Several students carried out a unique climate action initiative at Ghantoot Reserve of Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) to raise awareness on climate change. Thoughtful planning took a few months and the event was well promoted for nearly a month through Facebook but sadly another group did a similar activity just a few days before our event and timed to get their story published the very next day of our event, I am still wondering did they really gain anything by doing this. 

Held for the purpose of educating and fostering interest in climate change action by building a community of youth change-makers globally, the students carried out a cleanliness drive at the reserve and were involved in mangrove rehabilitation. They also took part in natural history scavenger hunts, creating art from collected waste, bird watching, and engaging in discussions on local heritage. 

All of us were welcomed by Major Ali Saqer Sultan Al Suwaidi, President of EMEG who visited the area while Dr Shahid Mustafa, a Senior Ecologist at EMEG reserve, explained the ecological features of marine and terrestrial biodiversity at the reserve. 

The participants enthusiastically extracted climate change components that affect mangroves - including changes in sea-level, high water events, atmospheric CO2 concentration, ocean circulation patterns, health of functionally linked neighboring ecosystems, as well as human responses to climate change. The sea-level has been on the rise and human activities have contributed the most to global warming and pose a serious threat to this fragile ecosystem.

I organised COP in MyCity Dubai 2014 in UAE playing my role assigned by the global think-tank as COP in MyCity (CIMS) Country Ambassador for the UAE, because I believe that the generation of young people is the largest in history and as a result youth have a critical role to play in every aspect of life and society.  I am confident that a few caring people can change the world.  Each one of us has a responsibility to live peacefully without jeopardising the natural resources.

LINK: In GULF TODAY NEWSPAPER

IN KHALEEJ TIMES