(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 3rd February 2019 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Chairman of the Environment Authority - Abu Dhabi, stressed the importance of the adoption of consumption patterns and sustainable production to ensure reaching the goals set for sustainable development.
He said this requires the implementation of specific strategies and initiatives aimed at strengthening the concept of sustainable management, the efficient use of natural resources and cooperation with efficient partnerships, and coordination between government authorities, private sector companies and civil society.
In his speech on the occasion of the 22nd National Environment Day taking place tomorrow and being held for the 3rd year in a row under the slogan "Sustainable Production and Consumption", Sheikh Hamdan pointed out that, according to the 12th goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, patterns of sustainable consumption and production are related to the encouragement of the efficient use of resources and power, infrastructure sustainability, the provision of basic services, the provision of suitable and environment friendly job opportunities, and enhancing the community's quality of life.
He highlighted how, in light of the growing threats to the environment and global warming, as well as increases in the world population, along with the depletion of natural resources, the implementation of green growth strategies has become more critical than ever, in addition to the rationing of consumption and adopting principles of clean production.
He also noted that in 2002, the international community adopted the patterns of sustainable consumption and production as a key priority during the World Summit on Sustainable Development, stressing that the UAE's wise leadership is supporting the 12th goal.
Sheikh Hamdan said that the UAE has strengthened its efforts aimed at adopting patterns of sustainable consumption and production in key sectors and has invested in many projects and programmes to motivate the efficiency of resources and the sustainability of infrastructure, noting that the country had officially adopted this approach in 2012 when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Emirates Green Development Strategy under the slogan "Green Economy for Sustainable Development".
He added that the country has established a national framework to achieve this goal, as represented in the 2021 Vision, and within this framework, many national plans in many sectors have been launched.
He also highlighted efforts of the UAE to preserve its water resources and its groundwater reserves, which are suffering from severe depletion as a result of over-pumping and over-consumption over the past years, outpacing nutrition rates that do not exceed 10%, in addition to the country's efforts to protect the marine environment, its natural resources and their use in a sustainable manner.
He said that the UAE is focusing on its contribution in the global efforts to stop the deterioration of the world's oceans, which will be a focus of the World Oceans Summit, to be held in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.
WAM/Esraa Ismail/Rasha Abubaker
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