On the 12th and 13th of June, the EmiratesGBC will be holding its 13^th Annual Congress titled: “Beyond COP28: The Role of Sustainable Built Environment to Act and Deliver on the UAE Consensus”.

The congress will address six different themes under the topic.

Theme 1 COP28: Outcomes and Actions ,

Theme 2: Near Zero and Resilient Buildings by 2030 ,

Theme 3 : Funding the Transition ,

Theme 4: Accelerating Zero and Low Emission Technologies,

Theme 5 :Green Procurement

Theme 6 :Innovative Policy Making in the Building Transition.

To sponsor our flagship Annual Congress click here!

Emirates Green Building Council is excited to announce that applications for the MENA Green Building Awards 2024 are now open! These prestigious awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations in advancing sustainability in the built environment across the MENA region. With updated categories to reflect the latest trends and innovations in green building, this year’s awards promise to be bigger and better than ever before. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your projects and initiatives. The application deadline is July 15, 2024. Visit our website for more information on how to apply and become a part of this exciting event!

To sponsor our flagship Annual Mena Green building Awards click here!

EmiratesGBC was honored to serve as a judge once again for the Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest 2024 – UAE National Edition held at AL-MUNTADA, offering a truly enriching experience. Witnessing the students’ confidence and skill in designing for health, wellbeing, and sustainability was truly inspiring. It underscores the EmiratesGBC commitment to nurturing the next generation of architects. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr Nada Chami for the invitation. Collaborating with our industry partners, Saint-Gobain, is always a privilege, as it furthers our mission of promoting innovation and sustainability in the built environment. Let’s continue to mentor and inspire for a greener future together.

Once again, the EGBC team recently collaborated with DAR to conduct a workshop for the American School of Creative Science, as part of the Emirates Coalition for Green Schools activities under the MENA Alliance for Green Schools. This initiative aims to educate and empower young minds on circular economy and sustainability. Among various endeavours, this workshop stood out, fostering eco-consciousness through interactive sessions, including engaging games and creative poster-making activities. Such collaborations reflect EGBC’s dedication to nurturing green initiatives in schools, with DAR’s ongoing support in passing on knowledge for a greener future. Together, they continue to sow the seeds of sustainability within the next generation. 🌱

In collaboration with the UN High-level Climate Champions and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Emirates Green Building Council, hosted a roundtable with leading financial institutions and key market players to discuss the opportunities and challenge Green Finance poses in accelerating the sustainable transition within the built environment.

Emirates Green Building Council is teaming up with Emirates Projects Magazine to provide you with the latest news and insights in sustainable construction and green building practices. This collaboration will offer exclusive articles, interviews, and features, bringing valuable information to shape a greener future

upcoming knowledge-sharing webinar in collaboration with JordanGBC, titled “Building Harmony: Conserving Biodiversity in Urban Landscapes of Emirates and Jordan.” Scheduled for May 13, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, this webinar coincides with World Migratory Bird Day, observed on May 11th. The event will delve into the flora and fauna of both countries, exploring their biodiversity and the role of the built environment in biodiversity conservation.

upcoming webinar titled “From Concrete to Green: Transforming School Grounds for Holistic Education,” scheduled for May 21, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. In celebration of Outdoor Classroom Day, this webinar will explore the importance of outdoor school spaces from various perspectives. Join us for a panel discussion featuring developers, urban planners, landscape architects, and educators as we delve into the significance and impact of outdoor classrooms. Learn how we can ensure their right application to promote holistic education and well-being.

Emirates Green Building Council organized an insightful panel discussion at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), highlighting the importance of discussions between various stakeholders in bridging the gaps to achieve circular economy implementation. The panel emphasized the significance of bringing together organizations from the same industry to address similar and differing issues. The discussion underscored the importance of collaboration between policymakers and the private sector to encourage innovative decision-making. An overview of the Built Environment Blueprint was also provided during the panel, offering valuable insights into sustainable practices.

