Dubai Customs celebrates World Ozone Day

Countries around the world renew vows on this day to reduce consumption of different materials that lead to ozone layer's depletion.

On this occasion, Dubai Customs launched a campaign entitled "For a Better Future for us and the Next Generations, Unite to protect Ozone Layer" through which it called for all clients, strategic partners and the community as a whole to "Preserve the environment in all performed activities and halt using materials that harm the ozone layer and cause its depletion in order to create a better future for the next generations."

It's worth mentioning that Dubai Customs prevents importing substances dangerous to the ozone according to the prohibited goods system implemented and endorsed by Dubai Customs that are about 100 materials set by the Montreal Protocol.

Dubai Customs takes great interest in preserving the environment and considers it among its strategic goals. In this context, Dubai Customs recently managed to receive ISO 14001:2004 certificate for Environment Management as the implemented practices at Dubai Customs meet the requirements of the international standard. Such a thing contributes to environment preservation and reflects positively on the public health and safety.

Furthermore, the Department participated in the World Environment Day last June under the motto "Your Planet needs YOU, UNite to Combat Climate Change" and carried out a number of awareness programs and events that increase employees and clients' awareness of the environment. The Department sent employees e-mails and fixed banners around the premises to highlight aspects of climate change and human's role in this regard, the dangers of this on food resources and oxygen and what can be done in order to provide a healthy environment that is free of pollution and climate change factors.

H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Dubai Customs Director General said:

"Dubai Customs gives the environment protection cause much attention. The Department has launched many initiatives in this field; for instance, creating the electronic paperless and automated systems and programs that enable clients and employees to lessen the amount of the utilized paper or by executing community activities in the field of environment. Moreover, it promoted campaigns for cleaning beaches and sponsoring events that have to do with environment around the year inline with the Department's corporate social responsibility that is a highly important objective and strategic vision for the Department."

In addition, Dubai Customs recently launched its environmental "We Say We Save" campaign inline with its social and civilized commitment as well as its contribution to develop the local community. The campaign aims to increase employees, clients and partners' awareness of the environmental causes and the significance of environment preservation. It is also to save all sorts of energy and stop wastefulness and over-spending practices at the offices and during the official working hours.

The campaign calls for shutting down employees' computers and switching off unutilized electricity to save energy. It also draws the attention to the optimum use of paper especially when writing, printing and typing as well as proper consumption of water resources.

193 countries that signed the Montreal Protocol are committed to stop using materials that deplete the ozone layer and lessen their production rates. There are about 100 materials listed in the Protocol's annexes. The UAE was among the first countries to join this treaty as it is keen on preserving the environment and protecting the ozone from the dangerous emission.