Environmental Group (EEG), the UAE’s leading environmental organisation, has today (Wednesday, October 14, 2009) launched the eighth edition of "Clean Up UAE" during a press conference at the Movenpick Hotel. EEG’s Clean Up UAE campaign, which will be held on December 12, 2009, is part of a greater initiative to encourage individuals and organisations to be more responsible towards the upkeep and wellbeing of the environment, and is in line with the EEG’s ongoing efforts to gather comprehensive grassroots support in the global campaign against environmental degradation and climate change.

EEG quoted a recent report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) entitled "Climate Change Science Compendium 2009", which revealed disturbing facts about damaging irreversible changes that are happening in planet earth. EEG pointed out that in the Middle East, particularly the GCC, the negative effects of environmental degradation can compound the region’s persistent scarcity of water supply, which is already strained on account of wide spread development initiatives and a rapidly growing population.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG commented: "These are very crucial times in our continuing efforts to protect the environment. Leading scientists from all over the world have urgently warned of more catastrophic consequences if actions are not immediately taken to prevent the continued degradation of our planet. In fact, many of the issues that our society is facing now, including the increasing scarcity of water and climate change, are in one way or another related to the lack of concern towards the environment."

"Waste disposal is a very fundamental factor that contributes in damaging the environment; however, it is also in this category where literally all people can contribute positively by being more responsible in managing their wastes. Emirates Environmental Group strongly believes that we can make a huge difference if we reach deeper into the grassroots level in our campaign to promote responsible waste disposal and the ’Clean Up UAE’ campaign provides an excellent venue to deliver our message to a wider range of audiences all over the country," added Al Marashi.

Ms. Fawzia Al Mahmoud, Director of Environmental Education in Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi said "Apart from our efforts in EAD to promote environmental citizenship through increasing awareness about the risks of pollution and the importance of preserving the environment and its basic elements, we put the issue of waste as one of the most important priorities within the framework of our strategies. Hence we are pleased to continue cooperating with the Emirates Environmental Group in organizing the Clean Up UAE Campaign in Abu Dhabi." Ms. Hana Al Suwaidi Director of Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah said "We participate in this national event because of its significant impact on the preservation and protection of the UAE environment; as UAE is one of the major hubs of development and sustainability," The importance of this event is also to bring together the varied communities to protect the environment as part of a major national effort addressing the various environmental challenges we are facing".

"With the increasing awareness about global warming, we must do everything we can to alleviate the burden that has been placed on our environment, and this is one of the reasons why RAK Free Trade Zone is always happy to support EEG’s environmental campaigns. RAK FTZ has been participating in EEG’s clean up campaigns for several years now, we find that this kind of interactive participations is a great way of educating the public and creates environmental awareness for the whole community." Oussama El Omari, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone said.

Ms. Fatima Al Mualla the Coordinator of the Campaign from Umm Al Quwain Municipality considers "Clean Up UAE campaign as one of the major campaigns that we seek to participate in with Emirates Environmental Group, as it brings together government and private institutions and schools at all levels. We are keen to support campaigns that work to educate the community and encourage voluntary work, besides providing committed service to the local environment and working towards the preservation of its cleanliness and safety. " Clean Up UAE has been a groundbreaking initiative by EEG that has gathered thousands of participants annually since its inauguration in 2002. The activity seeks to break social barriers in encouraging the government, business establishments, schools, colleges, civil society organisations and all other members of the society to support and join in the cause for the environment. Clean Up UAE will be simultaneously held in key locations all over the UAE, including parks, industrial areas, beaches, wadis, deserts and mountain ranges.

The EEG is the first environmental NGO to be given the ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system. The group operates in consonance with the UAE’s sustainable development plan.(C) 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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