Bin Shafar: District Cooling Is The Most Important Subject Of Discussion As A Key Element For SDG 7

Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, participated in the UN Climate Action Summit 2019, together with Rob Thornton, President and CEO of the International District Energy Association (IDEA) in New York City and discussed the future of district cooling services and about the new challenges in the industry.

Bin Shafar attended the Summit with his vast experience as a Special Advisor on District Cooling for the ‘Global District Energy in Cities Initiative’ under United Nations Environment Programme, and as a Board Member of IDEA. During the participation, both Bin Shafar and Rob Thornton have discussed the global perspective of recent trends in district cooling sector, aimed at promoting sustainability both locally and internationally, raising awareness of eco-friendly products and services and fostering a culture of adopting district cooling solutions, as well as the future challenges and post-summit plans.

In view of the important role that district cooling services play in combating climate change, making positive impacts and identifying appropriate solutions for climate crisis, and given their active role in accelerating the shift towards clean, efficient and secure cooling systems that reduce CO² emissions and save energy by 50%; various workshops were held during the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 to shed light on the importance of district cooling in maintaining a secure environment for future generations and protecting the planet from the impacts of climate change owing to the increasing future demand for cooling services.

During the Summit, Bin Shafar and Rob Thornton attended a number of meetings and workshops on district cooling and acceleration of the shift towards sustainable energy by 2020 and beyond, as well as other workshops on renewable energy, use of next-generation technologies in reducing energy consumption, impacts of climate change and treatment of climate-related security risks by raising awareness on the eco-friendly district cooling services.

Bin Shafar has also attended a workshop on the Sustainable Development Goal 7 set by United Nations (SDG7), a goal with the concept of district cooling has always been amongst its most important pillars. The SDG7 reaffirms the importance of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. District cooling technology contributes a significant part towards achieving the SDG7. As such, the SDG7 also attaches particular importance to increasing the share of renewable energy, raising the efficiency of energy use, promoting investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technologies and strengthening cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technologies by the year of 2030.

Furthermore, Bin Shafar has also participated in a session to introduce the actions of Governments, private sectors and institutions with regard to the shift towards sustainable energy development by providing a broader outlook on the need for district cooling solutions, as well as discussing the future of district cooling and the various challenges to the industry.

Bin Shafar was appointed as an IDEA Board Member Emeritus, to serve the IDEA Board of Directors for a 3-year renewable term as approved by IDEA’s Executive Committee in recognition of his extensive contributions to the association and remarkable track record of achievements during a six-year tenure on the Board and for his prominent role in promoting district cooling at the regional and international levels. Bin Shafar was offered this position on the side-lines of the 110^th Annual IDEA Conference and Tradeshow 2019, which was held in Pittsburgh, USA.

“Participation in the Summit presents us with new ambitions and aspirations for district cooling that drive us further into the promotion of a culture of environmental conservation by supporting different activities that contribute constructively to a green economy for future generations by raising awareness on eco-friendly district cooling services”, Bin Shafar said.

Bin Shafar has also confirmed that district cooling is a fundamental pillar in combating climate change and making a positive impact on climate by reducing CO² emissions and energy consumption upto 50%..

Noteworthy, Empower provides district cooling services to more than 1,090 buildings, catering to more than 100,000 customers. The company’s total operational capacity stands at more than 1.43 million Refrigeration Tons (RT), providing environmentally-friendly district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments, such as Dubai Waterfront, Bluewaters, Jumeirah Group, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Palm Jumeirah, Discovery Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Design District, International Media Production Zone and others.