Kindi attends international environmental symposium

He said it is necessary to benefit from the experiences of advanced countries in waste management and treatment in a sustainable method to protect the environment.

He was speaking at the two-day international environmental symposium "Challenges and Threats to the Environment.....Lessons from the Past to Shape the Future," which has got underway at JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai on Tuesday.

The symposium organized by Dubai Municipality in cooperation with the Environmental Center for Arab Towns is being addressed by ten world class speakers in the field of environment. The speakers include environmental engineers and consultants from Luxembourg, Turkey, Australia and the USA, environmental health professors from the University of Texas and Wageningen University (Netherlands), researchers from Egypt and the UAE, in addition to waste management specialists from Greece, Germany and Kuwait.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality who delivered the speech on behalf of the Municipality called for the contribution of all segments of the society in the efforts of government bodies in getting rid of pollution.

He said the UAE leadership has always been keen to preserve the environment and has taken it as a contribution to the welfare of the humanity.
Ahmed Al Adasani, Deputy Secretary General of Arab Towns Organization (ATO), who spoke on behalf of the Secretary General of ATO hoped the symposium will enhance awareness all over the Arab towns on protection of environment and employing advanced methods in waste management.

Dr. Habib El Habr, Director and Regional Representative of the United Nations Environment Program Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP/ ROWA), said the UNEP has spent much of its time in identifying the environmental challenges, which has been on an increase.

He said the UNEP has taken new initiatives called geo-cities focusing on city areas aimed at providing the cities an opportunity for networking. "This initiative can have major role in sustainable development of the cities around the world," said El Habr, hoping that the symposium can be a good start in identifying the challenges in the Arab region.

Dr. Armin Vogel Managing Director of a German Multinational and a European leader in the Waste & Recycling Industry delivered the Keynote Address in the symposium.

Vogel, who spoke about the European waste management system, pointed out the necessity for de-coupling generation of waste from economic growth.

He recommended an intensive public relation initiative and an education programme on waste management in the UAE.

Vogel also suggested introduction of fee system for waste disposal and utilization of new technologies for collection and sorting of waste.

The symposium discussed innovations in waste management technology, advances in waste water recycling, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental risk assessment, and modern day challenges to waste treatment.

In the first session on Modern Day Challenges in Waste Management Hassan Makki, Assistant Director of Environment Department and Head of Waste Services Section in Dubai Municipality presented a paper on the concepts of institutional excellence in waste management in Dubai Municipality.

Another prominent speaker of the day was Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group, who spoke on community-based waste management programme.

Other papers included Decision making in sustainable waste management: challenges for the future, Solid waste management in the state of Kuwait, Finding the optimum collection system for recyclables, Health hazards due to handling of organic wastes, Learning tools in the field of solid waste management, and Green Gulf study: wastes in GCC countries.

The second session of the day called Power of GIS in environmental risk assessment included papers on GIS application in public works- the Atlanta story, Utilization of GIS in solid waste management, Use of GIS methods in looking for clues to benzene contamination in a public drinking water well, Development of environmental GIS database and its application to desertification study in Middle East, and A GIS and MCDA-based approach to landfill site selection.