Green puts UAE in world's top 3

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Green puts UAE in world's top 3
by Arushi Madan \| 09-04-2015 22:36 0
I am so glad to share with all of you that our UAE is in top 3 nations to cut ecological footprint. Through our various ambassador reports , all of you have seen how everytime UAE comes up with innovative schemes and strategies to generate public interest in environment protection. Frequent Environment educative programs by govt , Environment Awareness Awards for students , teachers and schools , sustainability award for companies , launch of electric car , electric car charging stations at convenient places, scheme/competition to encourage residents for rooftop gardening , various recycling competitions which assure good rewards , eco friendly clothes/fashion shows .The ministry has set standards to ensure lighting product imports are energy-efficient, especially for residential buildings, which account for 57 per cent of the country?s ecological footprint. The government also aims to develop standards for fuel and cars, to reduce carbon emissions. These and many such initiatives which ultimately brings UAE closer to achieving it?s goal of becoming a global hub and a successful model of the new green economy . Despite UAE urban growth, which brings more carbon emissions and a greater ecological footprint, efforts to promote a greener economy and environmental policies have improved the situation. The UAE ecological footprint dropped to 7.75 hectares per person last year, down from 11.68 hectares in 2006, the Ministry of Environment and Water has reported citing improved environmental sustainability through the country?s adoption of Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) in 2007. UAE is the third country in the world to do so after Switzerland and Japan. According to 2014 Living Planet Report, five countries – China, US, India, Brazil and Russia – account for 47.2 per cent of the world?s ecological footprint. In 2012, the Green Applications Initiative was aimed at lowering power consumption at government buildings and the carbon footprint which accounts for 83 per cent of the UAE ecological footprint. Every two years, Global Footprint Network, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London publish ?Living Planet Report?, the world's leading, science-based analysis on health of our planet and the impact of human activity. The ?Living Planet Report? uses the Ecological Footprint and additional complementary measures to explore the changing state of global biodiversity and human consumption. The report documents the extent of human pressure on the planet, how that compares across nations, and how it is impacting the natural world. The Living Planet Report 2014, released September 30, 2014, shows humanity?s demand on the planet is more than 50 per cent larger than what nature can renew, jeopardizing the well-being of humans as well as populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Humanity's Ecological Footprint has more than doubled since 1961, according to the report. At the same time, vertebrate wildlife populations have declined, on average, by more than half in just four decades, as measured by the Living Planet Index. The report says that it would take 1.5 Earths to produce the resources necessary to support humanity?s current Ecological Footprint. This global "overshoot" means, for example, that we are cutting timber more quickly than trees re-grow and releasing CO2 faster than nature can sequester it. The UAE government launched ?Al Basma Al Beeiya? (Ecological Footprint in Arabic) Initiative in 2007 to understand the numbers and methodology behind the ranking and began a multi-stakeholder collaboration involving Global Footprint Network that continues today. The Global Footprint Network says the launch of the Ecological Footprint Initiative set the UAE on a course to becoming the third country in the world, after Switzerland and Japan, to conduct in-depth research on its Ecological Footprint. Source : http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/worldhealthday-green-puts-uae-in-world-s-top-3-2015-04-08-1.586706

Dormant user Arushi Madan

12 Comments

says :
Thanks for sharing vivid report Arushi.I am proud to be a resident of this great country.
Lots of awareness campaigns and investments for sustainable environment by the leaders of the UAE are praiseworthy.Congratulations to UAE for all its efforts.

Posted 12-04-2015 16:43

says :
This is great. Well reported Arushi.
We feel proud to be residents in such a responsible & responsive nation.
Further, feel glad to the part of many sustainable environmental campaigns in the UAE.
Posted 12-04-2015 13:41

Jamaica Layos says :
To all the UAE leaders who make it, congrats and keep up the good workk!!
Posted 11-04-2015 23:58

Arushi Madan says :
Anthony : I too hope and wish that leaders of other nations too especially there in Africa , think sustainably like Dubai leaders.
You are most welcome to Dubai , pl do plan a visit here.
Posted 11-04-2015 06:20

Anthony Emecheta says :
Sister Arushi, am really impressed with what your government is doing. They sure do have a foresight of what their capital projects and urbanisation they embarked on two to three decades back would bring and have prepared adequately to combat it.

Am suggesting you guys get your government to lend African leaders some of these eco-sustainability ideas so that as we (in Africa) clamour for an environment like yours, we don't run into unprepared problems on massive environmental pollution. I seriously would love to visit Dubai someday.
Posted 11-04-2015 00:10

says :
Dear Arushi sister, so happy to know UAE is top three country to reduce its ecological footprint.
Congratulations to UAE and certainly deserves it. Through various reports we can know about the noble innovative initiatives undertaken by UAE government for sustainable environment.
Wow from 11.68 hectares in 2006 to 7.75 now is incredible.
Thank you for sharing this happy news :)
Posted 10-04-2015 20:25

Arushi Madan says :
Sara : Thanks .
Rohan : Yes , with so much urbanisation and lavish buildings/malls etc , footprint is high but praiseworthy part is that govt here is equally doing lots to compensate/reduce carbon footprint by not only investing in eco infrastructure but also educating the residents to be aware of their actions and chose eco-friendly ones. So many campaigns all across UAE-just to raise awareness among mass about need to protect environment. Look at the money they are sparing to award environmentally conscious companies and individuals. We are proud residents of UAE.Thanks for your comment.
Posted 10-04-2015 17:38

Arushi Madan says :
Yes Eco Gen & Christy : Thanks for your comments.
UAE is doing all possible to achieve it's goal of being one of the most sustainable nation.
Posted 10-04-2015 17:34

Rohan Kapur says :
Arushi, In order to produce so much landscaping in desert the Eco footprint is bound to be high. It is commendable to put it down.
Major contributor of this factor is recycling of waste water to such an extent that all landscaping is watered by recycled & treated Waste water. Fresh water is not at all used for watering. The residue of waste water is further used as a manure.
Practically speaking it is phenomenal to have such an infrastructure in place.
Thanks for reporting.
Posted 10-04-2015 12:38

says :
Congrats! it deserves it with no doupt !
Posted 10-04-2015 11:38

says :
Congratulations! 7.75 hectares per person down from 11.68? It's unbelievable number :D
Thumbs up for the government of UAE and eco-leaders like you guys there. It's a great success. I am so sure that it is definitely kind of miracle achieved by collective efforts of all stakeholders in UAE. Thank you for sharing the amazing news, Arushi :)
Oh, and have a sweet weekend ahead~
Posted 10-04-2015 11:33

Eco Generation