The UAE’s deeply embedded values call for dealing prudently with the land, marine and air ecosystems to sustain these rich resources for the generations to come, said H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of Environmental Agency - Abu Dhabi, EAD.

''We want to ensure a more sustainable future in light of the limited natural resources and growing environmental challenges, including the perilous increase in CO2 emissions and other pollutants resulting from human consumption,'' he said in a statement on the occasion of the 20th National Environment Day, observed on 4th February.

This year’s National Environment Day is being held under the theme "Sustainable Production and Consumption."

According to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan, the imbalance caused by excessive consumption of scarce natural resources, partly due to population explosion, is to be blamed for the environmental challenges "we are facing today."

''Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles,'' he said, citing reports from the United Nations.

Locally, per capita consumption of energy and water, as well as waste generation, are among the world’s highest, he said, stressing the need to introduce policies to adjust personal consumption behaviour to acceptable levels.

He also spoke about the importance of reforms introduced by the government to cut subsidies on water and electricity and hoped they would have a positive impact on consumption patterns as the government seeks to diversify its energy mix by deploying and investing in clean energy sources.

He also referred to the federal and local initiatives in sync with the UAE Vision 2021, which would strike a balance between social and economic developments and environment conservation.

At the emirate level, Abu Dhabi has developed the EAD Strategic Plan 2016-2020, he said, adding, ''which we hope will serve as a clear roadmap for a future, where everyone will be able to enjoy the benefit of a clean, safe and healthy environment," he said.

The priorities of this plan were inspired by the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Strategy for Green Development and Abu Dhabi Plan 2030. The strategy focusses on the present-day reality and significant challenges facing Abu Dhabi today, and how the EAD will address them so as to deliver its objectives, he explained