Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 04, 2020:   Since 1974, World Environment Day has been encouraging global awareness and action for the protection of our environment by preserving and protecting environmental resources, following sustainable practices, addressing climate change, promoting biodiversity and more. 

This day, specifically amidst the current global pandemic, offers an open invitation for all entities, institutions and individuals from the public and private sectors, to discuss the impact economic systems and social activities have on the environment, and the solutions that can be taken as a society to proactively mitigate the post COVID-19 environmental challenges facing our planet. More than that, it calls on them to consider their own actions towards the environment, and to protect it from the negative practices and habits we have adopted as human beings, as it is not only the state’s responsibility, but also an individual social responsibility we must all take on.

Thanks to the vision and guidance of its wise leadership, and by continuously working to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development and optimally utilizing its resources, the emirate of Abu Dhabi has made tangible achievements in the environmental field. Government entities in the emirate pay great attention to a range of environmental issues, with many concerned with the preservation of biological diversity as a basis for life; an essential component of ecosystems that provide goods and services that support economic and social well-being.

Our numbers indicate a significant improvement in air quality in Abu Dhabi, especially in light of the low traffic and lessened number of human activities during the past months. The concentration of sulphur dioxide decreased in the residential areas of Abu Dhabi during Q1 of 2020, with Al Ain improving the most by marking a 43% decrease. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide also decreased in the first quarter of 2020, specifically in the industrial areas of the emirate, where Mussafah improved the most by marking a decrease of 18%. 

The Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) continues to work closely with the concerned authorities to protect and conserve the environment, by providing policy and decision makers with the latest data and statistics that help set policies and devise plans based on a professional and scientific basis. This contributes to consolidating sustainable development concepts, preserving and investing in environmental conservation components, and making sure to increase environmental awareness among the community members - enabling them to make a difference by adopting a more sustainable lifestyle that leads to a better environment for us and for future generations.