The UAE celebrates for the 22nd year in a row, the National Environment Day on 4th February, with it being celebrated this year under the slogan "Sustainable Production and Consumption".
The Emirates Nature and the World Nature Fund (Emirates Nature-WWF), a leading non-profit organisation established to drive positive change in the United Arab Emirates to conserve the nation’s natural heritage, stressed the importance of adopting sustainable social practices and change consumption patterns.
In her interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Laila Moustafa Abdullatif, Director-General of the Emirates Nature, presented the key environmental challenges resulting from the current consumption patterns and their impact on natural resources. She also highlighted the fact that population growth and the accelerated pace of urban development in the world constitute a major threat to natural resources.
On the local level, the economic development throughout the past decade and the fast progress in many sectors has led to a surge in the demand on resources such as water and energy, she added.
She highlighted the importance of the National Environment Day to raise awareness about the need to follow a responsible way of life to ensure the sustainability of resources and protect our heritage for our generation and the future generations.
She stated that this requires the cooperation of individuals, communities and institutions. She also pointed out that the initiative "Connect with Nature" launched recently by the association in cooperation with the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi and the International Fund for the Conservation of Houbara, aims to raise awareness of young citizens and encourage them to explore the treasures of the UAE’s nature and explore its rich wildlife.
She said that the UAE’s signing of the Paris Climate Agreement confirms its commitment to participate in global efforts aimed at combating this phenomenon, and pointed to the UAE’s strategy for water security that aims to reduce water consumption by 21 percent and increase the use of treated water by 95 percent, in accordance with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
She urged companies and institutions to play a more effective role in the protection of the environment by including sustainability in their strategies and by connecting with the community to promote environmental awareness.
She called all segments of the community to strengthen the culture of sustainability in the country and stressed the keenness of the Emirates Nature to establish partnerships with companies and authorities aiming to adopt responsible practices to ensure a sustainable future for the generations to come.