EmiratesGBC 4th Technical Workshop for members by members will be on Health Product Decelerations (HPDs)

By Grey Matters  Exclusive to EmiratesGBC members, the workshop will be in person format  9:00 AM -10:00 AM on the 10th of May, at Emirates Green Building Council Office. Invitation had been sent.

EmiratesGBC 5th Technical Workshop for members by members will be on How paints and coatings can decrease the operational and embodied carbon of building materials in the built environment  By AkzoNobel  Exclusive to EmiratesGBC members, the workshop will be in-Person format  3:00 -4:00 PM on the 24th of May,  We will be sending out the invites soon!

The Green Key programme is a leading standard of

excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. It is operated internationally under the management of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with Head Offices in Copenhagen, Denmark. FEE has national member organisations in more than 70 countries worldwide where Emirates Green Building Council is the national operator in the United Arab Emirates.

Priyankadevi Murugappan

Energy Consultant at WSP

Who You Are:

Beyond my professional role, I’m passionate about art, exploring various forms like acrylic, watercolor, oil painting, clay modeling, resin art, and more. Playing with colors helps me bring out my creativity and brings me joy. Traveling is another love; I look forward to visit a lot of places, exploring all the diverse cultures and experiences. In sports, playing badminton and board games with my family and friends helps me to reconnect with them. Personally, I desire to establish a successful career within the energy field of work, breaking gender stereotypes in the field. Meeting remarkable women in this field has been my inspiration to excel and inspire others to pursue their passions fearlessly.

Career Journey and Achievements:

My journey in sustainability started with WSP as a graduate, where I got to work on green certification projects, exploring the various sides of sustainability straight out of university. This industry offered me with a rich learning ground, exposing me to diverse sustainability concepts and practices. Transitioning to the energy advisory team encouraged me to explore sustainability through the lens of energy efficiency, renewables, policy making and carbon management. Through impactful projects, I witnessed firsthand how implementing sustainable practices can actually contribute to achieving environmental targets. Among my proudest achievements are initiatives that not only meet sustainability goals but also drive meaningful change within organisations and industries

Challenges and Triumphs:

I’ve observed that within the energy and decarbonization sector, there’s a notable dominance of men, which motivated me to challenge this stereotype and carve out my career in this specialization. Building a supportive network of mentors and allies has been important, offering guidance and encouragement every step of the way. Despite encountering challenges, each experience has been rewarding for me. By leading projects with diverse support has helped me notice the significance of diversity and inclusion in driving positive change. I firmly believe that resilience and passion are important in overcoming barriers and driving impactful transformation in this field.

Impact and Advice:

My role in energy and decarbonization contributes to the broader sustainability goals by promoting eco-friendly practices and resilience in the form of implementation. For other women aspiring a career in sustainability, my advice is to be passionate and develop your expertise, build a supportive network, remain resilient, advocate for diversity, and continuously learn. Confidence in skills, guidance from mentors, determination, and inclusivity are key. Stay informed about emerging trends and adapt to drive impactful change in this growing field, especially for those in their early career stage

We want to feature your success stories. Please share with us your accomplishments in relation to the green building industry and allow us to feature you in our newsletter. For more information, please contact reema.aburuqaa@emiratesgbc.org.

Members of the Emirates Green Building Council can join any of our technical programs linked here, to advance their knowledge on the program’s relevant topics, contribute to its growth, and sponsor its events. We are working on several ideas related to our programs: Coalition for Green Schools, Better Places for People, Net Zero Center of Excellence, Energy Efficiency, Green Key and Benchmarking Program. Please send us an email to office@emiratesgbc.org to inquire about any of the mentioned technical programs.

If you are interested in using EmiratesGBC office space for a workshop or meeting, please get in touch with us at 04-3468244 or send us an email to office@emiratesgbc.org. The room is fully equipped with AV and provides a nice environment for focused meetings or training workshops.