EEG in association with Dubai Municipality celebrates World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 and is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

Emirates Environmental Group kicked off World Environment Day 2009 celebrations, with tree planting held in association with the Dubai Municipality (DM). As a continuation of the partnership and association, DM came on board the Million Tree Campaign and planted 100 indigenous trees in a public space. This association will help the Million tree Campaign reach new grounds as DM is arguably one of the leading propagators of sustainable greening in the region.

Volunteers from various corporate organizations such as Abela and Co, Al Futtaim Carillion, Sai Group, Zero Waste Management and members of EEG donated their valuable time and energy and planted the trees along with workers from Dubai Municipality. Mr. Mohammed Al Fardaan, Head of promotions and recreation - horticulture Department of Dubai municipality encouraged and joined in the tree planting activities with the volunteers.

The Million Tree Campaign is an offshoot of United Nations Environment Programme's global tree planting campaign launched in Nairobi in 2006. EEG as an accredited organization to UNEP undertook the responsibility of pledging and overseeing the planting of One Million Trees in UAE, in the year 2007, in support of the programme. Till date EEG has pledged and planted 1,624,394 indigenous trees in UAE.

EEG has been instrumental in bringing about social and environmental awareness through this campaign by offering one of a kind program that enables corporate organizations operating within the UAE to enhance the social and environmental scenario of the community through the donation and planting of indigenous trees.

EEG Chairperson Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi said,

"The tree planting conducted today in association with Dubai Municipality, on account of World Environment Day, is our combined step towards creating a better environment in the UAE. We are happy and proud to support this first public private initiative and hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful; association together."

She also elaborated on the benefits of trees and said that one tress absorbs 1.7kg of carbon dioxide and gives our 140 litres of oxygen. Planting seven trees would offset the carbon released by one car - i.e 11.9 kg of carbon dioxide and would also be an effective barrier against strong winds.

One of the goals of EEG's Million Tree Campaign is to tackle urban pollution by reducing the carbon emissions emanating from our day to day life. The One Million Tree Campaign has been an ongoing activity in the year 2008 and 2009, as our continuous commitment to UNEP. 2009 has already witnessed a number of organizations coming forward to plant indigenous trees as part of their commitment to the cause of environmental protection and preservation.