Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) Relaunches Carbon Calculator Tool for the Hospitality Sector

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has reintroduced the Carbon Calculator tool, which measures the carbon footprint of Dubai’s hospitality sector. The tool has been enhanced so that it can now track real-time data on carbon emission sources. This enables hotels to efficiently identify and manage their energy consumption. The upgrades are part of the Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) initiative, which aims to contribute to broader clean energy targets and to support the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.

 According to the state news agency WAM, hotels are required to submit their monthly consumption of nine carbon emission sources. Electricity, water, district cooling, liquefied petroleum gas, landfill waste, recycled waste, petrol, diesel, and refrigerants are among these sources.

Dubai Improves Carbon Calculator Tool to Help Hotels Manage Energy Consumption

The DST initiative is consistent with the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). Moreover, the DST initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 goals, which aim to keep Dubai as one of the world’s top three cities and strengthen its position as a leading sustainable tourism destination.

The Carbon Calculator was first introduced in January 2017 as part of the Tourism Dirham Platform, a Dubai government initiative to promote sustainable tourism in the region. The platform aims to improve hotel service quality, measure environmental performance, and promote sustainability practices. The Carbon Calculator is an essential component of this initiative, allowing hotels to accurately calculate their carbon footprint.

The Dubai Sustainable Tourism Initiative (DST) aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) 2030 and aims to cement Dubai’s position as one of the world’s top three cities and a leading sustainable tourism destination. The DST initiative aims to contribute to broader clean energy targets and reduce carbon emissions in the region by measuring hotel carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices.

The data collected by the Carbon Calculator tool is analyzed to provide valuable industry insights into the hospitality sector’s collective carbon footprint.  Furthermore, by establishing a baseline for energy, water, and waste consumption trends, hotels can compare their performance and identify cost-cutting opportunities.

The Carbon Calculator information also enables hotels and resorts to manage their carbon footprint in accordance with the 19 Sustainability Requirements established across hotels in Dubai. These requirements include performance metrics, energy, and water management plans, guest education, employee training initiatives, sustainability committees, and corporate social responsibility programs for local communities.

Yousuf Lootah, the acting CEO of the Corporate Strategy and Performance sector at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, expressed his delight at the relaunch of the Carbon Calculator tool. The relaunch reaffirms the department’s ongoing commitment to supporting the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy and aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Moreover, the upgraded platform is consistent with the UAE’s commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is especially important as the city prepares to host the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) this year. The relaunch of the Carbon Calculator demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism and lowering carbon emissions in the region.

The updated Carbon Calculator tool, according to Yousuf Lootah, demonstrates the Department of Economy and Tourism’s commitment to improving its services for stakeholders and partners.  With a user-friendly interface, hotels can easily access the tool and make informed decisions about their energy consumption.  

The Carbon Calculator provides a baseline for DET to develop strategies for effectively managing the carbon footprint of hotels and resorts by tracking their energy consumption and identifying potential savings.

The initiative also contributes to the larger goal of making Dubai the most visited city in the world as well as the best place to live and work, as outlined in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The Carbon Calculator aims to contribute to this vision by reducing the environmental impact of the hospitality sector and supporting the city’s efforts to meet its sustainability targets by promoting sustainable tourism practices.

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Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) and Dubai Sustainable Tourism (DST) have improved the ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism’ course, which is now available on DCT’s learning platform, Dubai Way. Individuals working in tourist-facing roles across the tourism ecosystem can benefit from the course’s educational and awareness programs.

The newly relaunched module includes educational segments on the Carbon Calculator, water and energy conservation, forming a “Green Team,” and implementing green procurement strategies.

The course illustrates the power of education in promoting sustainable tourism and encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly practices. It aims to create a network of sustainability champions by equipping participants with the knowledge to implement ESG principles across the travel and hospitality sectors.

The upgraded course demonstrates Dubai’s tourism industry’s commitment to sustainable development, as it seeks to promote sustainable tourism practices and reduce the hospitality sector’s carbon footprint.