Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has organised a training programme for the 4th batch of the Carbon Ambassadors Programme. The Carbon Ambassadors Programme was launched by DEWA with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and in collaboration with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence, to involve young people in national and global issues as well as raise their interest in sustainable energy, climate change, and conservation of natural resources. The training programme was held at DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development. It focused on the disruptive innovation model, blockchain and its working mechanism and how to use them in environmental conservation programmes and working with other organisations.

“The Carbon Ambassadors Programme aims to empower Emirati youth and develop their capabilities to actively support and implement government strategies to reduce carbon emissions, and developing appropriate mechanisms to achieve this objective. Carbon Ambassadors are the next generation of experts and leaders who will implement the ambitious national strategies and plans, and contribute to innovating pioneering initiatives and programmes to consolidate sustainability. Training the 4th batch of programme on blockchain and disruptive innovations supports our strategy to keep the Carbon Ambassadors up-to-date with the latest technologies that can be used to serve the programme. This also supports our efforts to empower young people to benefit from technologies of the future. This in turn, supports the Emirates Blockchain Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance efficiency of government performance by transforming 50% of federal government transactions to the blockchain platform by 2021; and the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, to transform Dubai’s government into the world’s first government to conduct all its applicable transactions via the Blockchain network by 2020,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, said that 180 young Emirati students and employees have graduated from the Carbon Ambassadors Programme so far. He noted that training the Carbon Ambassadors on Disruptive Innovation and Blockchain is part of the training programme for the Carbon Ambassadors that includes participation in international conferences and workshops related with climate change and sustainability.

DEWA is one of the first government organisations to adopt blockchain technology in a number of services and initiatives, including Green Charger registration for electric vehicles; registering and renewing smart tenancy contracts in collaboration with Wasl Asset Management Group, Dubai Land department, and the Payment Reconciliation and Settlement System.