Farnek Avireal, a leading Middle East facilities management company, has inked a partnership deal with Swiss-based myclimate to help private sector companies reduce their carbon footprint in the region.

As per the deal inked with the global leading carbon offset foundation, Farnek Avireal, will provide consultancy, advisory and carbon management services to help UAE companies reduce their environmental impact by offsetting carbon emissions and reducing or, where possible, replacing their use of fossil fuels.

“This initiative complements the Ecological Footprint Programme of the UAE, the aim of which is to develop environmentally friendly policies, reduce the UAE’s carbon footprint and move towards a sustainable future,” said Marcus Oberlin, general manager of Farnek Avireal Middle East.

The partners and clients of myclimate worldwide include large, medium and small businesses from across a range of industries. Among the many high profile international companies involved are Volvo, Virgin Atlantic, HSBC, Lufthansa and Hyundai.

Speaking about regional opportunities and their partnership with Farnek Avireal, Rene Estermann, CEO, myclimate, said, “We first attended the World Future Energy Summit two years ago in Abu Dhabi and witnessed great regional interest. In Farnek Avireal we have found a partner that we consider to be the market leading consultant in the UAE for carbon reduction and sustainability.” 

Farnek Avireal has consolidated its market position by helping private sector companies reduce their environmental impact with efficient monitoring of energy use and has a licensing agreement with Green Globe International, the certification label for the tourism and hospitality industry covering properties throughout the Middle East.

“In 2008 the World Wide Fund for Nature published a study that found the UAE had the world's biggest per capita carbon footprint,” Oberlin said.

"However, the country is investing heavily in improving energy efficiency. The Abu Dhabi government has set a goal of generating seven per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020. It also sees carbon capture as part of its efforts to slow emissions."

“Our association with myclimate enables us to provide the full range of life cycle carbon management services for the increasing number of responsible private sector companies in the region who are aiming to become carbon neutral and contribute to regional efforts towards a sustainable future for the world,” Oberlin added.

“Myclimate began in 2002 as a project by students and professors in Zürich. Today this charitable Swiss organisation is one of the leading global providers of voluntary and compliance carbon offsetting solutions.

“It uses offset payments to develop and support carbon offset projects around the globe. What makes their projects effective is that they focus on substituting fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures,” he noted.

Several of myclimate carbon offset projects are in developing countries in Africa, South America and the far east. For example, previously climate-damaging coal was used in the Indian province of Uttarakhand as fuel in brick and iron production.

The carbon offset project by myclimate promotes the use of briquettes made of renewable biomass from forest and agricultural waste. In addition, restaurants, temples, schools and hospitals are being supplied with efficient, smokeless cookers.

“To implement carbon offsetting measures as effectively and efficiently as possible, myclimate has also developed an international network of project partners and resellers, who represent myclimate in their respective countries. Farnek Avireal is proud to be the first to partner with Myclimate in the region,” said Oberlin.