Emirates Association for Nature .. From a local initiative for a regional and international platform to face climate challenges

Abu Dhabi, June 4/ WAM/ The UAE celebrates the “World Environment Day 2025”, which falls on the fifth of June of each year, confirming its firm commitment to the protection of the environment and enhancing the process of sustainability in light of the growing environmental challenges globally.

This year’s celebrations bears the slogan “overcoming plastic pollution”, as the state highlights its relentless efforts to reduce plastic pollution, and enhance societal awareness of the importance of a transformation towards environmentally friendly alternatives, within its national orientation towards the circular economy and sustainable development.

The activities held on this occasion include organizing awareness campaigns, educational workshops, and community environmental initiatives, with the wide participation of government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions and civil society, with the aim of stimulating active participation in protecting the environment and reducing the environmental footprint.

In this context, the Emirates Association for Nature, in cooperation with the International Fund for Nature, celebrates the 25th anniversary of its establishment, renewing its commitment to protecting environmental systems in the country and the region, drawing inspired by its vision from the legacy of the founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God rest his soul”, in preserving the environment and preserving biological diversity.

On this occasion, the UAE renews emphasizing its leadership role regionally and internationally in climate work, and its endeavor to build a more sustainable and flexible future based on innovation and active partnerships, and achieves a balance between environmental protection and achieving economic growth.
Laila Mustafa Abdel Latif, Director General of the Association, confirmed in a statement to Emirates News Agency “WAM”, that the march that started in 2001 as a local initiative developed today to a national platform related to the global environmental movement, and plays a growing role at the regional and global levels, to transfer the lessons learned and successful partnerships from the Emirates to the world.
She said that the association was launched with the aim of protecting the natural heritage of the state, and succeeded over a quarter of a century in establishing a model based on science, society and cooperation, noting that the association is now seeking to generalize this model in the Asia Pacific region through strategic projects and partnerships.

She pointed out that the UAE’s recent hosting of the Asia Regional Conference and the Pacific “AP25” of the World Nature Fund with the participation of representatives of 30 regional offices, is a detailed station to confirm the UAE’s role in supporting joint environmental work.
Abdel -Latif reviewed a number of the most prominent achievements of the association, which included the development of long -term scientific solutions in the areas of nature and climate in cooperation with various sectors, noting that work to protect ecosystems and enhance water and food security, and inspire individuals to become themselves as ambassadors of nature.

She explained that the association implemented pioneering field initiatives with the participation of thousands of young individuals and volunteers such as “Leadership of Change Program” and “Communication with Nature”, and participated in pivotal projects such as blue carbon reviews, restoring traditional irrigation systems and smart agriculture climatic, and developing models of environmental tourism in line with the announcement of the year 2024 “the year of society.”
On the association’s role in enhancing climate flexibility, she said that climate change and the loss of biological diversity constitute interconnected challenges, noting that 83% of global disasters during the past decade were caused by extremist weather.

She emphasized that the association is working through the initiative “enhancing the flexibility of societies in front of climate change” to find integrated solutions linking climate adaptation, reducing disaster dangers and adopting nature -based solutions.

She explained that these solutions include “restoring coral reefs and crop trees to protect the coast”, “re -afforestation and water management to ensure water security”, “support for smart agriculture and sustainable fishing led by women and youth.”
Abdel Latif stressed that charitable work must turn from response to crises to preventive investment, noting the importance of directing financing towards enhancing the flexibility of societies and protecting ecosystems before the worsening crises.

She explained that the association, through its partnerships within the Alliance of the World Nature Fund for the Asia and the Pacific region (AP25), is working to develop partnership models based on the principle of “from Asia and Asia”, to ensure support to the most vulnerable societies before they turn into large -scale disasters.
She emphasized that the association plans to expand the scope of its successful projects locally and adapt it internationally with the aim of achieving a double and sustainable impact, pointing out that the association believes that building a sustainable environmental future requires a comprehensive partnership that brings together governments, the private sector and civil society while enabling young energies.

Abdul Latif added that the association, thanks to a quarter of a century of field work and active partnerships, is looking forward to be part of international environmental solutions, and contributes to the consolidation of the environmental leadership of the UAE, not only locally but on the international scene.

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