Day: November 5, 2021

GLASGOW-UK, The UAE has endorsed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use that commits countries to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while advancing sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.

Over 90 countries have supported the declaration at the COP26 Leaders’ Action on Forests and Land Use Event during the World Leaders’ Summit. The forum convened governments, companies, financial actors, and non-state leaders to raise ambition on forests and land use in a way that delivers for the climate, people, economic development, and biodiversity.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “When forests are lost and land is degraded, we are at a risk of losing the countless services these vital ecosystems offer, such as providing critical habitats for biodiversity and acting as natural carbon sinks to regulate climate at the forefront. We believe in the multilateral process as key to solving global challenges. Therefore, the UAE has endorsed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, and will work with other like-minded nations to end and reverse forest loss and land degradation worldwide. We urge all leaders to join forces in the global transition to sustainable land use.”

In the fight against land degradation, the UAE reinforces its blue carbon ecosystems – coastal vegetation such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. Mangrove forests serve as powerful carbon sinks that sequester CO2 and enhance environmental resilience, thus offering considerable climate change mitigation and adaption benefits as well as providing critical habitats for biodiversity.

To expand its blue carbon ecosystems, the country has committed to planting 30 million mangroves by 2030 in its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The UAE has rolled out the National Blue Carbon Project that aims to enhance understanding about carbon storage and other services provided by the coastal ecosystems in the country. The project provides options for integrating these learnings into policy and management, leading to the sustainable use of these ecosystems and their services, and their preservation for future generations.

The UAE is employing modern technologies and innovative solutions in its efforts to combat land degradation, including leveraging drones to map agricultural areas and sow tree seeds to reduce sand encroachment. Drones have helped disperse 6 million acacia seeds and 250,000 ghaf seeds across 25 sites nationwide.

In addition, the UAE is leveraging highly innovative drone planting technology to sow mangrove seeds. This goal is supported by the ambitious Plantation Rehabilitation Program that involves the rehabilitation of all types of plants, especially rare species and those on the brink of extinction.

The country is currently establishing the Abu Dhabi Plant Genetic Resources Centre (Gene Bank) that will be the largest in the region with a capacity to store 20,000 samples once completed in 2022. The facility aims to preserve plant biological diversity in the UAE and the wider region, and to help reproduce it in nature.

Recognizing that protected areas play a key role in conserving endangered species and their habitats, the UAE has 49 protected areas that account for 15.5 percent of the country’s territory.

To guide the country’s efforts to protect and restore its natural environment, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) is updating the National Strategy to Combat Desertification that focuses on preserving ecosystems and mitigating the effects of desertification.

To boost community participation in the government’s drive to protect and restore the natural habitats of indigenous flora, MOCCAE launched the Gheras app, offering the public access to a complete database of local plant species and ways to care for them.

The Ministry is also working on the UAE Smart Map of Natural Capital using remote sensing that will inform policies and decision-making on land use, investment, and business improvement in line with the country’s economic vision and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The high-resolution map will identify local biodiversity-rich ecosystems and services they provide to the environment, in addition to an economic valuation of these services.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Abu Dhabi Aviation will provide three helicopters for logistical support and air ambulance services to the Abu Dhabi Desert Rally.

Nader Ahmed Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation, stated, “Abu Dhabi Aviation seeks to secure elements of strength and safety for the success of this year’s Desert Rally by providing air support for the global event by providing three advanced helicopters (Bell 412 and 212). They will be used for logistical support and air ambulance purposes, in addition to search and rescue operations.”

He added, “This makes the participation of the Abu Dhabi Aviation’s aircraft vital in giving contestants and observers a sense of safety. Our presence is considered a key element of the rally’s success given the harsh environmental conditions represented by the Emirates desert, especially that the Abu Dhabi Desert Rally is the longest in the Middle East.”

Al Hammadi stressed that Abu Dhabi is witnessing a quantum leap in the world championships it hosts. The Abu Dhabi Desert Rally brings together senior drivers and riders worldwide to participate in a real test of skill and ability to win world titles.

“The company has set its sights on supporting sports and athletes and has participated in this event for years. We offer our expertise over 47 years to make this major global sporting event a success, through our modern aircraft and highly experienced pilots and engineers.”

Al Hammadi said in conclusion, “The company appreciates the role of those in charge of the Abu Dhabi Desert Rally. We take this opportunity to express our great appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra region, for sponsoring this global event. We also thank the Emirates Automobile Club, headed by Mohammed bin Sulayem, for organizing this event, which contributes to directing the world’s attention to the UAE.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, Breastfeeding is instrumental to the health and well-being of babies at the start of their lives and development, affirmed Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Honorary President of Breastfeeding Friends Society.

