UAE’s Public Works Minister Abdullah Belhaif al-Naimi underscored the UAE’s achievements in reaching environmental sustainability objectives in the transport sector.

“The adoption of integrated mass transport including rail, metro, bus and water vehicles has allowed us not only to address traffic congestion issues but also to lower the environmental impact of transportation in general,” Al-Naimi told MEED’s Mena Rail and Metro Summit in Dubai on 5 October.

Some of the key ahievements made across the UAE include the use of bio-diesel and low sulphur diesels for car transport, use of solar power for paid parking machines, the use of natural gas by ship and other water vessels, and a central control and command centre running traffic lights.

Al-Naimi said sustainable transport will remain a key feature of the country’s integrated medium and long-term development targets.

The transport sector is viewed as a major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter globally until the end of the century. “Without policy action, the sector will become the largest consumer of fossil fuel,” said Andrea Kopp, from the World Bank.