Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has signed a major partnership agreement with leading UAE-based green social enterprise, Goumbook. The two organizations will work closely together to raise awareness of sustainability issues nationwide and provide one-of-a-kind volunteering opportunities for Gulf-basedSchneideremployees.

Launched in 2009, Goumbook promotes sustainable living and green practices in the UAE. At the official signing held in Dubai Goumbook’s founder Tatiana AntonelliAbella commented, “As a social enterprise, Goumbook aims for high impact change in its community, which is why we are so excited to have a major player like Schneider Electric as agents for real change in the region. Companies like Schneider Electric are leading the way for other companies to see what being global but acting local truly means and this is our main mission as a social enterprise.”

As part of the deal, Goumbook will collaborate with Schneider Electric to implement green initiatives in its Gulf-based office facilities and provide a strong platform for building environmental sustainability.

“This landmark partnership will solidify Schneider Electric’s goal of becoming a more sustainable company in the region with the implementation of localized social responsibility projects and green solutions,” revealed Ashraf Abdelkhalek, Schneider’s Gulf Sustainability& Health &Safety Manager. “Moreover, this key partnership will bolster Schneider Electric’s long-term sustainability strategy in the region and support the UAE’s recent drive for more sustainable energy solutions.”

In 2017, the UAE Energy Strategy for 2050 was unveiled as the first unified energy strategy for the country, leading to a joint effort between all energy-related authorities and executive councils in the UAE to push for more renewables. It aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50% (44% renewables, 6% nuclear), resulting in estimated savings of $190 billion by 2050.

In a bid to support the UAE’s long-term sustainability goals, Schneider Electric is also committed to becoming a key sustainability educator for the UAE’s youth. Schneider’s NataljaKissina, Human Resources VP, Gulf – who was also present at the signing – revealed that sustainability topics have been integrated into the company’s recently launched UAE hybrid internship program and the firm’s virtual ‘2021 Sustainability Summer Camp’ for kids, which is currently in session.

For the period from 2018-2020, Schneider Electric helped its global customers save 134 million tons of CO2 emissions, now reaching 276 million tons saved by the end of the first quarter of 2021. The Group was named the world’s most sustainable corporation by Corporate Knights in February, helping companies to bridge the gap between setting climate change ambitions and achieving them. With more than 15 years of sustainability leadership, Schneider Electric has also committed to achieve net zero across the entirety of its value chain by 2050, and, earlier this year, implemented its Zero Carbon Project, an ambitious new program designed to help its top 1,000 suppliers reduce their emissions 50% by 2025.