Environment

H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, led the third meeting of the Coordinating Council of Municipal Affairs at Ajman Saray Hotel held in the presence of the Council members. At the start of the meeting, H.E. Bin Fahad welcomed the attendees to the event and commended their ongoing sustainable development efforts. He emphasized the importance of coordination among municipalities in implementing national projects, achieving the environmental agenda of UAE Vision 2021 through unified efforts, and adhering to existing legislations developed according to the vision of the wise UAE leaders.

During the meeting, the Council members studied the recommendations made during the sixth forum on the best practices in the field of municipal works organized by the Ministry of Environment and Water in June 2015. One of the recommendations is to strengthen the partnership between the municipalities and the business sector in order to better support the environment through creative methods. These innovative measures can be implemented through the development of a broader social responsibility policy and the establishment of a community information system for monitoring the private sectors participation in environmental growth and development. The forum also recommended visits by municipalities to the cities of different countries to learn their best practices, as well as the creation of a job position related to creativity and innovation in each municipality.

The attendees were briefed on the progress made by a team preparing the unified health guide through presentations of the groups work plan and draft manual. They also reviewed the achievements and proposed work plans of the UAE Building Code Committee over the past years.

Other points discussed during the meeting included fishery protection and development in light of the Ministry-issued Resolution No. 501 of 2015 on regulating fishing and marketing of the lethrinus nebulosus and siganus canaliculatus, during their reproduction season; and the evaluation of existing legislation protecting the countrys fish supply and related achievements for the first half of 2015.

Additionally, the Council members discussed the Environmental Performance Index, national indicators of air quality and related recommendations, waste management, and the second UAE Green Economy report.

They reviewed as well the Ozbati initiative, which aims to regulate animal barns, and its strategic environmental sustainability objectives, the prevention of the spread of agricultural pests and infectious animal diseases, and promotion of food safety and sustainability of domestic production.

The meeting also included discussions on how to further develop guidelines and standards for the Coordinating Council of Municipal Affairs. Participants proposed organizing the billboards across various facades to ensure the preservation of the architectural heritage and character of the city. They also discussed the directional belt proposal to reduce traffic accidents by putting reflective tape for night light hung on the camels necks and feet to prevent collision.

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