Public Policy Document

The UAE Environment Policy was issued in 2020 with the aim of enhancing the quality of life in the UAE, both now and in the future. This policy seeks to maintain a sustainable environment that supports long-term economic growth, implementing over 100 initiatives to enhance agricultural and animal resources, support production, and boost its contribution to the national economy, and employ technology to achieve sustainability. The importance of this policy lies in its role as one of the most critical tools for determining future directions in environmental and climate fields and improving them, in addition to ensuring the implementation of the UAE’s related commitments at both the regional and global levels.

1. Further enhance the quality of life in the UAE.
2. Promote economic diversification and prosperity.
3. Support the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
4. Preserve the UAE's ecosystems and the sustainability of its ecological resources.
5. Integrate climate change and biodiversity considerations into the relationship of entities and individuals with the UAE environment.
    

1. Mitigate the repercussions of climate change to support the UAE’s economic development priorities:
   • Climate change is considered one of the biggest challenges facing the world. Human activities associated with energy production, industry, transportation, agriculture, waste generation, and unsustainable consumption patterns have led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. Consequently, global average temperatures have risen by one degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. It is expected that the increasing emissions in the coming decades will lead to further temperature rises, melting of ice caps, and rising sea levels, resulting in more frequent and severe extreme weather conditions.
2. Preserve the natural environment:
   • Preserving natural resources and their sustainable use is central to the culture of the UAE. This reflects a strong connection to nature and natural resources, supporting harmonious and nature-compatible living. The UAE's diverse desert, mountainous, and coastal environments, coupled with rapid development and high population density along the coast, encompass urban areas, human settlements, industrial and agricultural lands, including cultivated forests.
3. Improve air quality:
   • Air quality is a top priority in the UAE due to its health, economic, and environmental impacts. Air quality is crucial for human well-being and directly affects human health, the environment, and the economy. The UAE places special emphasis on air quality, highlighted in the UAE Vision 2021 and the national agenda aiming to improve air quality levels to 90% by 2021.
4. Strengthen and ensure the safety of food products and the diversity of their sources:
   • Food safety is a cornerstone of the food diversity and security system. Given the UAE's reliance on imported food and agricultural products to meet the majority of its population's needs, having flexible and effective legislative and regulatory frameworks based on reliable scientific foundations for food safety is of utmost importance.
   • The UAE has established a regulatory and legislative framework for food safety that aligns with the systems of developed countries. This framework not only reflects the nation's esteemed position as a leading global hub for food and food products trade but also instills confidence among consumers and trading partners in the country's food safety standards.
5. Sustain local agricultural production and conserve its resources:
   • Agricultural development, especially sustainable development, constitutes a high priority due to its pivotal role in achieving food diversity and security, which have become strategic goals for most countries, particularly those with limited natural resources, especially water resources, or those facing severe challenges caused by climate change.
   • The UAE recognizes the importance of sustainable agriculture and development, the need to improve the quality and economic value of products, and the necessity of adapting to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity. Therefore, important policies and legislations are being developed at the national level, along with programs supporting productivity, ensuring adherence to health, safety, welfare, and security standards, and enhancing the contribution of this sector to the UAE's economy.
6. Sustain local animal production and ensure the optimal utilization of local natural resources:
   • Livestock in the UAE, including camels, cattle, horses, and falcons, represents a significant cultural heritage that influences the country's environmental landscape. 
   • This interest is particularly evident in addressing the risks associated with the transmission and spread of transboundary epidemic and infectious animal diseases, which account for approximately 58% of human pathogens and 73% of emerging zoonotic diseases. Additionally, there is an increasing focus on animal welfare and care, recognizing its positive impact on both animal productivity and product quality.
7. Enhance integrated waste management:
   • Waste is generated daily and more frequently than ever, with each individual in the UAE producing 585 kilograms of solid waste in 2019. A significant portion is currently disposed of in landfills, necessitating sustainable waste management practices based on integrated waste management principles through partnerships between the government, private sector, and community members.
   • In this regard, the relevant authorities in the UAE are working to address the pressures and challenges related to waste management through a variety of initiatives, measures, and procedures aimed primarily at reducing waste generation from its sources and increasing the rate of waste treatment.
   • This set of initiatives includes enhancing legislative, institutional, and regulatory frameworks, improving waste collection, sorting, and transportation processes, developing and establishing waste treatment and disposal facilities in line with the latest global standards, and promoting the waste recycling industry, transforming it from a burden into valuable resources and an important economic asset. This ensures the continuity of waste management operations in both normal conditions and during crises, emergencies, and disasters.
8. Promote environmentally sound management of chemicals:
   • Globalization, economic growth, and technological advancement have increased the quantity of chemicals in international trade, posing health and environmental risks associated with their improper and unsafe handling throughout their life cycle. Therefore, implementing sound chemical management in the UAE is a national priority.

1. Develop and implement projects to increase waste treatment, recycling, and conversion into energy.
2. Apply optimal management of chemicals throughout their life cycle.
3. Diversify food sources to cater to the needs and requirements of local consumers.
4. Manage the UAE’s greenhouse emissions and advance projects that contribute to reducing such emissions.
5. Protect natural ecosystems.
6. Support integrated livestock management.
7. Further improve air quality.
8. Promote sustainable agricultural production.
    

Government entities, private sector, academic institutions, research centers, and community members.