Mohammed bin Zayed: The UAE’s commitment to protecting the environment is firm for the benefit of its people and the service of humanity
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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, affirmed that the UAE’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting international action to achieve sustainability is firm, continuous and effective for the benefit of its people and the service of humanity.
Yesterday, His Highness said in a post on his Twitter account: “In conjunction with the “Year of Sustainability” and our readiness to host the Conference of the Parties on the Climate “COP28”, we celebrate National Environment Day today .. The UAE’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting international action to achieve sustainability is firm, continuous and effective in the interest of its people and the service of humanity.
This comes on the occasion of the twenty-sixth National Environment Day, which fell yesterday, February 4, and this year carries the slogan “For a Sustainable Future.”
leadership
The UAE is committed to protecting the environment and supporting international action to achieve sustainability for the benefit of its people and the service of humanity. The country is a pioneer in providing assistance to societies around the world. The UAE is a pioneer in driving the sustainability agenda, being the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, and the first country In the region, it announces a strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The UAE has come a long way in facing the challenges of energy and climate change within the framework of its sustainable development vision and strategic plans, and has also provided the auxiliary factors that are compatible with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for the year 2030.
The UAE believes that achieving the necessary global transformation in the energy sector depends on the concerted efforts of all partners. This vital sector also needs qualitative innovations and directing investments towards clean energy solutions that can be developed on a large scale, and new solutions for major industries, in addition to increasing efficiency in the use of natural resources. This contributes to reducing the consequences of climate change while ensuring a sustainable energy supply.
The state’s efforts were represented in launching policies, strategic plans, clean energy projects, science and technology, and awareness in response to climate change and preserving the environment, based on its possession of a great legacy of sustainability, pioneered by the late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, as it embodied his vision for the UAE. Sustainable development of the country’s economy, society and the environment in which we live.
platform
The country launched the data platform for the sustainable development goals, which covers the main initiatives launched by the UAE to achieve the seventeen sustainable development goals. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The UAE is the first country in the Arab Gulf region to launch a data center for sustainable development goals in October 2017, which was the result of joint efforts by the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
global competitiveness
The UAE topped the countries of the world in 16 sub-indicators related to achieving the 17 sustainable development goals, according to the UAE Figures 2022 Report, issued by the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics.
The wise leadership was keen to deal with the entire world with a sense of brotherhood, as the UAE Foreign Aid Initiative provides aid to societies around the world, with the aim of creating effective partnerships on an ongoing basis. State aid aims to eradicate poverty while enhancing security and stability at the international level, in a manner that guarantees an improvement in living standards for all individuals.
initiatives
The UAE made conscious efforts towards moving to a more sustainable future, and strategies, initiatives and programs were launched that achieved a sustainable development process that contributed to reducing its carbon footprint, to become a leader in the region, and this was reinforced by legislation and laws to preserve the environment and reduce carbon emissions, and the launch of many strategies at the federal level. And the local community in the country, which sets clear goals in order to shape its future to be more sustainable, including:
The UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, many clean energy projects have been launched, and the strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, which represents a national drive, aims to reduce emissions and climate neutrality by 2050, making the UAE the first country in The Middle East and North Africa announces its goal to achieve climate neutrality.
It also worked to raise environmental awareness in the community by adding education related to the environment as a major component of the curricula in UAE schools, and sustainability has become an institutional culture and an essential element in all entities.
In line with Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals to create sustainable cities and communities, and Goal 12 of responsible consumption and production, the UAE launched the Integrated Waste Management Initiative.
The country has worked diligently towards reducing the number of landfills, and aims to treat 75% of the municipal solid waste.
Combat Desertification
The UAE has also paid attention to combating desertification within the framework of preserving the environment, and has worked to develop agriculture in the deserts, turning the desert into green patches. Large, and the total area of natural reserves in the country in 2020 amounted to more than 15.5% of the total area of the country.
The country launched the Emirates Green Development Strategy, which is a long-term national initiative to build a green economy in the country under the slogan “Green Economy for Sustainable Development”. On a sustainable environment that supports long-term economic growth.
The country has worked to construct many dams across the country, desalination plants have been established, and the air quality index initiative has been launched.
National day
The State has dedicated a National Environment Day, which falls on the fourth of February every year, to affirm its genuine and firm commitment to efforts to preserve and develop the environment, to highlight the attention and care given by the wise leadership to environmental work in its various aspects, and to introduce the efforts made to preserve the environment and the country’s achievements in this field. And highlight the country’s efforts to work for the climate, as it is the main challenge for development in the country and the world.
International events
The country has hosted many global events that promote sustainability in all fields, perhaps the most prominent of which is Expo 2020 Dubai, and the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which consolidates the UAE’s vision regarding cooperation with the international community, to confront urgent global challenges, such as the issue of climate change, and others, and the exhibition of water, energy and environment technology. WETEX, Dubai Solar Energy, and many other events. The announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect him, that 2023 is the “Year of Sustainability” in the UAE, which coincides with the UAE’s hosting of “Cop 28”, is a translation of the UAE’s global standing and its approach to preserving the environment and the sustainability of its resources.
The UAE continues its local and global efforts towards achieving sustainable development and translating the long-term visions set by the state with the aim of making the UAE one of the best countries in the world in terms of development, as the UAE has been able to achieve unparalleled successes in comprehensive development, prosperity, and sustainability in all fields.