11 May2023
Carbon Calculator for Hospitality Sector
The tourism sector has a significant role in Dubai’s economy. According to data provided by DET, the emirate welcomed 14.36 million tourists from other countries in 2018, which is over double the 7.28 million tourists expected in 2021 and is just 14% lower than the level of 16.73 million recorded in 2019.
As the tourism sector continues to grow, there is a need to protect the environment. Thus, Dubai is set to re-launch the carbon calculator for the hospitality sector.
Most of the tourism companies in Dubai look forward to welcoming the initiative and focusing on eco-friendly tours.
Dubai’s Revamped Carbon Calculator
In January 2017, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) launched the Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s Carbon Calculator, part of the Tourism Dirham Platform. The calculator has been used to measure the carbon footprints across hotels in Dubai.
After revamping the Carbon calculator, the department has re-launched this tool which will be used to measure the carbon footprints within Dubai’s hospitality sector.
According to a statement released by the Dubai Media Office, the tool has undergone a comprehensive overhaul to enable the tracking of real-time data for carbon emission sources. This will allow hotels to monitor their energy use levels more effectively.
Yousuf Lootah, acting chief executive of the DET’s corporate strategy and performance sector, said, “We are delighted to re-launch the Carbon Calculator as part of our ongoing pledge to support the UAE net zero by 2050 Strategy and in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”
The revamped platform “aligns even more with the UAE’s commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” especially as the city prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties this year.
For the next ten years, the D33 economic agenda hopes to bring the size of the emirate’s economy up to Dh32 trillion, which is equivalent to $8.71 trillion.
The plan calls for creating a program that will assist thirty privately held businesses in reaching the “unicorn” status, defined as a valuation of more than one billion dollars.
The expansion of privately held businesses will receive assistance from business incubators, with 400 of the most promising start-ups selected as part of the bigger plans.
The 10-year strategy aims to make Dubai the safest and most connected city globally and the destination of choice for big multinational firms and investments.
Mr. Lootah said, “The upgraded carbon calculator will make it easy for hotels to use and give them the information they need to make decisions.”
“By tracking how much energy they use, the data give DET a starting point for developing sector-specific strategies to help hotels and resorts manage their impacts, make it easier to manage carbon resources, and find ways to save money.”
How the Carbon Calculator Works?
The carbon calculator tracks the consumption of nine carbon emission sources, including electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste, recycled waste, petrol, diesel, and refrigerants. The hotels in Dubai must submit their consumption so that there is monthly tracking.
After submission, the data is collected and analyzed and thus provides insights about the industry’s carbon footprint. This data is helpful for hotels because it helps them establish a baseline for their energy, water, and waste use and consistently track it to find areas where they can make significant savings.
Dubai Sustainable Tourism Course
Additionally, the Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) and Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) has improved the ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism’ course offered on their online learning platform.
The course provides various instructional and awareness programs for persons employed in professions, including interacting with tourists across all aspects of the environment.
The new module features instructional portions that center on a carbon calculator, water and energy savings, creating a “Green Team,” and implementing green procurement practices.
Dubai Sustainable Tourism aims to contribute to the larger clean energy ambitions and help the United Arab Emirates Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.
It also complements the goals of Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to strengthen the Emirates’ status as one of the world’s top destinations for environmentally responsible tourism.
19 Sustainability Requirements
Using the data from the carbon calculator, hotels in Dubai can better meet the 19 “Sustainability Requirements” that were put in place to set a standard and standardize how hotels treat the environment.
The 19 Sustainability Requirements include sustainability committees in hotels and CSR programs for local communities, sustainable management approaches, performance metrics, energy, food, and water management plans, guest education, employee training programs, and the presence of sustainability committees in hotel establishments.
Yousuf Lootah, the acting CEO of the Corporate Strategy and Performance sector, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “We are pleased to re-launch the Carbon Calculator as part of our ongoing commitment to support the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy and align with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
“The upgraded platform also further aligns with the UAE’s commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly as the city prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) this year.”
Lootah added: “As DET continually strives to further enhance its services to stakeholders and partners, the revamped carbon calculator will provide hotels with a user-friendly experience and enable hotels to make informed decisions.
“By keeping track of their energy consumption, the data provides a baseline for DET to develop strategies for the sector so that hotels and resorts can effectively manage the impact, improve the efficiency of managing carbon resources and identify potential saving opportunities.
“In addition to supporting hotels and resorts within the city’s tourism ecosystem, this initiative has a larger goal: creating a city that is the world’s most visited and the best place to live and work in, as envisaged by the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.”
About The Author
Robeena Brown is a travel blogger & destination expert living in the UAE and works for local tourism companies like Arabiers. If you have been looking forward to touring Dubai, getting a visa, extending stays and exploring the city, you can follow her on social media.
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