25 November 2013
Eng. Hamdan Al Shaer, Director of the Environment Department of Dubai Municipality on Monday has inaugurated the first Environmental Awareness Forum in Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai.
The forum was organized by Dubai Municipality in cooperation with the Environment Center for Arab Towns and with the participation of a number of authorities in the field of environment awareness.
' A group of specialist in the environmental awareness work has exchanged their knowledge and expertise in the field through different sessions of the forum which in turn will contribute directly in promoting opportunities for developing strategy and joint opinion among the participants in the activities of the forum.
'From its inception Dubai Municipality started to concrete the concepts of environmental awareness in all sectors of the emirate of Dubai. Today we would like to crown these constant efforts with this unique gathering with experts and specialists to achieve a national responsibility put on our shoulders by HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE,' Al Shaer said.
'The Environment Department has decided to focus on a set of aims to be achieved by the end of this forum which includes creating the high level of environmental awareness for the employees in the sectors of education, government departments and municipalities and to develop their capacities to enable them to spread the environmental etiquettes among the society. The forum is also aimed at promoting the leading role of Dubai Municipality in the efforts to preserve the environment and its leadership in organizing and sponsoring the forums and conferences to serve the targets of sustainable environment,' he said.
'The environmental awareness in the emirate of Dubai has been increasing every year as it reached to 88.1% in 2011 from 67% in 2009 indicating the success of environmental initiatives executed by the civic body such as awareness classes, competitions, distribution of leaflets and handbooks, conducting forums, conferences, debates in addition to public awareness programs in different channels of the media,' he explained.
'During the last year 160 lectures and workshops were conducted. 12 local and international environmental occasions were celebrated. 12 exhibitions were organized in addition to printing and distributing more than 10,000 awareness publications in various subjects of environmental issues. Its major initiatives include the Car Free Day aimed at reducing carbon emission and spreading the culture of public transport promoting the cooperation with other government bodies in the field,' he further said.
'The young generation is our main focus through this forum as they are obliged to save the earth for the future generation. The civic body has great hop in the capabilities of the new generation to support its environmental initiatives to create the best place to live in the world,' he hoped.
The forum included two lectures delivered by Dr. Hoshyar Nooruddeen from the Canadian University of Dubai under the title "The role of media in spreading environmental awareness" and by Prof. Amer Salemin about the role of environmental film in promoting environmental education.
Dr. Mohammed Jassem al- Ali from the UAE University presented a lecture under the title "Environmental awareness through an educational point of view". A lecture was delivered on "Curriculum development and environmental programs in schools and universities" by Dr. Tawfiq Saleh from the UAE University.
Ms. Fawzia al-Mahmoud from the Environment Agency presented a paper under the title "Sustainable Schools". In addition a lecture by Prof. Alia Murr from Dubai Educational Zone titled "Writing and reading on an environmental perspective. Mr. Sultan Al Zaabi from Dubai Electricity and Water presented a paper titled "The efforts of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority in the rationalization of electricity and water consumption". Mrs. Dima Muaytah from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) delivered the title " Environmental awareness and corporate social responsibility".
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© Press Release 2013
