Today is the 18th UAE National Environment Day which falls on February 4 every year. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called on society to contribute positively in shouldering its responsibility to preserve the environment. National Environment Day is an important occasion when the UAE?s government and people renew their national and moral commitment to preserve environmental resources, says Khalifa.

Today is Municipality?s biggest ever Car-Free Day initiative, coinciding with the UAE?s National Environment Day .This year, the municipality is expecting to reduce 70 to 90 tonnes of carbon emission.DM will also distribute free Nol Cards to thousands of participating employees and officials. A ?green? marathon at the Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai and an exhibition of hybrid vehicles, environmental projects and students? works at the municipality will also be held as part of the initiative.

Car-Free Day has been a ?No Parking Day? for Dubai Municipality (DM) employees all these years since the huge parking lot in the municipality?s headquarters remains closed for the day. Almost 200 entities including government departments and private companies have confirmed participation in the green drive,  around 15,000 vehicles are expected to be off the roads in Dubai today to observe this day,they will instead walk, cycle, or hop on to the Metro or buses. In 2014, participants from 66 entities gave up as many as 7,000 cars to commute to work, contributing to the reduction of 20 tonnes of carbon emission on the day of the event. 

Municipality urged everyone to contribute effectively towards preserving and developing the environment and its components.

Source: Khaleej Times