In its 19th session held in Cairo, Egypt, the Arab Environment Ministers Council approved the Abu Dhabi Declaration on Corporate Responsibility and Cleaner Production. The declaration was issued as part of the ARAB CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY SUMMIT, which was held in Abu Dhabi on November 29, 2007 and attended by over 120 chief executives representing major business sectors from across the region. The Summit was organized by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), in cooperation with Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The initiative was also supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
The UAE delegation at the Arab Environment Ministers Council seesion was headed by UAE Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi. The Arab ministers called on Arab governments to not only commit to the declaration's recommendations but also to support its implementation.
The Declaration called for Cleaner Production and Green Production methods to be preferred options, as they are fundamental to competitiveness locally, regionally and internationally. It called for the integration of environmental considerations in our internal and external operations and adopt preventive environmental strategies at all levels of business.
It called for adopting innovative solutions that shift the priority from end-of-pipe to preventive strategies and supporting the provision of products and services that meet environmental and health standards. It called for a commitment to set a target of 20% reduction in the use of energy and water in the production of products per unit by the year 2012 from base year 2002, and strive to compete actively in the growing global environmental industries.
It also called for a commitment to complying with national and international environmental regulations applicable to our operations and business. Beyond compliance, we shall strive to develop and adopt voluntary targets and encourage our clients, partners and suppliers to do likewise.
The Declaration recommended that all corporations in the Arab World develop and publish statements of their environmental policies and the steps they have taken to promote the integration of environmental considerations into their operations. The Declaration also requested the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) to assist corporations operating in the Arab region to further the principles and goals of this declaration, through providing technical assistance, training and relevant information relating to best practices in achieving corporate environmental responsibility.
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For Further Information, Please Contact:
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
Environmental Education and Awareness Division
Laila Y. Al-Hassan or Sobhia El Masri
T: +9712 693-4638/637
F: +9712 681-7359
E: lalhasan@ead.ae or selmasri@ead.ae
© Press Release 2007
