Hamdan Bin Zayed Launches the Plant Genetic Resources Centre

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), inaugurated the Plant Genetic Resources Centre established by the Agency in Al Ain City. Considered the region’s first such center of its kind, it aims to ensure the preservation of seeds and tissues of all wild plant types and local agricultural species of importance in the UAE.

His Highness visited the Seed Processing and Testing Laboratory, the first stop for the various external samples of wild plants and seeds arriving at the centre, and which conducts an array of  tests on the seeds to ensure their vitality and suitability for storage and use in propagation and cultivation processes. The laboratory is equipped with eight cutting-edge devices, which use world-first, state-of-the-art technologies. His Highness also visited the herbarium for the classification and scanning of wild plant samples. The facility will ensure the accurate scientific classification of all plants,  and their documentation in the form of dried samples as well as electronic digital samples for inclusion into the Agency’s database. This will enable local and international researchers to both view and use the samples in their various research projects. The herbarium currently contains more than 4,000 dried specimens and 2,666 digital specimens. His Highness was also briefed on the centre’s various preservation methods, such as its cooling rooms as well as the use of liquid nitrogen to preserve samples at temperatures down to -196 degrees Celsius. These methods ensure the preservation of samples for long-term periods – up to more than 100 years.

Abu Dhabi Arab Environment Capital of 2023

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), expressed his pride at Abu Dhabi being named Capital of the Arab Environment 2023, noting that the emirate’s achievements in the field of environmental protection and climate action is the result of the wise vision and directives of the UAE leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. “Abu Dhabi is a pioneering leader in sustainability, in full alignment with the UAE’s vision and commitment to fostering a sustainable and prosperous future. This was reaffirmed by the announcement of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that 2024 is the “Year of Sustainability” once again, His Highness stated. His Highness added that this award is a result of joint efforts by governmental and private bodies, sectors and institutions in Abu Dhabi in the field of protecting the environment and preserving its natural resources. This approach was inspired by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose forward-thinking vision placed great importance on the need to conserve nature and protect the environment. He also noted “Abu Dhabi is consistently guided and inspired by the overarching vision of the UAE’s leadership, which is recognised worldwide for investing in knowledge-based initiatives that safeguard the environment and provide a sustainable future for generations to come”.

EAD the First Environmental Regulatory Body in the Middle East to Achieve Carbon Neutral Now Certification

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the region’s largest environmental regulator, is the first environmental regulatory body in the Middle East to receive the Carbon Neutral Now Certification from an United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-accredited independent party, Applus+ from Spain. The Carbon Neutral Now Certification is awarded to organisations that demonstrate their commitment to offsetting their Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions through onsite, offsite or third-party projects. The Agency provided proof that its 2020-2022 GHG emissions were offset as per the GHG Protocol Standards and in line with global efforts to tackle climate change mitigation through reduced emissions and was awarded the certification.

Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD on the occasion, said: “We voluntarily offset our headquarters’ GHG emissions from 2020 to 2022 by 4355 tonnes of CO2e, which has made us carbon neutral. The certification demonstrates our organisational sensitivity towards climate change mitigation measures and the promotion of cleaner and greener methods. We plan to expand our carbon neutral efforts by exploring various options such as the reduction and offsetting of emissions through our mangrove restoration projects, the use of solar power, using electric vehicles for commuting and site inspection, and via the purchase of environmental commodities and the establishment of green procurement systems”.

EAD Awards Prestigious Green Industries Eco-label to 13 Outstanding Facilities

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi’s Green Industries programme has awarded its eco-label to 13 facilities across diverse sectors since its launch. This initiative evaluates and recognises environmentally friendly facilities, promoting sustainability in the industrial sector. The programme aligns with the agency’s mission to support the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 goals and enhances environmental compliance in facilities, contributing to the companies’ strategic objectives.  The 13 winning companies– spanning the transportation, aluminium, steel, energy, glass, paper mills, cement and asphalt sectors – have set a new standard for environmental performance through their dedication to innovative pollution control solutions and best practices.

The rewards for environmental leadership go beyond the Green Industries label. In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, winning companies will receive a percentage increase in their In-Country Value (ICV) score, further incentivising investment in sustainable practices and reinforcing the economic benefits of environmental responsibility. These companies are eligible to participate in the His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Environmental Award, which not only acknowledges their current achievements but also their potential to inspire and guide others on the path towards a greener future.