A high-level delegation from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has concluded a week-long knowledge exchange tour of the Netherlands to explore opportunities for collaboration and discuss the latest innovations and best practices in environment and sustainability with industry stakeholders in Amsterdam and The Hague. The delegates also attended key sustainability events and the World Summit AI, the world's most prestigious event to discover how AI can be used equitably, inclusively and safely.
The visiting EAD delegation attended multiple sustainability focused events in the Netherlands from 7 to 14 October and met with government officials, C-Suite executives, and sustainability officers across multiple industries to share insights on topics such as decarbonisation and the energy transition – including low carbon solutions like green hydrogen. They also debated the challenge of developing policies for hard-to-abate sectors.
At the World Summit AI, the EAD team listened to conversations on the outsized impact of AI, including what it means to be human in the age of AI and whether it is possible to achieve the democratisation of this advanced technology. The summit underscored AI’s role in disrupting sectors and examined the interplay of ethical and human-centric aspects of AI on governments and sustainability.
In a separate stakeholder meeting, the EAD delegation met with representatives of TNO, an independent research organisation based in the Netherlands that focuses on transforming scientific knowledge into practical applications for industry and society. Just as EAD leverages advanced technologies to monitor air pollution, including tracking particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx), TNO’s water purification technologies help mitigate contaminants such as microplastics and harmful chemicals. Such insights can help EAD roll out better informed activations to contribute to the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy.
The EAD team also met with officials from Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, comparing best practices in air and water quality monitoring and management in Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam. The two sides examined the challenges of fighting climate change with a focus on developing techniques to build resilience in coastal areas, which is relevant to both countries.
The visitors also interacted with Deltares, an independent Dutch research institute that focuses on water and subsurface systems and provides innovative solutions in areas such as water management, climate adaptation, and flood protection. They attended a presentation on the advanced models for water treatment and wastewater management that help optimise water usage and safety.
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: “In line with our vision to shape a sustainable, safe and healthy environment in Abu Dhabi and offer an enhanced quality of life to its residents, the visit of the EAD team to the Netherlands helps scale the Agency’s reach and scope. We continue to enhance environmental management and sustainability in Abu Dhabi while learning from the best practices of industry stakeholders regionally and globally.
“By engaging with the Dutch experts and understanding first-hand their advanced water and air monitoring technologies, waste management practices, and AI-driven innovations, we are now equipped with valuable insights that can be adapted to our unique environmental context in Abu Dhabi. We also shared some of our own key wins in these areas with the Dutch environmentalists, helping to bolster Abu Dhabi’s reputation as an environmental hub.”
This visit to the Netherlands marks the first in a series of roadshows that the EAD is undertaking to stay updated on best-in-class and emerging technology solutions in the dynamic field and ensure future readiness.
