UAE Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) was established in 1996, with its role clarified in Law 16 of 2005. EAD is a government entity responsible for protecting and enhancing the environment by reducing pollution and protecting and enhancing our biodiversity. It does this through science, research, policy regulation, environmental education and awareness.
Who We Are
EAD is the Government entity responsible for championing environmental sustainability, protecting the environment and wildlife of Abu Dhabi, and ensuring that the economic vision for Abu Dhabi is achieved in a way that protects our natural heritage and maintains a good quality of life for all, now and in the future.
Our work includes water resources and water quality, climate change and air quality, marine and terrestrial biodiversity and wildlife conservation. We develop and implement policies, we regulate business operations, deliver targeted projects and run environmental education and awareness programmes.
What We Do
A. To preserve our natural heritage
- We monitor and survey habitats and species in Abu Dhabi and use this information to target our conservation efforts. At the moment, 8.9% of our sea and 5% of land falls within a designated protected area.
- We work as a guardian of endangered local native species such as the dugong and sea turtles.
- We promote sustainable fishing practices and watch over the birds, mammals and reptiles which roam our land.
- We deliver a number of programmes to manage our groundwater, as part of Abu Dhabi’s integrated water resource strategy.
B. To protect our future
- We provide advice to government and other entities on the environmental implications of new policies and, as required, support the implementation of federal policies, such as those to tackle climate change.
- We develop policies and strategies such as the Abu Dhabi’s Water Resources Master Plan and Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, a comprehensive policy, legal and governance framework for environmental sustainability, an initiative called “Environment 2030”.
- As a regulator, our role is to ensure that industry and other entities minimize their impact on the environment. We use environmental impact assessments to help us set the environmental parameters for projects. We enforce these by issuing permits, which contain emissions limits, and by inspecting industrial processes.
- At EAD, we aim to lead by example by working as sustainably as we can. We are working hard to continue to reduce the energy and water we use, the waste we produce and our overall carbon footprint. We will continue to work with our suppliers and contractors to source and procure sustainable goods and services and build on our award winning ‘Green IT’ initiative.
C. To educate and raise awareness
- We raise awareness of the environment; not just creating an appreciation for its uniqueness but also the challenges it faces. We have developed award-winning environmental education programmes in schools, and we educate the public about our amazing natural heritage and how they can help preserve it as responsible citizens. We also educate our own staff to be environmentally-aware “ambassadors”.
Two of our programs include the Sustainable Schools Initiative and the Annual Environment Competition.
For more information, please visit www.ead.ae or e-mail us at customerservice@ead.ae.