”If you are a woman who has breastfed your baby, you will know that nothing beats the experience of meeting your baby’s gaze during this particular time. The bond created is unique – a special divine language between mother and infant, without the need for words. You are communicating physically, mentally, and spiritually with your baby,” said Sheikha Bodour in an article to mark the UAE National Week of Breastfeeding.

She said, “As your baby’s tiny hands rest on your body during breastfeeding, their sense of security increases and an everlasting bond is formed. This divine bond is the foundation for a solid and happy family. Strong and happy families are the heart of secure, well-functioning societies.

“This is why it is essential to encourage the work being done by various associations such as the Sharjah Breastfeeding Friends Society, which does everything it can to help educate and support women during this precious time. It ties in perfectly with the mission and aims of the UAE National Week of Breastfeeding (4th to 10th November), which in turn aligns with this year’s World Health Organisation (WHO) call for making breastfeeding a shared responsibility by all at all levels.

“I believe breastfeeding is instrumental to the health and well-being of babies at the start of their lives and for their development. There are benefits for mothers too. Several studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and even breast and ovarian cancers. This is further evidence that we should communicate its benefits and do everything we can to support mothers during this period.

“This centuries’ long wisdom of breastfeeding has been challenged by varying alternatives, particularly the creation of infant milk formulas. Sponsored studies extol its benefits, together with publicity campaigns targeted specifically towards mothers. These campaigns use clever messaging to try and link using milk formula with women’s empowerment and emancipation. To me, these are false prophets.

“Now more than ever, the importance of building a healthy immune system is vital. Breastmilk plays a significant role in developing robust health. In addition, we are living through a pandemic with no end in sight for the time being. This means we need to do everything we can to strengthen our bodies to fight against infection.

“According to UNICEF, the good news is that COVID is extremely unlikely to be passed onto babies, even if the mother has the virus. Is that not a miracle in itself? “A COVID-19 infected mother does not need to worry about infecting her baby if she takes certain precautions such as hand-washing and wearing a mask while feeding. The benefits hugely outweigh the very slight risk. A UNICEF spokesperson recently remarked that breastmilk is like a baby’s first vaccine, ‘with all the essential nutrients, antibodies, hormones and antioxidants that help boost their immune system and provide protection against many infections.’ “But, despite the multitude of benefits, for baby and mother, some women still face many obstacles to breastfeeding as mothers struggle to find the time and the suitable space to fulfil this natural duty. So, creating comfortable, hygienic, and private spaces for new mothers, whether at the office, or the shopping mall, should be a priority. There is no reason why women should suffer the indignity of desperately searching for somewhere to feed their baby or to express milk.

“In my home of Sharjah, we made making the emirate baby-friendly a priority because human development is an essential pillar of our overall development strategy. Since 2012, we have focused on making it easier for women to breastfeed in healthcare centres and public spaces such as workplaces, museums, restaurants, and parks. The initiative went hand in hand with the WHO’s campaign and is committed to supporting women before and after delivering babies. Sharjah has also prioritised training its healthcare workers and even prevented advertising for milk substitutes in healthcare centres. These efforts culminated in Sharjah being recognised as a baby-friendly city and officially by UNICEF as Child-Friendly City in 2019. While we are honoured with these recognitions, we are most delighted that the number of women breastfeeding their child at six months has tripled over five years. That is true impact! “I am proud of the work we are doing in Sharjah to support natural breastfeeding. I hope we are setting the right example for other emirates and countries to follow. We believe that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, as the African proverb goes. Mothers cannot be expected to shoulder all the responsibility for the health of our nation. We should all support women going through the early years of child-rearing because it is in the interests of society as a whole. Even though bringing children into the world is extremely rewarding, it can be a very challenging time for women, so everyone, including governments and the private sector, should ensure breastfeeding is an easy and enjoyable experience for mothers.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Sabeel Fountains, a series of almost 40 aesthetically eye-catching drinking fountains designed to both refresh and wow visitors to the world’s biggest cultural gathering, can be found across the public spaces of the Expo 2020 site.

From one fountain designed to resemble a beautiful letterbox, complete with an embossed letter by its artist, to another that features a mini ‘natural world’, the innovative Sabeel Fountains are contemporary artistic interpretations of the traditional Emirati drinking fountain – sabeel. They reflect the country’s heritage and its spirit of hospitality, tolerance and generosity.

