Climate change has caused a huge strain on our environment. Countries in the Middle East are feeling the effects and aftermath of climate change. Many governments in this region has been investing greatly in keeping the environment human-friendly and promoting sustainable development.
Climate Change in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one area in the Middle East that has suffered greatly from climate change. Its position and climate make the area record crazy weather patterns. Summer temperatures range from 38°C to 42°C. Sometimes it gets as high as 50°C.
Also, it gets a little rain. The region’s high temperatures and little rainfall have led to a significant increase in the demand for electricity and water. Due to the area’s high temperatures and lack of precipitation, demand for water and power has significantly increased. Rapid urbanization, large population growth, and high resource use per person have all added to the environmental stressors, increasing waste output and encroaching natural areas. The area knows that long-term prosperity depends on environmental richness and well-being. Hence, Abu Dhabi has different policy initiatives aimed at reconciling social and economic progress with environmental sustainability.
Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
The main regulator and policymaker for the environment is the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). EAD was founded in 1996 with the goals of protecting and enhancing biodiversity, groundwater preservation, and air quality improvement.
Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Abu Dhabi Police Joint Exercise
Executive teams from both the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Abu Dhabi Police participated in a tabletop exercise called Estidama.
This exercise was conducted as part of the Joint Committee’s joint efforts to protect the environment between these two organizations. During the exercise, all of their collaborative efforts to research and evaluate the condition of wildlife protection were thoroughly reviewed.
The exercise included creating action plans, going over different issues, and assessing how prepared both groups were to put environmental protection laws into effect. As part of this assessment, their efficacy and responsiveness in handling legal infractions pertaining to wildlife in the Abu Dhabi area were measured.
To identify all operational and administrative difficulties as well as available capabilities, joint operational procedures were developed and put into practice. Through the simulation of situations and theories pertaining to the management of illegal hunting and infractions against wildlife in the Al Hamra Reserve in the Al Dhafra Region, these methods sought to improve wildlife protection.
The main goal of the exercise was to evaluate the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police and EAD’s governance implementation in relation to environmental protection. In an attempt to strengthen their protection efforts, it also assessed the efficacy of both sides’ monitoring and communication technology systems as well as the wildlife protection system’s operating efficiency.
The Joint Committee evaluated the appropriate teams’ readiness to handle potential and legal infractions during the exercise. The efficacy of response plan implementation was assessed by continuous training on standardized concepts and the performance of relevant tasks and duties.
As part of their shared accountability and cooperation, both organizations stressed the significance of this exercise. The aims of the relevant authorities are achieved by creating a coordinated structure to implement legislation linked to the preservation and protection of the natural environment, as they have explained. By using this strategy, legal supervision and enforcement actions are triggered against any behaviors or activities that might endanger the environment or contravene laws and regulations intended to protect and preserve it.
Takeaways
The regulatory body, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), and the Abu Dhabi Police tabletop exercise, Estidama, aimed at assessing the preparedness of both groups in putting environmental protection laws into effect.
