Abu Dhabi unveils carbon calculator for hotels

Image: DCT Abu Dhabi

In a move to encourage and enable sustainability efforts within the emirate’s hospitality sector, the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched its ‘Carbon Calculator’.

The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s overall vision of becoming a sustainable tourism destination

Launched at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) show, the tool is set to transform the way hotels in the UAE’s capital manage and mitigate their ecological footprint, supporting the UAE’s ambitious Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

Designed as a mandatory tracking mechanism for all hotels across Abu Dhabi, the Carbon Calculator provides a comprehensive platform for quantifying carbon emissions and identifying areas of high consumption, particularly within energy and water usage.

It has been developed in consultation with industry representatives and government stakeholders, including the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Department of Energy Abu Dhabi.

What the Carbon Calculator tracks

By tracking key indicators such as fuel, gas, electricity, and water consumption and converting this data into a standardised unit of measurement (kgCO2e), the tool enables hotels to analyse their environmental impact and implement targeted strategies for emission reduction.

Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, director general of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, emphasised the significance of the Carbon Calculator in shaping a greener future for the emirate’s hospitality industry, stating, “By empowering hotels to assess and own their environmental impact, we are encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly tourism practices to ultimately attract a higher number of environmentally conscious tourists.”

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, secretary general of EAD, praised the industry’s proactive role in reducing carbon emissions, stating, “The Carbon Calculator of DCT is a tool that showcases how this important entity is adopting digital technology for the greater good of an eco-friendly tourism sector.”

With mandatory monthly reporting and dynamic dashboards for insights and analysis, the Carbon Calculator represents a significant step forward in driving sustainability within Abu Dhabi’s hospitality sector.

By encouraging collaboration and collective action, the tourism body aims to onboard all hotels in the emirate and set a new standard for eco-friendly tourism practices.

How Dubai is encouraging sustainable practices in the hotel industry

In related news, in March last year, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism relaunched its ‘Carbon Calculator’ tool to measure the carbon footprint within Dubai’s hospitality sector.

Since its launch in January 2017, Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s Carbon Calculator, part of the Tourism Dirham Platform, has been measuring the carbon footprint of hotels across Dubai.

Read: Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp: DET awards 70 hotels; see list