Summary

In its aims to be the worlds first carbon-neutral police force by 2020 Dubai Pol ice practices showed an increase community awareness and behavior towards mitigating and adapting to climate change Energy efficiency measures have reduced water and electricity bills in buildings by 23 percent and fleet fuel consumption by 20 percent leading to a total of AED 35794007 savings and 14893 tons of carbon emissions reductions between 2013 and 2015

Background and Objective

In its aims to be the worlds first carbon-neutral police force by 2020 Dubai Police practices showed an increase community awareness and behavior towards mitigating and adapting to climate change Energy efficiency measures have reduced water and electricity bills in buildings by 23 percent and fleet fuel consumption by 20 percent leading to a total of AED 35794007 savings and 14893 tons of carbon emissions reductions between 2013 and 2015

Actions and Implementation

Dubai Police’s processes adopt a bottom-up approach, encouraging community participation under the directives of our late leader Lieutenant General / Khamis Muttar Al Muzainah, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police (May His Soul Rest in Peace). The force has adopted standards such as the International Organization for Standardization ISO14001 and ISO18001 and its operations are continually bench marked against international peers. The force reviews its initiatives’ performance annually where it analyzes its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats in consultation with its stakeholders. Short and long term performance targets are set and monitored quarterly using Dubai Police’s smart self-assessment platform. Dubai Police is pursuing smart transformation through 5 main objectives, namely customers’ happiness, promoting confidence and participation of the public, smart transformation of policing operations, integration and linkage of smart services, and providing possible and intelligent environment for employees. Dubai Police smart app contains more than 75 e-services, broken down by categories of users; individuals, institutions, visitors, and staff, and provides round-the-clock services for people with disabilities such reading texts and live chat service with the Call Center. The smart app contains interactive services that includes four major bundles of traffic, criminal, smart police center, and the general bundle, in six languages. The smart apps guarantee that all transactions are made confidentially, safely, and easily, according to the standards of Dubai Smart Government. The core of developing any new service is focused on the needs of the to the end-users and stakeholders and what issues a new smart service can tackle for them. In 2009, Dubai Police established its Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Department and since then, the department has been working with its peers hosting projects in energy savings, green mobility, sustainable procurement, sustainable waste management, greening landscapes, and marine life rehabilitation. The EHS department has conducted a baseline energy audit to evaluate electricity and water consumption and sought technical recommendations and solutions from experts in the region to increase the energy performance of 400+ buildings. Dubai Police has also adopted the strategies of South Yorkshire British Police Force as a benchmark to enhance its energy performance. Major implementations include the UAE Energy Star project in police departments to control electricity usage, installing of LED lighting and light sensors, implementing Green Buildings Codes in new buildings, building a 412,000 square feet LEED-certified forensic science laboratory, and applying green information technologies to optimize fleet performance. Further, Dubai Police partnered with Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence to enhance energy efficiency, manage GHG emission linked to policy and adaptation and aggregate low-carbon initiatives in a central repository. The initiative adopts the monitoring, reporting and verification framework for GHG emissions in line with ISO14064, and the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change. A network of facilitators, the Carbon Champions, was established to manage emissions to achieve the zero-carbon target by 2020.

Outcomes and Impacts

Dubai Police’s approach is geared towards achieving public security and development through the sustainable use of our resources. Dubai Police’s activities have been exemplary in areas such as combating and preventing crime, sustaining road safety and managing crises efficiently, marking Dubai as one of the safest cities in the world. Dubai Police has an on-going commitment to reduce GHG emissions by encouraging the sustainable use of energy and transport and adopting smart technologies to avoid emissions at the local level. This commitment runs through every aspect of Dubai Police’s work, with initiatives aiming to achieve a zero-carbon profile by 2020 through a continuous improvement methodology. Additionally, the 20,000+ Dubai Police community has been empowered to identify areas of energy and resource efficiency improvement and reduce operational costs. These achievements and activities are carried out with the objective of preserving our precious resources for future generations. With major achievements marked in increasing operational efficiency, Dubai Police is now transitioning towards clean energy resources, with plans to cover its 400+ rooftop buildings and empty spaces with solar panels to generate clean energy. The EHS Department is actively and continuously striving for environmental sustainability and the benefits continue to cover the three pillars of sustainability, with increased social awareness and involvement, a substantial reduction in GHG emissions, and a reduction in current running costs. Socio-economically, the participants have benefited from improved self-esteem through increased awareness, education and active participation. Currently, new plans are being drafted to develop a sustainability department within Dubai Police, spearheaded by a committee that encourages stakeholder engagement. In line with the aforementioned initiatives, Dubai Police also launched a new initiative recently, with the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children “Your Protection … Our Happiness” initiative. In support of victims of human trafficking, 1,635 trainees participated in 40 workshops on combating crimes related to trafficking in human beings and 16,647 people benefited from 56 awareness lectures organized by Dubai Police Human Trafficking Crime Control Centre.

