protection and strike a balance between economic and social development in line with the UAE National Agenda 2021, which states achieving a sustainable environment in terms of air quality, preserving water resources, increased reliance on clean energy and implementing green growth plans. In terms of infrastructure, the National Agenda aspires for the UAE to be among the best in the world in the quality of airports, sea ports and road infrastructure, as well as enhancing the quality of electricity and telecommunications, making the UAE a forerunner in the provision of smart services.”
Eng. Belhoul confirmed that TDRA seeks to create the desired positive impact on all stakeholders by maintaining a sustainable ICT business model, adding: "TDRA is keen to ensure a sustainable ICT sector for future generations by embedding sustainability as a core individual value and continuously integrating it into the business model, in order to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the international community has agreed to achieve by 2030."
Speakers at the workshop addressed the significant increase in e-waste, with 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste reported worldwide in 2019, an increase of 9.2 million tons in five years. The workshop stressed the importance of recycling e-waste and making use of the contained raw materials, as the value of raw materials in global e-waste generated in 2019 was estimated at $57 billion.
Speakers emphasized that by adopting the Connect 2030 Agenda, ITU Member States have set a global ITU e-waste target for 2023 to increase the global e-waste recycling rate to 30% and to raise the percentage of countries with an e-waste legislation to 50%. They have also committed to reducing the volume of redundant e-waste by 50%.
The workshop noted the importance of using digital technologies to monitor, mitigate and adapt to climate change; protect human health and the environment from hazardous waste; and adopt energy-efficient digital solutions to reduce carbon emissions. The workshop also discussed the importance of achieving a sustainable future in the UAE. Speakers at the workshop also provided an overview of sustainability, global environmental issues, the importance of using technology for a better future, and the future of technology in a sustainable world.
TDRA has a number of plans and policies in business continuity and sustainability, as the telecommunications sector forms the cornerstone of various activities and areas such as economics, education, health, security and defense. Therefore, sustaining these sectors is driven essentially by sustaining the telecommunications sector.
TDRA has sought to implement best corporate sustainability practices, providing a framework for integrating the sustainability approach into decision-making, plans and daily business of TDRA. TDRA has been able to overcome the challenges it previously faced in measuring the impact of sustainability, strengthening its social, environmental and economic role in supporting the UAE government’s efforts to conserve resources for future generations.