Ministry of Environment and Water signs MoU with Environment Friends Society to enhance environmental awareness in UAE

United Arab Emirates, August 26, 2015 – The Ministry of Environment and Water has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Friends Society (EFS) at the Ministry’s office in Dubai. The MoU was signed by H.E Abdel Rahim Mohammed Al Hammadi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water and H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Ali Mohammed, EFS Chairman, as part of the Ministry’s agenda to strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations and consolidate efforts to promote environmental awareness and education in the UAE.  The collaboration is also in line with the implementation of the national strategy to encourage the community's commitment towards effectively establishing sustainability and environmental protection across the country.

H.E. Al Hammadi said the signing of the MoU is a vital component of the Ministry’s plan to forge a strategic partnership with the Environment Friends Society to enhance efforts in raising awareness on essential environmental issues among the public. Their collaboration will help ensure that the skills, values and attitudes being espoused by individuals, and society are helping create a sustainable environment for the benefit of the coming generations.

H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Ali Mohammed, on the other hand, said that the Society constantly seeks to pursue and implement initiatives that aim to raise environmental awareness and promote positive activities among citizens with respect to all cultures, nationalities and religions across the country.

The MoU aims to instill and encourage positive ecological behavior across all segments of society by collaborating on and launching key initiatives. This includes organizing environmental education campaigns, programs and exhibitions that will help enhance the public’s awareness. It also aims to provide a platform that will facilitate the exchange of information, data and knowledge between the staff and the community in order to stimulate positive environmental social conduct.

The signing of the MoU was attended by H.E. Sultan Bin Alwan Al Habsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Region sector Eng. Aisha Mohammed Al Abdooli, Director of Education & Awareness Department, and Eng. Youssif Al-Ahmad Al Rayssi, Acting Director of the Government Communication Department and Director of Waste Management from the Ministry of Environment and Water. EFS representatives included Dr. Jassim Al Marzouqi, Deputy Chairman; Khalid Al Hosani, Member of the Board of Directors;  and Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Executive Director.