Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi's 2012 annual report focuses on sustainable development efforts

WAM ABU DHABI: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has released its bilingual Annual Report for the year 2012 documenting its efforts in protecting the environment and enhancing the biodiversity of the Abu Dhabi Emirate with an aim to maintain sustainable development and provide a safe and healthy environment for the residents and citizens of the Emirate.

In the report’s foreword, Mohammed Al Bowardi, EAD’s Managing Director, said: "Since its establishment, EAD has carried out extensive scientific research, developed and implemented key environmental policies and monitored the Emirate’s environment to protect public health and ensure the integrity of its ecosystems. These efforts have been carried out under the directives of H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in line with the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, and under the guidance of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of EAD." Al Bowardi noted that: "Over the past years, EAD has led – on behalf of the Government – the development of the Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030, which sets our future agenda for environmental, economic and social policy-making and which will help point our Emirate towards more sustainable development. It breaks complex development issues into understandable, manageable, and achievable targets and offers a tool we can use to make decisions that protect the environment and the quality of life for future generations." The Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030 directs us in a collective response to help ensure more sustainable development by focusing on policy development and enforcement on issues such as climate change, clean air and reduced noise pollution, water resources, biodiversity, and waste management,” he said.

Al Bowardi stressed "Today, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is witnessing a development boom, thus EAD has further strengthened its regulatory and enforcement framework that focuses on tackling the main issues, in partnership with governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations as well as the academia and private sector." Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, EAD’s Secretary General, highlighted the agency’s 2012 achievements: "Our 2012 Annual Report highlights how working towards sustainable development is at the very core of our operations. The year 2012 saw us introduce new scientific methodologies and advanced technologies to better address the environmental challenges facing the Emirate of Abu Dhabi whilst enhancing our operational efficiencies to better serve the community. As the environmental regulator for the Emirate, the report reveals how we are making strides toward ensuring residents are breathing clean air, that our biodiversity is protected and that our water resources are conserved for future generations." "Strengthening our focus on our core mandate saw us build stronger capabilities to set environmental policies and regulations, ensuring appropriate enforcement and enhancement of our overall environmental management role. Lastly, we strengthened our positioning as a policy maker and trusted advisor on key environmental issues in Abu Dhabi among our external stakeholders," she added.

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