The initiative is a collaboration between Expo 2020 and Art Jameel that began in September 2019, with the Sabeel 2020 open call. The design contest, which received more than 100 proposals, was overseen by an internationally renowned jury, who selected and awarded two design collaboratives – UAE-based creative studio Architecture + Other Things and design team Faissal El-Malak and Alia Bin Omair.

Their designs, Water in the Green and Nahel respectively, collectively known as Signature Fountains, have been reproduced, with a total of 37 fountains throughout the public spaces of Expo 2020. Water in the Green combines robust materials with plants that highlight Expo 2020’s aim to be the most sustainable World Expo in history, while Nahel features motifs of humankind, nature and technology connecting in harmony, illustrating Expo’s subthemes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability.

Expo 2020 also invited two contemporary artists, Nasir Nasrallah and Dana Awartani, to create iconic larger drinking fountains, known as Artistic Fountains. Nasrallah’s Letter to Water can be seen as a love letter to water, while Awartani’s The Well resembles a stone well.

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Through these beautiful and innovatively designed drinking fountains, we invite visitors to take a moment to pause as they quench their thirst and consider their own connection to this most precious resource. The Sabeel Fountains also offer an unmissable opportunity for the public to discover UAE and regional design talent.”

The Sabeel Fountains invite millions of visitors to discover the centuries-old tradition of how, through public drinking fountains, Emiratis share their water with people in need. The fountains will leave a lasting impact as part of the next World Expo’s legacy, living on after Expo’s doors close as part of the human-centric future city of District 2020.

Antonia Carver, Director, Art Jameel, said: “It is exciting to see our collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai come to fruition. Alongside our exhibitions and learning programmes at Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai (and soon at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah), Art Jameel has a commitment to supporting artists and creative communities through collaborative projects. Water – and water and food futures – are embedded within our curatorial threads, shaped by a number of long-term, multi-year themes that manifest in commissions, among many other initiatives.”

The Sabeel Fountains are operating with enhanced health and safety measures, including the integration of hands-free sensor taps into all of the designs instead of push buttons, and the incorporation of bottle filler taps in lieu of bubblers.

Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 is inviting visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world during a six-month celebration of human ingenuity, innovation, progress and culture.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group, comprised of numerous federal and local UAE regulators and exchanges chaired by Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has issued a High-Level Statement on Sustainable Finance detailing their commitment to achieving the UAE’s sustainability objectives and the recently announced Net-Zero 2050 ambition as the first country in the MENA region.

The Statement was also issued on the side-lines of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), under the presidency of the United Kingdom and in partnership with Italy, wherein the UAE is a committed partner striving to safeguard the environment, drive down emissions and create lasting economic opportunity.

The Statement follows on from the UAE Core Regulators’ Group which began its work in 2019. It builds upon the commitments set out in the UAE Guiding Principles on Sustainable Finance, published in 2020, which serve to guide the implementation and integration of consistent sustainable practices among the UAE’s financial entities, contributing to the health and resilience of the nation’s economy.

The UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group issuing the Statement, now operates in an expanded forum to scale up the development of sustainable finance policies in the UAE. It includes the UAE Ministry of Economy, the UAE Ministry of Finance, the Office of the UAE’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Central Bank of the UAE, the Securities and Commodities Authority, ADGM, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai Financial Market, and Nasdaq Dubai.

The Statement sets a clear and much needed roadmap for the participating authorities to contribute to the UAE’s sustainable and climate change objectives, outlined in global frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which the UAE is fully supporting, and the nation’s own UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative.

Outlined in the Statement are three key deliverables the UAE authorities will strive to achieve to give a concrete expression to these international commitments. The deliverables include: a targeted study aimed at encouraging consistent Environmental Social and Governance corporate disclosure standards across the UAE, examining how to strengthen good corporate governance by UAE companies to contribute to driving the sustainability agenda, and, crucially, develop a UAE taxonomy of sustainable activities, which constitutes a major milestone defining the path for economic transition to sustainable development.

The implementation of the deliverables will be achieved through both legislative and non-legislative means and in coordination with the authorities on the monitoring and technical support required to incorporate sustainability into regulatory frameworks.

The directives set out in the Statement follow the establishment of the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group in 2019, now comprising a range of regulatory authorities, exchanges, governmental bodies, and ministries in the UAE in charge of developing environmentally sustainable finance policies.

The Statement is also an advancement in the authorities’ development of the UAE Guiding Principles on Sustainable Finance, which serve to guide the implementation and integration of consistent sustainable practices among the UAE’s financial entities, contributing to the health and tenacity of the nation’s economy.

Source: Emirates News Agency