Sustainability: Water Conservation, Clean Energy

1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022

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View of Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion

A sustainable Expo site

From recycling to promoting natural solutions, we hope to inspire others to reaffirm their commitment to the environment and protecting the Earth for future generations. All of our actions are geared towards creating positive environmental impacts on a national, regional and global scale, and support the Dubai Plan 2021, UAE Vision 2021 and the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. You can find out more in our sustainability strategy and sustainability policy.

Sustainability is an important concept for Expo 2020 Dubai, and to align with commitments stipulated in Chapter 4 of our Registration Document to Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), we have proudly received the ISO 20121:2012 Event Sustainability Management System certification attesting to sustainability being embedded in Expo 2020 Dubai’s management processes and helping us realise our goal of hosting a sustainable event.

Our solutions in action

Generating clean energy
We’ve installed renewable energy systems with a combined total capacity of 5.5 megawatts on all permanent building projects across the Expo site. That’s enough energy to go approximately 180,000 round trips from Downtown Dubai to the Corniche in Abu Dhabi!

How do we support the on-site generation of renewable energy sources? All of our permanent buildings are integrated with photovoltaic panels and have incorporated renewable energy systems.

We are also on track to receive LEED certification for more than 120 of our permanent buildings, 95 of which are targeting LEED Gold, while four are targeting LEED Platinum.

Curious to see what a net-zero energy building looks like? Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion aims to be LEED Platinum certified and has 12,000 sqm of photovoltaic panels across its roof and energy trees.
Reducing water consumption
When it comes to water, we are on a quest to reduce, reuse and protect. In 2019 alone, we achieved a 52.4% reduction of water demand in our buildings, compared to the water requirements baseline of the Dubai Electric and Water Authority (DEWA). This amounts to 102,835,000 litres per year and is equivalent to roughly 41 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Promoting natural solutions
We are laying the foundation for a sustainable legacy for future generations, emphasising human development and technological advancements, while respecting our planet’s ecological and natural resources.

50% of landscape plants during Expo 2020, and 95% after the event, come from native and adaptive species. A key sustainability target is to ensure that 95% of the landscape area is managed without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers.

Did you know that we also relocated a colony of bees, and a year later, harvested their honey?

Take a look at our pre-Expo event on Climate and Biodiversity, where we addressed key questions such as how do we work together to better manage climate change and protect biodiversity?
Minimising our carbon footprint
We are measuring our carbon footprint to ensure accurate and transparent quantification of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) resulting from the event. We meticulously review construction materials and onsite construction activities, transport of people and materials, use of energy and water, and generation of waste onsite to prepare for and host the Expo.

Whether or not these emissions are directly under our control as Expo 2020 or from a third party, we are implementing strategies to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible.
Planting Seeds of Change
A key component of our carbon management plan is to procure carbon offsets to further reduce our carbon footprint.

To engage our visitors and to make our carbon offset programme more meaningful, we’ve created the Seeds of Change programme. This innovative, crowd-solving programme lets visitors determine which carbon offsets will be purchased by Expo, as they ‘vote’ by donating ‘seeds’.

Expo will then support inspiring projects from around the world that are producing carbon offsets while also providing social or economic benefits to their local communities.
Ensuring sustainable events and operations management
We want to make sure that sustainability is integrated across the products and services that our suppliers bring to Expo 2020. Our suppliers need to fulfil the requirements specified in our RISE Guidelines for Sustainable Operations, underpinned by Respect for the workforce, positive Impacts on communities, Safety for all and stewardship of the Environment.

By overseeing if products of all sizes and shapes coming into the Expo site are safe for consumer use, manufactured and packaged in an environmentally conscious and sound manner, and by providing the appropriate certifications, stakeholders within our supply chain will benefit from greater visibility as champions of positive change and responsible decision-making.
Using sustainable building materials
We work with environmentally and socially responsible suppliers, use sustainable materials during construction, and the timber used on site carry sustainable forestry certification. 90% of key materials used are procured in accordance with the Sustainable Materials Guidelines.
Reducing waste
Minimisation of waste is one of our top priorities. We’re diverting waste from landfill – 85% of our waste is segregated into different waste streams, during construction, operation and decommissioning. We’ve introduced the Planet Over Plastic Pledge, where we ask International Participants and our commercial partners to commit to reduce packaging and single-use materials, and recycle on site.
Encouraging sustainable tourism
We are overseeing and spearheading sustainable tourism longitudinal research in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainability through Research and Education (CSRE) at MODUL University Dubai and with the support of UAE tourism authorities. This research study will enable key tourism stakeholders to monitor changing visitor sustainability inclinations, destination brand perception and tourism impacts over time. It will also analyse the catalytic impact of Expo 2020 on brand positioning and the future of the UAE as a sustainable tourism destination. Learn about the report and its initial findings.
Sustainability and our partners
Our partners play a crucial role in delivering an exceptional Expo, and they each have their own sustainability initiatives and commitments. Find out what our partners are doing, whether it’s reducing their environmental footprint through clean-ups, mitigating climate change by planting 100 million trees, reducing emissions or increasing power savings.

What happens after Expo 2020 ends?

As the world strives to create a sustainable future, Expo 2020, with all its infrastructure, innovations and collaboration, serves as a blueprint towards a viable future, establishing sustainable benchmarks and leaving a meaningful legacy for generations to come.

Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability Reports

Get unique insights into our sustainability strategy and practices, with highlights on the economic, social and environmental impact of Expo 2020. Find out how we align with global and regional aspirations, including the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UAE Vision 2021, and read about a variety of case studies and initiatives.

Thank you for being part of the incredible journey of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Our commitment to sustainability

A sustainable Expo site

Our solutions in action

Expo 2020 Dubai’s Sustainability Reports