Date12.07.23
Location Middle East
Collaboration
In the lead up to this year’s COP 28 summit and building on a shared vision to support the Middle East’s net zero agenda, Dar has entered into our first-of-its-kind regional collaboration with PwC Middle East to drive sustainable solutions in the regional built environment.
The urban built environment contributes to 75% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions, with buildings and conventional construction alone generating nearly 40% of the sector’s solid waste, according to recent research by Strategy& (part of the PwC network). Insights from regional projects tracker MEED Projects show that more than $2 trillion USD worth of construction and infrastructure projects are planned and underway in the Middle East, providing a significant opportunity to instil greater sustainability in the region’s built environment.
To build on this opportunity, the collaboration will leverage PwC Middle East's advisory expertise across sustainability, finance and emerging technology, alongside Dar’s global expertise as a leading built-environment and engineering consultancy, to deliver climate-ready development solutions for our clients. Together, the firms will seek to provide solutions that bend the carbon curve in the built environment, enhance the liveability of cities and accelerate economic performance for regional investors, governments and communities.
Commenting on the MoU signing, Dar’s Regional Director of Operations Danny Aoun said: "We are on a clear mission; to support the built environment – both buildings and infrastructure – on its path to decarbonize by 2050 with significant progress being made by 2030. As a signatory to the World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, Dar promotes pragmatic sustainability strategies for our built environment, driven towards a zero-carbon future.
“We are committed to working with PwC Middle East to help clients in the region attain net zero operational carbon by 2030 and ensure that all new buildings and major retrofits within direct control attain net zero whole-life carbon by 2030. Our work with PwC Middle East will also tackle our industry’s major trends that strongly align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals."
Balsam Nehme, Head of Sustainability, Dar, said: "The overall built environment sector demands clear climate and sustainability targets, frameworks, methodologies, and greater alignment. As a leading built environment consultancy, we promote a low whole life carbon approach and net-zero carbon pathways in our work to clients. We also actively collaborate with industry partners to advance thought leadership on sustainable infrastructure and policy activation. We believe that an integrated approach to the whole built environment is essential to deliver change in line with the commitments of the Paris Agreement."