Sustainable Development as the name suggests, it is a process that enables living beings to meet their needs of the present time without risking the future needs of the coming generations.

At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda to achieve sustainable goals, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice and tackling climate change by 2030.

Apart from Economic and Social goals the Agenda incorporated Environmental Sustainable goals. Here I will focus on Environment sustainability goals particularly in UAE.

 Goal 13- Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts-

Increase in global averaged surface temperature, extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels and ocean acidification affects our natural eco system and livelihoods. 

UAE has always been at the forefront in its fight against climate change. The country is adhering to its plan to produce 30 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030.

In order to enhance environment awareness and reduce carbon footprint amongst the school students and residents UAE has initiated successful educational modules and Green campaigns like “ OUR GENERATION”, “SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS”, SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL INITIATIVE”.

Green Development program by UAE

The UAE launched Green Economy Initiative in 2012 under the slogan 'A green economy for sustainable development' aiming to make the UAE one of the global pioneers in green economy, products and technologies to achieve Vision 2021. Through its “My City Environment  program”, UAE plans door-to-door awareness programmes for families covering 22 neighbourhoods and 26,000 houses. Country is boosting low-carbon technologies in the economy and investing in renewable energy and nuclear power.

Fourteen projects are in place to reduce the emissions of Greenhouse Gases. Approx. one million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent is expected to reduce.

Goal 14- Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development --

 The UAE federal laws ban disposal of waste and oil sludge into the water by the hundreds of tankers operating in the region. 

15- Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss—

As an integral part of its heritage, the UAE follows a policy to conserve its desert environment and terrestrial ecosystems. 

    Natural reserves are being created to protect and manage the biodiversity of the country. Many wasteland are revamped to make it a wetland for flourishing the flora and fauna of UAE. Environment tourism is another remarkable strategy to boost the ecosystem.

     UAE has designated 43 federal protected areas of which five have officially been designated as Ramsar Sites (wetlands sites recognized under the Ramsar Convention).

Ways towards achieving sustainable development environment goals

Rates of use of renewable resources and non-renewable resources should be in line with their rates of regeneration.

Critical natural resources should not be for exclusive use.

Need of the time is to work not on local level but work to achieve sustainability at the global level.

Through behavioral changes and environment-friendly technology we can have sustainably high-quality environment.

Credits—Life on Land- official portal of UAE Government

photo credit-  SDG tracker