Further emphasizing the need to save the planet, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has extended the Year of Sustainability into 2024.
Photo: Wam
This week, UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan took the opportunity of the country’s National Environment Day to announce the continuation of the Year of Sustainability into 2024. The move builds on the success of last year’s theme, which was launched on January 20, and reaffirms “the nation’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for all.” In his statement on X, formerly Twitter, the president added that the decision stressed the country’s efforts to “protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of future generations.”
On the occasion of National Environment Day, we announce that the Year of Sustainability is extended into 2024, reflecting our ongoing collective commitment to protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of future generations. Building on the UAE Consensus achieved at…
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) February 4, 2024
In its first 12 months, the Year of Sustainability helped promote the UAE’s values that revolve around saving our home planet, while encouraging residents and citizens to make behavioral changes to inspire collective progress. The year 2023 also saw the UAE become the first Middle Eastern country to host the global climate summit Cop28 at Dubai’s Expo City, where climate action, investing in green technology, and declaring a global climate finance framework were some of the topics on the agenda. “Building on the UAE Consensus achieved at Cop28, we will continue to work hand in hand with the global community to pursue a more sustainable future for all,” added HH Sheikh Mohamed in his statement. The summit concluded with dignitaries from around the world coming together to sign up for he UAE Consensus, which called for nations to start cutting back on fossil fuels to achieve net-zero goals by 2050.
The UAE has been on a path to a more sustainable future for a while now, particularly more so since 2021, when it became the first Gulf country to pledge to net-zero emissions by 2050 via its Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, which plans to invest AED 600 billion in clean and renewable energy sources over the next three decades.
