Gulf Today, _Staff Reporter_
The 23rd session of the “Clean UAE” campaign, organised by the Emirates Environmental Group under the esteemed patronage of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and in collaboration with the Al Bataeh Area Municipality, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, made its fourth stop in the emirate of Sharjah.
Building on the successes of its previous stops in Ajman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the campaign arrived in Sharjah with continued momentum.
The event, held in the Al Bataeh area, attracted a large turnout of participants from diverse segments of society.
1,340 volunteers, eagerly participated in the campaign, arriving at the site early in the morning wearing cotton T-shirts, and caps and equipped with cotton gloves and biodegradable garbage bags. Their collective efforts presented a beautiful image of the UAE community coming together again and again to protect the environment.
By the end of the campaign, participants had successfully collected 1,927 kilogrammes of waste, covering an extensive area of 10 square kilometres. Recyclable materials were meticulously sorted and responsibly managed, reinforcing the campaign’s commitment to sustainability.
In her address, Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, shared that the campaign was launched in 2002 with the goal of promoting sustainable practices across the various sectors of UAE society. She emphasised that the campaign’s goal is to raise awareness about local environmental issues, particularly waste management, reduction and recycling. It also aims to foster a sense of responsibility for preserving and protecting the natural environment, particularly amongst the youth, and to engage various sectors in a unified national initiative that actively promotes a sustainable national programme.
Abdul Aziz Al Midfa, Vice Chairman of the Group, expressed his gratitude to the campaign’s sponsors, noting that the Emirates Environmental Group ensures that all its programmes are aligned with global objectives, effectively embodying the principle of “Think globally, act locally.” He explained that the “Clean UAE” campaign supports multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Additionally, Al Midfa reaffirmed that the group continues to lead strategies and campaigns directly aligned with the UAE’s sustainability goals, such as reducing landfill waste and achieving zero waste by 2030. The objectives of the campaign also align with the country’s efforts to promote sustainable domestic tourism, as set forth by the leadership.