Gender and Social Inclusivity

Dubai Police encourages knowledge transfer so that lessons learnt from one experience are reused by others. The initiatives are designed from their inception stage to be adaptable, flexible and replicable by others. Dubai Police recognizes that education is the tool of knowledge transfer. Thus, the organization encourages the growth of local talents and sponsors their higher education in green energy and sustainable development studies, graduating the first Emirati with a Doctorate in Solar Energy from the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom and appointing him to initiate, manage and direct the Environment, Health and Safety department under the guidance of Dubai Police leadership. Furthermore, in 2015, Dubai Police Academy announced a new program in Law and the Environment, with the aim of deepening students’ legal awareness and knowledge with regards to the environment and creating graduates dedicated to combating environmental crimes and pursuing environmental sustainability. Till date, 15 students have enrolled in the program and are expected to graduate in late 2016. Internally, Dubai Police has benefited greatly from the transfer of ideas, skills, and processes garnered from international education and best practices knowledge and research conducted abroad during study periods. The EHS Department adopted the South Yorkshire sustainability strategies and implemented actions in accordance with the Government’s directives leading to substantial savings due to the implementation of energy conservation measures. The selected measures were implemented under the recommendation of leading organizations in the region such as the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates National Oil Company, and Dubai Municipality among others. The results and lessons learnt from the implementation measures were shared with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence for verification and further development by the network of Carbon Champions whose appointment is in the purpose of transferring knowledge, skills and ideas across the 20,000+ employees of Dubai Police and the wider community of the Emirate of Dubai. Across all facets of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, Dubai Police’s leadership in inspiring best practices and shifting towards efficient practices has extended to influence leading organizations such as the UAE Special Army Forces, General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Presidential affairs, Dubai Public Prosecution, Ajman University and the Kuwait Scientific Club.

Innovative Initiative

Through the development of these various initiatives, Dubai Police believe that capacity building and knowledge sharing reinforces environmental security measures and an improved living environment. The force understand that the Government cannot work alone, and that durable solutions must involve all sectors to develop preparedness, overcome challenges, increase energy-efficiency gains and promote happiness. The platforms and means of engaging the community is vital in sharing knowledge, implementing the appropriate measures correctly and encouraging continuous improvement. The community empowerment and participatory approach have allowed Dubai Police to gain public support in promoting sustainable practices and has helped us to coordinate joint actions and awareness raising between public authorities and the communities. Dubai Police has learnt that a combination of short and long term initiatives is important to elevate community engagement. These engagement strategies ensure that the effect of Dubai Police’s initiatives will be felt not just now, but far into the future. Meanwhile, the provision of certified training and workshops for staff along with mentoring programs and higher education have equipped Dubai Police with the caliber to deliver and monitor the implementation of sustainable measures. Maximizing the safety and security of our community is our core business and top priority, and we have learned that together with our community and with the help of technological development, our achievements become highly substantial and rewarding. There will always be more that can be done, and as technology and society advances, there will be different ways of instituting initiatives to ensure maximum success. To continue being an example of best practice in improving the living environment of Dubai and impacting on environmental and societal sustainability, Dubai Police aims to continually evolve its processes and practices to promote international best standards. Sustainability is a journey of best practices, and for Dubai Police the journey continues.

Resources devoted to delivery

No. Title Source Author Publication Title Volume Number Date Page Number 1 Human trafficking crimes drop in Dubai Khaleej Times Amira Agarib http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/human-trafficking-crimes-drop-in-dubai November 12, 2016 Edit 2 Dubai police official receives World Energy Environment Award WAM - Emirates News Agency Staff Reporter http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395302010555.html October 30, 2016 Edit 3 Dubai Police to build a Safe City Innovation Centre Gulf News Noorhan Barakat http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/dubai-police-to-build-a-safe-city-innovationcentre-1.1915318 October 19, 2016 Edit 4 Dubai Police to use new hybrid cars Gulf News Staff Report http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-police-to-use-new-hybrid-cars-1.1890574 September 04, 2016 Edit 5 DEWA, Dubai Police Exchange Experiences WAM - United Arab Emirates News Agency Staff Reporter https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-390973558.html November 21, 2014 Edit 6 95% of Dubai police officers say they are happy The Gulf Today Matovu Twaha http://gulftoday.ae/portal/83d97b45-1284-451f-92da-651187b63c6f.aspx April 05, 2016. Edit 7 Dubai Police to showcase 15 new services at Gitex Gulf News Noorhan Barakat http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/dubai-police-to-showcase-15-new-services-atgitex-1.1599432 October 12, 2015 Edit 8 Dubai Police on path to zero carbon police force. Gulf News Noorhan Barakat http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/dubai-police-on-path-to-zero-carbon-police-force-1.1557601 July 28, 2015 Edit 9 More than 10 tonnes of illegal ivory destroyed in Dubai. The National News Rezan Oueiti http://www.thenational.ae/uae/more-than-10-tonnes-of-illegal-ivory-destroyed-in-dubai April 29,

Conclusion

Dubai Police’s environmental and energy efficiency practices are supported by the collaborative efforts of a complex network of individuals and organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as an alignment of policy and practice of governmental organizations at the national and local levels. In pursuit of creating safe and sustainable conditions for their communities, Dubai Police relies on the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; the governing body seeking to ensure that the Emirate’s growing economy will have sustainable energy while preserving the environment provides the policies and strategies on the Emirate level. The development of the initiatives have led to permanent changes in Dubai Police organizational structure to include EHS as an integral department within the force. The department has adopted the integrated management system which consists of ISO9001, IS014001, ISO18001, and reported on greenhouse gas accounting based on ISO14064-2. Further future plans by the recently developed sustainability committee are being drafted to form a sustainability department within the force.