"The authorities are falling short in implementing sustainable solutions, especially in waste management and water conservation," the environmentalist, who asked not to be named, said yesterday.
"Public awareness is another issue not tackled well, especially among the youth. It is heartbreaking to see how easily they dump cans and other waste at open beaches."
More than a year has passed since the Abu Dhabi Municipality announced it will start a solid-waste management plan involving residents, aimed at separate garbage collection.
The plan's objective was to minimise waste generation and separate it at the source to maximise its potential for reuse and recycling, ensuring appropriate disposal in accordance with the waste type.
After more than three years since the first technical trial, however, the plan has not been implemented.
"Public education on reducing, reusing and recycling waste should start at once, especially among the youth, for positive long-term results. People should be made aware of the importance of recycling for environmental protection and human health," Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Qubaisi, general manager of the Abu Dhabi Compost Plant, told Gulf News more than a year ago urging authorities to implement the initiative. Despite repeated queries, nobody was available at the municipality yesterday to comment.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Research and Wild-life Development Agency (Erwda) yesterday celebrated the World Environment Day under the theme 'Wanted! Seas and Oceans Dead or Alive?'
"The theme wants us to make a choice how we want to treat seas and oceans," said a spokesperson. "It also calls on all of us to act. Do we want to keep the seas healthy and alive or polluted and dead?"
The organisation held a series of activities with Abu Dhabi schools to raise awareness among the population, specially children. Fifty students marched with fishermen in Mina Zayed to raise awareness.
Students from Al Noor Indian Islamic School and the Abu Dhabi Indian School held placards with messages about saving the seas written in Urdu, Arabic, Gujarati and English. They spoke to fishermen, followed by a clean-up campaign of the shore by the fishermen, students and Erwda officials.
Erwda is also supporting a series of activities organised by Abu Dhabi Indian school for primary and middle school students, including an environmental film, drawing and colouring competitions and a short-story competition all on the same theme.
GREEN FUTURE
World Environment Day celebrations
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment.
The aim is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnerships to ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
World Environment Day is a people event and includes street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essay competitions and tree planting as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns.
Gulf News
