Minister of Climate Change and Environment underlines UAE’s commitment to tackling its carbon footprint at 4th Ajman International Environment Conference

AJMAN, 3rd March, 2016 (WAM) -- The Emirate of Ajman is fast establishing itself as a regional leader in the promotion of business and community environmental initiatives as the 4th Ajman International Environment Conference, AIEC 2016, opened yesterday under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman. The importance of the event was underlined in a guest speech by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who acknowledged that the UAE’s rapid economic development has created a negative impact on the environment. "Over 70% of the urban areas that have contributed to our buoyant economy have also increased our consumption of energy, water and production of waste. This has, in turn, improved our awareness of sustainable social development and our environmental responsibilities in doing so. To improve our environment and natural resources we must take part in the solution and we have therefore taken steps on a national level to reduce our carbon footprint and eliminate our negative environmental impact," he said. The UAE faces environmental issues that could well become bigger in future. AIEC 2016 is sending a clear message, both throughout the region and globally, that Ajman and the UAE are taking these issues seriously. Commenting on the approach of the conference, Ted Cooke, Business Development Director of conference sponsor, Science Target, said, "Each of Ajman’s International Environment Conferences over the last four years has become stronger, with every year producing recommendations for our environment that will be beneficial to all of our communities in future." The theme of the two-day conference this year is ‘Smart Cities and Green Innovation', a theme that is being addressed by globally-recognised academics and captains of industry, delivering powerful keynote addresses and dialogue on Ajman’s heritage of development and best practices, urban design geared towards smart low-carbon precincts, change in the conceptualisation of urban water supply systems, as well as green infrastructure. AIEC 2016, being held until Thursday 4th March at the Sheikh Zayed Centre for Conferences and Exhibitions, Ajman University of Science and Technology, is a crucial lynchpin in promoting environmentally sustainable practices. Speaking about the significance of this year’s conference theme, Khalid Mueen Al Hosani, Executive Director of the Public Health and Environment Sector, Municipality and Planning Department of Ajman, said, "This year, we were very keen to bring together global academic experts to share perspectives on a variety of environmental issues unique to Ajman and the wider UAE. By doing this, particularly from a scientific approach, we continue to address the challenges, strategies and innovative solutions for ever more sustainable and ‘smarter’ smart cities." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292302377.html