With the news announcement that the new Louvre building in Abu Dhabi is achieving a three-pearl Estidama Sustainability rating, we take a closer look at sustainability culture in the UAE.
They say everyone loves a bit of retail therapy, and now there is somewhere in Dubai called the Change Initiative, where you can shop without damaging our environment. The Change Initiative is known for its sustainable shopping offerings and has now been LEED Platinum certified, making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the world.
The Change Initiative offers a range of sustainably sourced food, a range of household items, as well as jewellery. Even Jotun has a section in the store dedicated to environmentally friendly paints. There is also a café, The Taste Initiative, which offers food made with local ingredients.
You may remember that Abu Dhabi too, as part of the Volvo Ocean Race, organised a series of beach clean ups with the aim of turning rubbish into environmentally poignant artwork. This was done at each of the host ports along the race, and resulted in some interesting artwork. The sculptures made in Abu Dhabi are now in the offices of some of the country’s oil companies, helping to remind the employees to keep the oceans clean.
Now Abu Dhabi prepares to launch one of the most exciting projects in the region with the Louvre, and more so that the building has been certified under the Urban Planning Council’s Estidama rating system. This means that the building will not require as much energy to maintain its temperature, thanks to the innovative dome design and the choice of material for the walls. Hopefully, other buildings on the Cultural District of Saadiyat island will live up to the standard set by the Louvre, and emulate its principles.
Going forward, one of the most important things for the UAE to consider is where our food is going to come from. With most of our fresh fruit and vegetables imported from around the world (it made me laugh recently on holiday to find the same raspberries in New York as in the supermarket here), it is important that the UAE develops its own agriculture to the point where we no longer have to rely on foreign imports. An encouraging project called Local Harvest and run by the Abu Dhabi Farmer’s Service Center, is aiming to promote local produce in our supermarkets, while aiding farmers in getting their produce on the supermarket shelves.
With all of these exciting projects gaining momentum in the UAE, we will hopefully be able to build on these important steps towards a more sustainable future.
By Emma Kirkman
