Green is good

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To modify an old adage: it's not what you say; it's where you say it. The fact that Amiji has chosen the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Dubai to meet is appropriate - last year, the hotel converted its main water heating system from diesel oil-fired to solar powered in a bid to reduce climate change and running costs. The new system is the first commercial installation of its kind in the UAE, and a convenient five-star testament to the strength of Amiji's argument.

"People recognize that something has to be done quickly, and they can't keep on pushing back having to make these tough decisions," he continues. "Last year was undoubtedly a tipping point especially for the Middle East. The point may have been reached earlier in other parts of the world, but here on a corporate, governmental and consumer level, it really reached a new level in the public consciousness.

It is this rich potential that has prompted Amiji to co-found EcoVentures, an environmental consultancy, advisory and management company. The firm will deliver advisory services and solutions based on innovations in greenhouse gas reduction, the use of renewable energy and the development of sustainable water resources in the Middle East, and is to launch with a core portfolio of services based on the carbon reduction offset and finance sectors.

"The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a report last year stating unequivocally that there is a link between climate change and man's activities," recalls Amiji.

"It has taken them about 15 years of scientific research to agree on this, and at the same time last year the issue of climate change and what that means to us on a daily basis reached a tipping point in the public consciousness," he continues. "Just then, I realized there was an opportunity to build a meaningful business as well as perhaps do something positive. It's very rare that you get the opportunity to combine both."

Although it will initially focus on carbon management, EcoVentures plans to offer its clients a full range of advisory services in order to help companies achieve sustainability goals. As a for-profit business, the company aims to guide customers towards deriving commercial and brand value by reducing their environmental footprint from all aspects of operation of their business.

"There are three segments of environmental services - renewable energy, carbon management, and water sustainability," explains Amiji. "How can we go about bringing a folio of international standards required and processes in place in the region? That led me to The CarbonNeutral Company (TCNC), which is the first of our partners, and will work with us on the carbon management advisory business.

Europe-based TCNC has been a pioneer in the provision of carbon management services to companies and governments for the last 15 years. The organisation will be EcoVentures' primary business partner in the region for the carbon management business, providing expertise, a system, and a brand for EcoVentures to market.

"To a certain extent, carbon management encapsulates all of the other aspects of the business, so that's why we identified it as our initial target," explains Amiji. "The target audience now is large local corporates, as well as multinational companies that already have an environmental policy in place, so we can help them meet those requirements locally.

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