Meeting reviews environmental and climate change projects and recognizes Eng. Hussain Lootah The UAE Council for Climate Change and Environment held its second meeting in 2018 today (April 30) at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment headquarters. The meeting was presided over by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

The meeting kicked off with the awarding of His Excellency Eng. Hussain Lootah, former Director General of Dubai Municipality, in recognition of his exemplary services to municipal work and the environment during his tenure. Two new members, representing the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi and the private sector in Sharjah, were welcomed to the council.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, His Excellency Dr Al Zeyoudi said: “The Council, through these regular meetings, aspires to find solutions to the crucial environmental challenges faced by the UAE while maintaining economic growth and protecting cultural and civilizational heritage. It also aims to develop and implement a comprehensive and ambitious plan that will serve as a regional benchmark in dealing with climate change and the environment.”

During the meeting, Dr Thani underscored the importance of uniting efforts to support the SENIAR smart navigation application, the state-of-the-art app which provides users with easy-to-follow, accurate directions to their destinations across the UAE, cutting down travel time and distance and improving their daily commute.

Council members reviewed the progress of the first stage of the Integrated Waste Management Project which involves a biofuel production plant in Umm Al Quwain, which is projected to produce Refuse Derived Fuel, RDF, from solid waste.

Moreover, they were provided with an update of how the health sector is being affected by climate change in light of the National Climate Adaptation Program, which aims to ensure the UAE is best positioned to adapt to difficulties posed by climate change.

The council members discussed a proposal for the permitted concentration of particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), and reviewed the study that was conducted on the impact of such particles on the general health.

The Environmental Geographic Information System, launched by the ministry earlier this month, was also highlighted at the meeting. Moreover, the rules of implementation of the Federal Law No. 22 of 2016 to regulate the possession of dangerous animals were reviewed.