With emissions reporting now law in the UAE, early GHG inventories are shaping how projects are planned.
Sharjah, UAE, October 2026: IPT Energy delivered a knowledge-sharing session at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) on greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory development for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
The session was led by Alexa Maria El Hed, Group Head of Sustainability, IPT Group, and Olla Nagimeldin, Junior Officer, HSE & Sustainability, IPT Energy. It was hosted by Dr. Sandra Knuteson, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Sciences & Sustainability, AUS, whose teaching covers environmental impact assessment and environmental management. The session brought an operating energy business’s view of emissions accounting to students preparing for careers in the field.
From Scope 1 to Scope 3
A GHG inventory is a structured account of where a project’s emissions will come from and how large they are likely to be. It covers direct emissions (Scope 1), emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) and wider value-chain emissions (Scope 3). The session worked through three stages:
- Scoping: Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions for planned projects
- Predictive modelling: estimating environmental impact before construction begins
- Mitigation: measures that are practical to implement and monitor
Why It Matters Now
Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2024 on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects entered into force on 30 May 2025. It makes measuring and reporting GHG emissions a legal requirement for entities across the UAE, including those in free zones.
For projects that require an EIA, building the inventory at the planning stage identifies emission sources while design choices can still change. It also means the data needed for monitoring and reporting is in place from the first day of operation.
“At IPT, we believe in sharing knowledge and bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world sustainability practice,” said Alexa Maria El Hed, Group Head of Sustainability, IPT Group.
IPT Energy thanks Dr. Sandra Knuteson for hosting the session and the American University of Sharjah for its welcome.
Emissions accounting is not a report written at the end of a project. It is a decision made at the start.