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29 March 2024

Abu Dhabi’s green investments

Published
By Nissar Hoath

 

 

 

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (Ead) has urged all business sectors in the emirate to fulfill their commitments of investments in environmental protection initiatives.

The agency said Arab Environment Ministers Council has approved last month's Abu Dhabi Declaration on Corporate Responsibility and Cleaner Production, calling for investments in environment protection efforts.

The declaration was made during the Arab Corporate Environmental Responsibility Summit held in Abu Dhabi last month.

More than 120 chief executives representing major business sectors from the Arab world attended the summit and made commitments of abiding by corporate responsibility of cleaner production.

The declaration called for Cleaner Production and Green Production methods to be preferred options. It also called for the integration of environmental considerations in internal and external operations and adopt preventive environmental strategies at all levels of business.

"The protection of the environment is the responsibility of all business sectors. They have to contribute to environmental protection efforts and need to invest towards this," Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of Ead, told Emirates Business.

The official further added that the agency is working with business sectors to implement Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) policy and the Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) at the emirate level so the protection of environment is guaranteed in the process of business activities.
 

"Financial achievement should not be the only goal of companies. Their corporate responsibilities should also be environmental protection and social development. The environment, health and safety management must be considered in any new project," he added.


Al Mansouri further said Ead, through its activities and projects in environmental management and sustainable development, aims to ensure human health and safety, protection of the environment and conservation of its natural resources. "This can be achieved by setting the appropriate mechanisms to prevent pollution and minimize negative impacts resulting from different development activities in the Emirate."

Under the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which will be implemented throughout the country, all companies will adopt 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.

The declaration also makes it necessary for all companies to set a target of 20 per cent 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.