UAE | Environment
Environment protection is a 'key issue for UAE'
Environment protection is the key issue in the UAE's policies for sustainable development, said Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Midfa, Minister of Health.
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 8, 2006
Dubai: Environment protection is the key issue in the UAE's policies for sustainable development, said Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Midfa, Minister of Health.
He said the UAE has focussed on environment protection while implementing its comprehensive development plans. "It has realised long ago the important relation between environment and development, and it kept pace with international efforts to protect environment to achieve sustainable development," said Al Midfa while speaking at the opening session of the 9th Special Session of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum which began at Dubai International World Trade Centre yesterday.
New developments
The UNEP Forum is being attended by 120 environment ministers, their technical advisors and international and regional organisations working on environmental issues.
During the three-day forum, they will discuss new developments in policies that govern UNEP work and approve, on behalf of their governments, any new agreements or strategies that have been negotiated in the preparatory meetings. Three main issues energy and environment, tourism and environment and chemicals management will be the focus of discussions.
Al Midfa went on to saying that these issues gained special attention over the past few years due to their close relations with sustainable development. "The UAE made many achievements in these three areas during the recent years."
Shaikh Zayed's work praised
The efforts of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve the environment have been singled out for praise by a major global environmental report.
There is a special feature on Shaikh Zayed's work to plant trees and conserve endangered species in the United Nations Environment Programme's GEO Year Book 2006.
Shaikh Zayed was posthumously awarded the UNEP's Champions of the Earth Award in April 2005 for his work.
Describing Shaikh Zayed as a "Champion of the Earth", the report highlights the fact that the UAE's founding President oversaw the planting of more than 150 million trees in the UAE.
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Latest news
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Transfusion centre launches new toll free number
- Mirror, mirror show me the way
- Smart e-Gate system launched
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
