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EAD Calls On The Community To Support UAE’s Efforts To Protect The Ozone Layer |
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The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) will be marking the International Day for Protection of the Ozone Layer on September 29 with a series of awareness and educational activities. The world marked the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer on September 16, under the theme "Universal Participation: Ozone Protection Unifies the World." However, activities in the UAE were postponed as it coincided with the last ten days of the Holy month of Ramadan. On this occasion, EAD emphasizes the importance of community support to protect the Ozone Layer. EAD encourages the public to invest in alternative eco-friendly products already available in the UAE market. According to the UN Secretary General’s statement on the occasion, “accumulating evidence indicates that the phase-out of substances known as chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs has, since 1990, alleviated the progression of climate change by as much as 12 years.” As with all environmental days, EAD begins by enhancing its own employee awareness. Employees will be shown a film entitled “Return of the Ozone Layer,” which examines the many challenges faced in saving the Ozone Layer. They will also be signing a pledge to reduce their reliance on ozone-depleting products and to switch to ozone-friendly products instead. Students of the Higher Colleges of Technology – Abu Dhabi Men’s College, will also be made aware of the need to protect the Ozone Layer through a seminar, a screening of the “Return of the Ozone Layer” film and resource material distributed by EAD. The resource material mainly highlights what can be done to help protect this layer. EAD will be inviting students, through the popular social networking site Facebook, from South Africa, Canada, India and the UAE to discuss the phasing out of CFCs. EAD will also support ETA ASCON Group to raise its employee awareness on the issue through an email campaign, an internal seminar and a training programme. Through the Group’s Intranet, employees are also being encouraged to purchase from a list of ozone-friendly products. They will also be able to view an animated film on ozone depletion, produced by United Nations Environment Programme. “It is very important that the community supports the UAE efforts to protect the Ozone layer. This will help reduce the risks posed by ozone depletion on our health including skin cancers, cataracts and suppressed human immune system. We have to remember that the ozone layer protects us from all this harm, so we must protect it in return,” said Fozeya Al Mahmoud, Manager of Environmental Education Department, EAD.
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