His Highness Hamdan bin Zayed Chairs Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi’s Board of Directors Meeting to Review the Most Important Achievements During 2022

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His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), said it was necessary to continue the Agency’s efforts to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in environmental action, studies and research. These will enhance EAD’s capabilities in the field of environmental protection, the preservation of natural resources, and biological diversity and help to achieve sustainable development.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan indicated that EAD is always looking to the future, and has no limits on its environmental ambitions, which has led its important achievements to resonate locally and regionally. The Agency has gained recognition from the most prominent international environmental institutions and organisations, a key highlight being the Agency’s rehabilitation programmes of Abu Dhabi’s coastal and marine ecosystems being recognised at the end of last year as among the Top Ten Flagship Initiatives by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

His Highness said that EAD will fulfil the aspirations of the emirate, increasing Abu Dhabi’s global profile as a city that looks to the future and plans a healthy and vital environmental legacy for future generations. This will be achieved through a range of plans, including: EAD’s corporate strategy 2025– 2021, and the Environmental Centennial 2071 initiative that was launched last year and fosters a comprehensive and flexible environmental vision that outlines future prospects for the next five decades. Importantly, it will provide a balanced development model that takes into account nature, green development, and environmentally friendly knowledge and technological progress.

EAD At Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week,

EAD Reveals How Abu Dhabi Balances Economic Development with Conservation of Biodiversity

Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector of the EAD, has shed light on how Abu Dhabi strikes the perfect balance between economic development and conservation of biodiversity. He also explained how EAD plays an important role in ensuring that businesses and infrastructure projects were planned with the environment in mind so as not to harm any local species.

He shared his thoughts during an in-conversation session under the theme of ‘The Business Case for Biodiversity’. The event was held at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) Summit.

He also elaborated on EAD’s role: “As a regulator in Abu Dhabi, it is our role and that of other relevant government entities to ensure there are adequate guidelines and regulations for development project permits, not only in the allocation of land but also at their construction and operation stages. We ensure that all development projects go through the necessary Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) before they are approved.”

EAD Highlighted the Voice of Youth at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

EAD was part of the ‘World Climate Simulation’ session – a group role-playing exercise that was focused on international climate change negotiations. The session provided participants with the chance to explore the risks of climate change and the challenges of negotiating international agreements to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.

In a live, face-to-face setting, participants played the role of negotiators representing countries and regional blocs that need to work together to create an agreement that limits climate change by reducing GHG emissions. Proposals were tested using a climate policy simulation model that provided participants science-based feedback on the implications of their proposals for atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, global mean surface temperature, sea level rise, and other impacts.

The facilitators of the event included the EAD Youth Council, the UAE Climate Change Special Envoy Office, and Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. The simulation provided participants with an opportunity to gain insights into the carbon and climate system, as well as the social and international geopolitical dynamics of the climate challenge. It also offered a non-dogmatic experience for participants, who got to think about and explore for themselves their possible role in addressing climate change, and experiment in a role-playing environment on how to advocate for positive action. Moreover, it also presented an opportunity for the role players to take what they have learned and translate it into real-world action.

Another session at ADSW, featuring an expert from EAD, was the ‘Blue Carbon Habitats and Nature-Based Solutions’. The conversation saw Maitha Al Hameli, Section Manager – Marine Assessment and Conservation Team from the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD joined by Jane Glavan, Co-Owner of Distant Imagery.

The panel discussion was moderated by a member of the EAD Youth Council, and explored what nature-based solutions are, how they are applied in the UAE, and why Blue Carbon is one of the most important and effective nature-based solutions in combating climate change. The session highlighted how mangroves are playing a key role in mitigating the effects of climate change and delved into how to harness technology and innovation to enhance, protect, preserve, and restore blue carbon habitats – both in the UAE and internationally.

A third session was ‘EAD’s 2022 Survey: Capturing the Voices of Youth on Climate Change’ – was led by Khansa Al Blouki, Director, Environmental Outreach, Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Management Sector at EAD, who shared highlights of the UAE’s largest ever climate change youth survey that was undertaken in the latter part of 2022.

During the session, she presented the results of the survey in which 4 210 school and university students and employees from various emirates participated. The majority of the participants (about 74 %) believed that climate change affects their daily lives.

As part of Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative,

EAD plants one million mangrove seeds by drone

EAD has successfully planted one million mangrove seeds using drones, as part of the first phase of a drone mangrove plantation project supporting the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative.

The Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative was announced in February 2022 during His Royal Highness Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge’s landmark visit to the UAE, where he met with His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, at Jubail Mangrove Park. 

This initiative, which is implemented by EAD with a series of local, regional and international partners, supports Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plans to establish the emirate as a global hub for research and innovation in support of the conservation of mangroves, and focuses on the importance of mangroves for carbon sequestration to combat climate change.

The initiative supports the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s target, announced during COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, that unveiled a nationwide plan to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030. Following this, in February of this year, the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative was launched.

EAD is the first organisation to utilise and plant mangroves at a large-scale utilising ecological principles enhanced by drones. The planting of one million seeds follows a successful initial phase implemented by EAD in partnership with ENGIE, the global energy company, and Distant Imagery, a drone engineering solutions company.

This initial phase focused on planting mangroves by drone in 2020, with up to a 48 per cent success rate. EAD then scaled up the project, with one million mangroves planted via drones at different locations around Al Mirfa, in Al Dhafra Region.

EAD Launches ‘Eltezam’: a New Digital System for Environmental Inspection and ComplianceEvaluation That Matches Abu Dhabi’s Rapid Development Pace

EAD has recently launched ‘Eltezam’ – a new digital system for environmental inspection and compliance evaluation which gives EAD’s inspectors the flexibility to evaluate facilities and projects based on actual on-site activities and operations. The new system allows inspectors to comprehensively review any aspect of an organisation’s activities regarding any potential environmental harm rather than being limited to activities listed on their environmental license.

The launch of ‘Eltezam’ is part of EAD’s ongoing efforts to execute its regulatory role by preserving environmental standards in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. By establishing regulatory frameworks in the emirate, the Agency can reduce environmental harm and continuously update environmental conditions and standards in line with the pace of development witnessed by the industrial sector or construction and infrastructure sector, and the emirate’s economic growth.

Faisal Al Hammadi, Acting Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Sector at EAD, said: “The Agency has developed modern technological tools and programmes that ensure compliance by industrial facilities and development projects with environmental laws and requirements. We evaluate and license development projects, infrastructure, and industrial facilities, and commercial businesses in Abu Dhabi with the aim of reducing construction-related environmental impact. This is to ensure compliance with local laws and legislation aligned with best global environmental practices and the environmental, economic and social progress in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.’’

EAD Recognises Influential Green Business Network Members and Awards Green Industries Label to Two New Organisations

EAD recognised 24 active Green Business Network members at a recent ceremony held in Abu Dhabi. At the same event, EAD awarded the Green Industries Label to Corodex Industries and Bristol Fire Engineering Industries, enabling them to use it to market their products. The gesture reflects the important role that corporations play in preserving the environment through the implementation of sustainable practices to reduce pollution, their commitment to raising awareness and contribution to environmental research and studies.

Notable organisations that were celebrated include the Department of Energy, Judicial Department, Department of Finance, Zoo & Aquarium Public Institution in Al Ain, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Musanada, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Aldar, Abu Dhabi Ports, and other organisations that have committed to achieving the goals of the Green Business Network initiative.