DUBAI is the hub of international business. Here, people from different social, cultural and psychological backgrounds reside and visit as tourists as well as on business trips. In such a cosmopolitan environment, addressing issues and involving community for a cause is one of the most difficult tasks, and changing attitudes is even harder.

Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is one such NGO which is engaged in creating awareness, motivating people and taking actions for the protection of the environment in the United Arab Emirates. The setup is headed by a dynamic Emirati woman, Mrs Habiba Sultan Al-Marashi, who is working for this organization since 1991 as founding member and heading it for the last six years. In an exclusive interview, Habiba Marashi discussed environmental challenges faced by a multi-racial setup such as Dubai, the dynamics of environmental movement in the UAE and the role of women in environmental protection everywhere in the world.

 

Objectives

Beginning with the major objectives of the EEG, Habiba informed that it was set up in 1991 by a group of twelve committed persons of different nationalities. She was among the founding members. With the passage of time, the voluntary membership of EEG has grown to over one thousand which include individuals, groups and corporations. One of the major areas of responsibility assumed by this organization was creating awareness among the people at all levels about environmental issues and their role and responsibilities for protecting the environment. She said that it was one of the most difficult tasks anywhere in the world, particularly in a multicultural society such as Dubai.

 

Challenges and achievements

“When we take up the task of modifying human behaviour, it is not simple because human beings are a mix of very complex social, psychological and physical aspects,” said Habiba.

In Dubai it is more difficult because besides the local population, you come across people of almost all nationalities and from a very broad spectrum of socio-economic classes. People who understand different languages visit Dubai mainly for economic gains or tourism. Most of them are transient visitors, so it is difficult to win loyalties. It is difficult to communicate at mass level, as there are different mind-sets and different languages.

Yet the EEG success is very clear. Just a few years ago, the environment was not of concern to the people. Now, it is a household issue and the UAE has actually seen a revolutionary change in the real sense of the word as far as environmental issues are concerned. Awareness about the environment is now evident at all levels — i.e., individuals, households, corporate business, private sector, media and government organizations. Whether suppliers or consumers, they have consciousness about the environment and are on the lookout for alternative sources of energy, environmentally-friendly consumers goods as well as methods of production such as machines with sleeping modes which save energy. The Dubai Municipality successfully runs a water conservation scheme, said Habiba, and the EEG has played a significant role in mobilizing public and strengthening the efforts of the government.

Habiba Al Marashi informed that now environmental education has been inculcated in the school curricula. “All the government organizations are incorporating environmental issues in their agenda and putting it on their priority list. The word ‘environment’ has found its way in mainstream UAE. Once considered the responsibility of the municipality only, now people, private organizations and government departments are engaged in environmental activities alike. These days, everything is being tuned in line with environmental concerns — be it economy, tourism, energy, industry, water resources or anything else.”

Talking about the challenges faced by the UAE, Habiba Marashi said that a place that is hub of international trade and tourism is always faced with ever-new challenges. For example, the passage of oil cargo ships pose hazards to the waters of the UAE and the surrounding areas through leakages and spills. Like poverty, affluence has its own fall-out effects and inter-linkages with the environment. Waste disposal is becoming a kind of problem as the use of plastic containers, bottles and aluminium cans is very common in Dubai.

With the spread of awareness about environmental issues, people are now realizing the worth of conservation and recycling. It is accepted now that conservation and environmental protection not only calls for spending money, but it can also be paying economically. For instance, now you see labourers salvaging newspapers for recycling for extra income. The same applies to the collection of aluminium cans for recycling. For poor people, there is extra income in recycling. The private sector has also realized it and recycling factories have started springing up.

 

Leadership laws

Dwelling on leadership support, legislative and institutional measures, Mrs Marashi expressed satisfaction, saying that above all, the vision and support of His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan towards environmental issues has been significant in introducing and implementing environmental protection and conservation policies. “Now, with the establishment of the Sheikh Zayed Environment Foundation, international collaboration has become even greater,” she said.

She pointed out that the Federal Environmental Law framed in 1999 contains 101 articles with penalties as harsh as a death sentence for disposing nuclear waste unsafely and life imprisonment for hazardous waste. The law covers protecting the land, ground, soil, ground water, water resources and sea.

At the institutional level, the Federal Environment Agency was founded in 1993 followed by the setting up of environmental organizations in all over the UAE and incorporation of sections on environment in municipalities and health departments, etc. She said that Dubai Municipality is also one of the pro-active municipalities in the entire region. It is endowed with the responsibility of providing an infrastructure to meet the challenges faced by Dubai, due to its peculiar positioning, in a manner suitable to the image of a modern city. Monitoring and combating pollution and implementing conservation are the biggest challenges. “We have to be ahead and abreast of new and innovative ways to develop the country and people while protecting the environment,” Habiba added.

 

Role of women

On the role of women in environmental management, Habiba Al Marashi opined that women’s role is very vital in preservation anywhere in the world. “They have a major role to play in the house which is a major source of domestic waste. A mother plays a steering role in the conservation of resources such as water and energy by educating family members and practising conservation herself.”

She further said that through the wise use of materials, inorganic waste can be reduced. Being the manager of the household and the kitchen, she decides what goes into the kitchen and what comes out. What to buy; how much to buy, how much to cook, how to prevent wastage are some of the decisions which fall entirely in the ambit of women.

Besides this, in the education sector, a major portion is constituted of women. As teachers, they can always motivate students at all levels to practice the conservation and prevention of environment. Teachers leave deep marks on the minds of children and they are role models. The introduction of only a few things and creating awareness can have a massive and far-reaching impact. She further added that many successful NGOs are being managed by women, hence a greater role for women to manage the environment.