Environmentalists welcome Year of Sustainability

Environmental experts in the UAE have enthusiastically welcomed the President’s announcement of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability.

On Friday the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced 2023 as the Year of Sustainability to coincide with the country hosting COP28.

“Our history and approach in preserving the environment and sustaining its resources is constant. And I call on our society to adopt new ideas and specific initiatives that embody the civilised face of our country,” he wrote in a tweet.

Over the last couple of years, UAE has implemented several sustainability initiatives all over the country including the UAE Vision 2021, Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

“We are a nation that makes things happen and I am certain that the Year of Sustainability will give us the boost to truly be a leader for sustainability in the world,” said Habiba Al Marashi, the co-founder and chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG).

Schools reiterate how they are, especially committed to ensuring that their students understand the role in creating a more sustainable world

Head teachers highlight how students are already empowered to take charge of their future by combatting climate change as institutions provide a platform for them to learn, share and grow through a plethora of school programmes.

Helen Al Uzaizi, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Impact, GEMS World Academy – Dubai says, “Sustainability is a prerequisite to doing business and living in today’s world. It is no longer an optional add-on, it needs to be intrinsically built into daily habits and practice. This applies to schools, companies and individuals alike. Today, sustainability is not a question of whether we recycle plastic bottles, it is all about our choices – our energy consumption, our retail choices, and our food choices. According to a recent article published by World Economic Forum [see here], 75 per cent of millennials and Gen-Zs would choose sustainable brands.”

Asha Alexander, Principal GEMS Legacy School and Executive Leader - Climate Change, GEMS Education says, “Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. By virtue of Vision 2021, the UAE is already aiming to be sustainable in all ways by striving to diversify its income resources by moving away from oil. The UAE is constantly seeking to become a global hub and a successful model of the new green economy. In light of all this, this announcement of calling 2023 the ‘Year of Sustainability’ is indeed aptly timed as we as a community embrace a low-carbon lifestyle and make real differences for the planet and people."