2009-11-22 21:25:53
WAM Abu Dhabi, Nov 22, 2009 (WAM) - Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), has said that they are working with Masdar to help minimize the effect of Ecological Footprint.

While interacting with foreign journalists on Sunday , he said that EAD was working to make the environment in the emirates more cleaner and adopted various measures.

The interactive session was organized by National Media Council and hosted by at Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR).

He said: "we are working on Environment Management Plan in Abu Dhabi and we don't give approval to those projects which are considered unsafe to human health and environment." We cancelled many projects which are perceived to endanger the climate and we have very stringent regulations to ensure hygiene," he said , adding that a number of departments are working to ensure health, safety and environment.

He said that Abu Dhabi was resorting on public transport and will bring train system to help conserve energy.

"We are making polices and conducting studies to reduce the climate change impact. Besides, we are transforming the urban structure and every city will have its own mini mall".

To a question, he said that EAD enjoys a strong backing by the leadership and fully supported by the government for implementing its policies.

Underlining the objectives of EAD, he said that its main objectives are to improve the quantity and the quality of water resources in Abu Dhabi, as well as improving the quality of air.

"We are working on climate change framework and have already set waste management policy and regulations. Moreover, we protect the society and environment from hazardous materials." Answering a question, he said that we are working on to conserve Abu Dhabi's biological diversity, to increase society's environmental awareness and to implement the environment, Health and Safety Management System.

We are also working on two major projects to tap solar energy for our future energy needs," he stated.

On water shortage, he said that Abu Dhabi has plenty of water resources and that "through better management, we could make optimal use of these resources." About water desalination, he said desalination plants are usually built within power generation.

He said that as Environmental Agency we are having big challenges to environmental protection as there is enormous development going on, so it is a big challenge for us and all the stake holders.

WAM/AMIR/MAB