Mohammed approves air quality network

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a proposal to set up a UAE-wide air quality network that will monitor standarised environmental data gathered from across the country.

Sheikh Mohammed also gave directives for completing relevant studies on the proposal and preparing for launching it as a project in the near future.

The proposal was approved during a brainstorming session organised by the Ministry of Environment and Water at the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation.

Sheikh Mohammed said, "A healthy environment and clean air are among the good things the UAE and its people deserve to be given by us. We have to race against time innovating more sustainable solutions." 

Sheikh Mohammed  stressed that the preservation and protection of clean and safe environment are among his priorities that he personally follows up as they affect the health and life quality of society and therefore are above any other consideration.

"My brother, the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is walking in the steps of the founding father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the field of environmental preservation, and contributes to international efforts to execute a strategy for green economy and a national strategy for green development, as well as the launching of giant projects that serve our people and all humanity and conserve natural resources," Sheikh Mohammed said.

Sheikh Mohammed also noted the importance of the role of the private sector as a partner sharing this responsibility and supporting these environmental initiatives and projects aimed at achieving a pollution-free environment that preserves the health and safety of society.

Urging government departments and experts to put forth feasible proposals, Sheikh Mohammed said, "This requires you to go to the field, interact with people and get a firsthand experience of the environmental challenges in order to find suitable solutions to them. We look forward to seeing an expansion of dialogue and your coming up with unprecedented ideas that encompass all environmental issues, the most important of which are UAE citizens and our natural resources."  He asked that all concerned communicate with experts, identify the challenges and  work to resolve any issues.

Present at the brainstorming gathering were Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of Dubai's Protocol Department, and other officials.

Last year, Sheikh Mohammed gave directives to all federal government departments to embrace the experience of "Government Innovation Lab" as a standard practice in order to develop government services.

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