As part of the EAD 2021–2025 Strategy, there are 12 key success measures to be achieved by the year 2025. In every issue of the Insider, we will be highlighting 2 success measures:
Marine Water Quality:
1- Marine water quality standards met in full
2- Microbial (public health) standards met in full
Groundwater:
1- Achieve 74 % Water Quality Index
2- 0% increase in the area of groundwater depleted zones
3- 9% replaced by alternative sources
A group of senior executives from major retail outlets in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi recently signed a voluntary declaration, committing them to support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy. The policy, along with subsequent regulations, will help the emirate’s marine and land environment remain free from single-use plastic bags. The leading brands included: Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society and Spar, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Spinneys and Waitrose. The signatories expressed their commitment in not only implementing the ban, but also collecting fees on reusable bags in a bid to reduce their consumption.
During the month of March, EAD successfully translocated 20 Scimitar-Horned Oryx (SHO) and 25 Addax to Chad’s Ouadi Rime-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve. Currently there are 460 Scimitar-Horned Oryx in the wild, with 15 calves born so far this year, as well as 96 wild Addax, with 5 calves born this year. Furthermore, for the first time ever, EAD successfully translocated five Dama Gazelle on 14 March 2022, which have joined the herd of other captured wild Dama Gazelle in the programme.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the Conscious Planet Movement to Save Soil (Conscious Planet) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to initiate cooperation in protecting food-producing agricultural soil in the UAE from degradation. HE Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and global visionary Sadhguru, founder of Conscious Planet, signed the agreement during Sadhguru’s visit to Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. After the signing, Sadhguru, Her Excellency, and several VIP guests participated in mangrove planting, organised by EAD in cooperation with the Jubail Island within the framework of the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative, which was launched recently and aims to enhance the habitats of mangroves and store blue carbon in the soil.
The Human Resources Division organised an awareness session to all EAD employees about the new EAD organisation structure. The session was delivered by the HR Director Mohamed Al Khameeri.
The first Ask the Expert session this year featured our colleague Monir Salem Bou Ghanem, Advisor, IEPP. He explained the Abu Dhabi Single-Use Plastic Policy ban on plastic bags that will be affective starting 1 June 2022. The session was delivered in Arabic and English followed by a Q&A. If you have any questions related to the ban, please contact Monir Bou Ghanem at mboughanem@ead.gov.ae.
On June 1st, Abu Dhabi will begin implementing its ban on single-use plastic bags. EAD is organising a tour of the retailers in Abu Dhabi led by our SG, HE Dr Shaikha Salem Al to witness compliance with the ban.
The World Environment Day (WED) is an annual occasion that focuses on the efforts of a pressing environmental issue. This year’s theme is “Only One Earth”. The WED is a great opportunity for everyone to realise the responsibility to care for our environment.
On this day, we celebrate the role of the oceans in our everyday life and how to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources. This year’s theme is “Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean”.
The World Sea Turtle Day falls on 16 June every year. Marine turtles comprise seven species, two of them are found in the waters of Abu Dhabi: The Hawksbill and the Green Turtle. We have been monitoring these species for more than 15 years, which revealed that we have stable populations of both of these species.
On 30 June 2022, EAD will launch its new and innovative environmental labelling programme called “Green Industries” that is designed to encourage facilities to comply with environmental best practices through a reward and recognition system.
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The Single-Use Plastic Policy was developed as part of the Abu Dhabi Government’s efforts to organise the handling of single-use plastic products to limit their consumption and prevent them from entering the environment and causing harm.
Did you know that in the UAE, 11 billion plastic bags are consumed annually according to a report presented in The World Government Summit in February 2019? This is equivalent to 1 184 plastic bags per person per year in UAE, compared to the global average of 307.
If you have any suggestions, comments or want to share news please send an email to internal@ead.gov.ae
