UAE Marks Effective Global Engagement at 3rd UN General Assembly in Nairobi

UAE Delegation Highlights Achievements in Global Environmental and Sustainability Issues 

Dubai, UAE, 09 December, 2017 –  The UAE delegation wrapped up its participation in the third session of the United Nations General Assembly for Environment (UNEA-3) in Nairobi, held from 4 to 6 December under the theme of "Towards A Pollution Fee Planet".  

The UNEA is one of the most important environmental events in the world. Representatives from more than 180 UN member states, hundreds of key decision makers in various environmental fields, businessmen and representatives of international governmental organizations and civil society have participated in the event.

The UAE delegation included Dr Saad Al-Numeiri, Advisor to the Minister of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Dr Mohammed Ahmed bin Fahd, Chairman, Higher Committee of the Zayed Prize for Environment, Dr Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, Executive Director of RAK Environment Protection and Development Authority (RAKA), Dr Mishkan Mohammed Al Awar and Hamdan Khalifa Al Shaer, Secretary General of the Emirates Appreciation Award for the Environment (EAAE), Eng. Hussain Hassan Mohamed Khansaheb, MOCCAE’s Director for Partnerships & Special Projects Department, Eng. Fatima Al Hammadi. MOCCAE’s Environmental Researcher and Dr Eisa Mohammed Abdullatif, Technical Advisor at Zayed International Foundation for the Environment >
During UAE’s keynote speech at UNEA-3, Dr Saad Al-Numeiri said: “The UAE has long decided not achieve prosperity at the expense of the environment. Since 1975, the country has been keen to integrate the environmental dimension into the comprehensive development plans after the independence of the UAE on December 2, 1971.”

Al Numeiri referred to the policies adopted by the country such as economic diversification focusing on the creation of a knowledge and innovation based economic sectors, diversification of energy sources, adoption of renewable and clean energy, sustainable urban planning and development, green architecture, enhanced resource efficiency and integrated waste and chemical management. 

“This coincided with the strengthening of legislative and institutional frameworks, including capacity-building, development of control systems and tools, promotion of partnership and social responsibility initiatives between the public and private sectors, raising awareness on the impacts of pollution and sustainable production and consumption patterns. We recognize that the need to develop our measures especially as we should achieve our national targets by raising air quality to 90%, increasing the proportion of treated waste to 75% and increasing the proportion of clean energies in the national energy mix to 27% by 2021”, he added.

Through its participation in various events on the side-lines of the assembly, the UAE delegation presented the environmental initiatives and projects that were recently launched in the country, as well as the green development legislations and policies, best practices for green buildings, waste management and development projects based on innovation and research.

The UAE renewed its commitment to the international community's goals of transforming the earth into a pollution-free planet. It also renewed the call for accelerating the implementation of relevant international conventions and facilitating capacity-building as well as helping the developing countries meet their national obligations and enhance their contribution to achieving the objectives of the sustainable development plan. 

The UNEA-3 has facilitated four interactive leadership dialogues that covered important environmental issues such as community awareness for change through science and evidence, pollution control through regulatory frameworks, institutions and law, scientific solutions for a pollution-free planet, and combating the pollution through finance and innovation.