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Events and activities to mark World Environment Day today

DUBAI — Divers cleared large amounts of ship wastes and rubbish from the bottom of Fisherman's Port, Jumeirah, yesterday ahead of World Environment Day activities.

Events and activities are taking place across the UAE today to mark World Environment Day, a United Nations Environment Programme initiative commemorated each June 5.

The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) sector of Trakhees (Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation) had a headstart on activities when a team collected and removed large amounts of ship wastes, plastic, fishing tools and other rubbish dangerous to the marine environment from Jumeirah's Fisherman's Port.

The team, comprising 30 divers from the Marine Firefighting and Rescue Centre in the Civil Defence Department, Dubai Municipality workers, the Fishing Ports Department and Marine Creek Operations, worked from 8am to 2pm to collect all types of rubbish from plastic table ware, to cigarette stubs, car parts and shoes.

EHS is also holding lectures and distributing pamphlets to increase awareness of the public.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is holding a number of activities to raise awareness of electricity and water conservation as part of World Environment Day.

Chief of these was the screening of environmental documentary "11th Hour" for Dubai Government employees last night (June 4), which saw a large turnout to the movie at Ibn Battuta Mall.

The movie urges the audience to implement solutions that include the conservation of water and electricity and following Green Building specifications, to lower dependence on power and therefore preserve the environment, in line with the day's slogan "Kick the Habit - Towards a Low Carbon Economy".

On this occasion, Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, said the authority was committed to the principles, also approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"Most human activities rely on the consumption of electricity which, in turn, release gases that result in environmental changes witnessed worldwide. The rise in the amount of gases causing global warming has reached alarming levels, a direct consequence of burning fossil fuels to meet human needs. It is now vital for communities to study the environmental effects of these activities, re-examine their actions, and work jointly to reduce the consumption of fuel in an attempt to protect our earth," he said.

The authority has also prepared a booklet, to be distributed to employees and members of the public, which highlights the World Environment Day significance and gives specific tips to reduce the consumption of water and electricity, especially during peak hours in Dubai, between 1 pm to 5 pm throughout summer months.

Amal Koshak, Manager of Investor Services at DEWA said: "We urge all consumers, individuals and organisations, to reduce their consumption of water and electricity, especially during afternoon peak hours in the summer. Residents and organisations in Dubai were able to avert the emission of 60,000 kg of CO2 gas during Earth Hour, which Dubai observed in March. We are determined to reduce even larger quantities of these gases through reducing our consumption, in order to protect the environment."

Hamdan Al Shaer, director of the Environment Department of Dubai Municipality, said: "The municipality has prepared a very specialised programme to observe the World Environment Day through organising environmental exhibition at the Dubai Festival City."

The exhibition is being organised in cooperation with the Dubai Department of Public Health Services.

The municipality, along with the Kerala Shasthra Sahitya Parishad, has organised a contest for the best environment essay among students of non-Arabic speaking schools.

A lecture on 'Leadership on the Edge' will be delivered by Antoaneata Popova of Sama Dubai satellite channel and a movie, Melting Ice, will be screened.

The municipality is going to honour 500 employees from all the municipality departments for their contributions.

Emirates Environmental Group traditionally holds an annual awards ceremony to honour businesses and the work of individuals for the environment. However, due to the mourning period, it has been postponed to June 12.