Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) won the Training Initiative of the Year Award from the Emirates Green Building Council, for the Carbon Ambassadors Programme. DEWA sponsors the program to involve youth in environmental and sustainability issues.

Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, received the award on behalf of DEWA, during a ceremony held to honour the winners of the 4th Emirates Green Building Council Awards at Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai. The Carbon Ambassadors Programme was introduced by the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon) in June 2014, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

DEWA provides all necessary requirements to guarantee the success of the Carbon Ambassadors program, and engage young people in environmental and sustainability issues. This is achieved by engaging the students in activities, training courses, and workshops on sustainability, climate change, and the environment

"We are glad to have actually won the Training Initiative of the Year Award from the Emirates Green Building Council, for the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, in which we sponsor as part of efforts to attain the goals of our wise government, in adherence with the Carbon Abatement Strategy, to lower carbon emissions by 16% by 2020. The Carbon Ambassadors are the next generation of leaders and specialists who will implement enthusiastic National strategies and plans as well as contribute to innovating new initiatives and programs. They will help accomplish the UAE Vision 2021, to make the UAE among the best nations on the planet by 2021, the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai sustainable with its resources and make its environmental components clean, healthy, and sustainable, and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 introduced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a global centre for clean energy and green economy," stated HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

"DEWA understands that young people are the driving force for constructing a greener future by involving them in attaining the goals of sustainable development. The youth these days are the leaders of tomorrow, who will play a vital function in decision-making at all levels. Our sponsorship of this program shows our ongoing efforts to boost creativity by providing the needed tools and training programs that add to the development of cognitive and innovative capabilities," said Al Akraf.

DEWA has adopted the Carbon Ambassadors Programme, doubling the variety of enrolled trainees in the second batch to 75, from 2015-2016. Students of the 2nd batch support the previous Ambassadors' efforts to developing a greener and sustainable future, stressing their commitment to supporting sustainable development in the region, in addition to Emirati Youth.