Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
For two years, the UAE Year of Sustainability brought together everyone who calls the UAE home to learn about sustainability and apply those lessons in their daily lives, harnessing the community's collective efforts to help save the environment and mitigate climate change.
A recent survey conducted on the Year of Sustainability has revealed the initiative's success in driving strong public engagement and inspiring many to take real sustainable actions.
The survey's findings confirmed the Year of Sustainability's success in driving behaviour change across the key focus areas and showcased the effectiveness of its approach to sustainability by promoting relatable actions, like using pre-loved items or participating in walking initiatives which elicited strong emotional connections because they are seen as easy to adopt and immediately impactful, according to the survey's respondents.
Survey results reveal that the highest engagement 67% is in water and energy reduction, driven by greater awareness and the immediate financial benefits of lower utility costs. Responsible consumption follows at 39%, indicating progress in eco-friendly purchasing and waste reduction, though challenges like cost and convenience remain.
Green transportation 31% sees lower adoption, likely due to infrastructural limitations and accessibility challenges. Planting wisely 21% has the lowest engagement, suggesting that activities like urban gardening and tree-planting feel less immediate or accessible to the public.
To continue the momentum of sustainable action, the survey's insights revealed a greater appetite for sustainability initiatives rooted in hands-on, community-based experiences, integrating more localised strategies such as community-driven sustainability projects, eco-events, and partnerships with local businesses.
The survey also highlighted a significant potential in offering real-time action tracking tools, enabling participants to see the tangible effects of their sustainable choices, to help the public monitor their impact and encourage continued participation.
The Year of Sustainability was announced in February 2023 by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan under the slogan "Today for Tomorrow". The initiative was extended into 2024 under the theme "Plan To Action", to engage both individuals and entities in sustainable actions through various on-ground activations.
With the conclusion of the Year of Sustainability, Project Lead Eisa Alsubousi urged everyone who calls the UAE home to carry forward this momentum by continuing to make sustainable choices in our daily routines, workplaces, and communities to ensure a more sustainable future for all.
"We must honor the efforts of those before us, and preserve the land entrusted to us by our ancestors. Sustainability requires the enduring collaboration of individuals, communities, and entities, working together to ensure that the seeds we plant today will flourish into a thriving, sustainable tomorrow for all," said Alsubousi.
Highlighting the impact of collective action, Rauda Al Falasi, Deputy Project Lead of the Year of Sustainability, said: "This Year of Sustainability's success belongs to everyone who contributed their time, effort, and ideas towards this collective journey. We are deeply grateful to our stakeholders and the public for their support and to the public for their enthusiasm in embracing sustainable practices with such commitment and being open to change. While there is still much to do, we are certain that continuing to champion sustainable practices will drive real impact towards climate change."
