Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, has asserted that current consumption patterns are major challenges to the move towards sustainable development in the region and beyond. The minister noted that present consumption rates are exceeding the Earth's regeneration capacity and undermine the global community's efforts to achieve sustainable growth.

In a press statement on the occasion of World Environment Day celebrations, Dr. Rashid said that unsustainable consumption patterns are mainly responsible for the many environmental problems faced by society, such as pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. He also stated that in light of this information, it has become more urgent to reconsider on-going patterns of production and consumption.

He explained that the event theme, ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Let's Consume with Care' addresses the growing concern posed by the irresponsible consumption of resources and the need to move towards sustainable patterns of consumption. This is especially vital as the latest studies predict that the world's population will reach nine billion by 2050, which means that current consumption patterns will require three Earths to meet demands.

The Minister said that the excessive consumption of resources in the UAE may be more severe compared with other regions in the world as a result of comprehensive development initiatives, population growth, and improved income levels. He noted the limited environmental resources in the country which are highly sought after by both the general population and various development sectors. The effects of over-consumption can be seen through noticeable indicators such as the country's ecological footprint, fresh water uptake, waste production, and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are being recorded at levels higher than the global average.

Concerned authorities within the UAE have joined forces to combat these negative effects through the development of programs and initiatives that focus on two main areas. The first component aims to mitigate the negative environmental impact associated with traditional patterns of consumption. This objective will be realized through the enhancement of existing legislation meant to regulate economic development and human activities that could potentially harm the environment. Improvements include adopting green policies, promoting the use of renewable and alternative energy, exploring carbon capture and storage techniques, advocating cleaner production, pursuing green architecture, and implementing sustainable transport. This goal can also be achieved by fostering essential national values for enhancing the water and energy efficiency of household appliances, reviewing modern agricultural and irrigation patterns, and establishing ecologically conscious economic habits.

Mr bin Fahad specifically referred to the UAE Strategy for Green Development, under which the green economy approach was adopted in the context of sustainable development. He noted that this strategy is crucial to gaining a deeper understanding of the value of imported and exported goods and services harnessed from the ecosystem, and thus provides a better assessment of natural capital's actual value in the process of decision making and in the context of financial accounting systems. This is an important element in the effort to create sustainable consumption patterns through integration with the economic mechanism.

The second path focuses on raising awareness on sustainable consumption patterns among various segments of society. In addition to the approved awareness programs instigated by participating organizations, the UAE has launched a set of important programs over the past few years such as the Ecological Footprint, Green Applications, Heroes of the UAE, Sustainable Universities and Schools, and My Environment is My National Responsibility Initiatives. Aside from these, there have also been several national campaigns conducted such as a ‘Day Without Paper' and ‘Car Free Day,' as the implementation of a wide range of national awareness drives disseminated throughout the year. He commended the vital role of competent environmental authorities, stakeholders and civil society organizations in raising awareness on environmental issues in the UAE.

The positive results of the initiatives that have been implemented over the years have only begun to surface. The best example of this is the reduction of ecological footprint per capita in the UAE from 11.8 global hectares in 2006 to 7.75 global hectares in 2014, as well as the slide in greenhouse gas emissions per capita from 39.5 tons in 1994 to 20.6 tons in 2012. The positive trend is expected to continue over the next few years with the completion of many essential projects in the field of renewable energy, nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and waste management.

In addition, the programmes of the UAE National Agenda and Strategy for Green Development along with other strategic plans of different sectors are currently being developed and implemented. With these agendas in place, the coming period will witness the emergence of tools and programs that will complement the main priorities and directives of the recently adopted National Environmental Education and Awareness Strategy. It will also utilize the National Innovation Strategy to find more novel solutions towards environmental preservation.

He further emphasised that members of society should be aware of their responsibility to the environment and its resources which collectively form an integral component for economic prosperity and the social well-being of UAE residents. He referred to UAE Vision 2021, underlining "the importance of embodying our collective responsibilities to promote and maintain appropriate lifestyle choices."

In conclusion, the Minister pointed out the pivotal role of individuals in avoiding excessive consumption and its negative effects. He noted that the success of government initiatives hinges on the conscious and committed participation of each member of society. H.E Bin Fahad ended his speech by calling on everyone to be personally accountable for the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.
Source: WAM