Zero Emissions Day: Is your business part of the movement for a greener future?

Zero Emissions Day falls on September 21. It is a key international day that challenges us all to acknowledge our carbon footprint and take action to limit our emissions.

While millions of people from governments, businesses, schools, cities and communities around the world are part of this movement to establish and follow climate-friendly lifestyles, is your business on board?

“Zero emissions” in a single day may sound like a bold mission, and it certainly is. It calls for introspection, creativity, innovation, collaboration and action. These are exactly the qualities that humanity needs to tighten the reins on climate change.

The headlines we read are increasingly dominated by the negative impact and knock-on effects of rising temperatures and climate change. Record-breaking rainfall, flooding, severe drought, lost crops, food inflation, damage to human property and lives… this is already the reality for many if not most humans.

At the same time, the natural world is under severe threat as well, with immense biodiversity and nature loss occurring each and every year.

A bold move towards a climate-neutral future is exactly what we need to safeguard our future. To get there, it is crucial for businesses to rise up to the challenge and act now.

UAE’s vision is to be net zero by 2050
We are fortunate to be in the UAE, a country with the foresight to establish a net zero strategic initiative that protects the environment heralds sustainable development and unlocks economic growth opportunities linked to the green economy.

To achieve this ambitious target by 2050, the UAE calls on all members of society – government, business and civil society – to collaborate and foster cross-sector alliances that will be crucial for our future well-being and success.

We’ve been assisting government entities and businesses in creating, maintaining and implementing their net-zero initiatives. One of the key ways we help accelerate this transition to a greener future is by equipping employees across public and private sectors with the knowledge, skills and experience they need to lead the change from within the organisation.

Being Leaders of Change
Our “Leaders of Change” programme mobilises UAE’s brightest minds to create change on the ground through training and development, incubation programmes and exciting volunteering environmental excursions. All activities support local environmental conservation projects and contribute to the UAE’s wider sustainability and environmental goals.

Companies such as Al Dahra, The Body Shop, Boston Consulting Group, Mubadala, Safran and Seddiqi Holding have joined this journey. Together, these organisations have pledged thousands of employees to join the programme.

Visa, which has successfully achieved carbon neutrality in 2020 and is striving to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, has also taken the pledge. Carl Manlan, vice president, inclusive impact and sustainability for Visa Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said: “As we continue to operate sustainably, the Emirates Nature-WWF Leaders of Change programme provides us an important platform to increase our impact by engaging youth in the UAE around this critical matter. We are proud to join other organisations in participating in this programme to help create a sustainable future for everyone everywhere.”

On the occasion of Zero Emissions Day, we call on businesses and government entities to pledge their employees to join the programme. This is your chance to set things right by addressing the climate and nature crises before it’s too late.

Mansour Al Ketbi is the strategic partnerships director at Emirates Nature-WWF