UAE Launches Initiative to Reward Residents for Reducing Electricity and Water Usage
The UAE’s Environmental Identity Initiative (UAEEI) offers residents the chance to earn discounts, dining vouchers, and loyalty points for reducing their electricity, water, and gas usage as part of the country's ambitious climate goals. The initiative, which was launched during COP28, aims to encourage eco-friendly habits by providing tangible rewards for individuals who make efforts to lower their carbon footprints.
A collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) and the National Experts Program (NEP), the UAEEI employs a digital platform to track energy consumption, including electricity, water, and gas usage. The platform, verified via UAE PASS, calculates personal carbon footprints in real time, offering an accurate reflection of each individual's environmental impact.
Participants in the initiative can benefit from rewards such as discounts at local stores, dining vouchers, and loyalty points that can be redeemed for goods and services, making sustainable living not only an ethical choice but also a practical one. These rewards are similar to those offered by popular programs like Etisalat Smiles.
Abdulla Al Remeithi, director of the Environmental Policies, Legislation, and Climate Change Department at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and a fellow of NEP, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with the UAE’s vision of leading global sustainability efforts. "The UAEEI demonstrates how individual actions can create a national impact," he said.
The initiative supports the UAE's pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2050. Currently, the program is targeting 10 percent of the UAE population, with plans to expand in the future, including customized dashboards for businesses to integrate sustainability into their operations.
Al Remeithi concluded, “The goal is to create a positive and tangible impact, reducing the national environmental footprint and contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.”
