World-Renowned Approach To Parenting Can Be Used To Build Resilience In The Environment, EAD's Secretary General Tells 10th World Urban Forum
H.E. Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri addresses delegates on enhancing the resilience of Abu Dhabi's built environment
A world-renowned approach that parents use to build resilience in their children can be applied to building resilience in the environment, H.E. Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri has told the 10th World Urban Forum today.
The ‘Seven C’s’ model developed by American paediatrician Kenneth Ginsburg to help children deal with the stresses of daily life, is used by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) to enhance the resilience of the built environment in the UAE’s capital.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, where the 10th World Urban Forum is being held in the Middle East for the first time during a special session ‘Enhanced Resilience of the Built Environment and Infrastructure’, the Secretary General outlined how EAD applies the ‘Seven C’s’ of resilience - Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, Contribution, Coping and Control.
By using 25 years’ worth of data to build competence and confidence in the understanding of the environment, EAD is able to make informed decisions that help to control the impact of a changing environment and increase the ability to cope with these changes, the Secretary General said.
For example, EAD will plant up to 14 million mangrove trees in the next two years, having planted 3 million in the last eight years, to assist in controlling storm surges and sequestering carbon.
Her Excellency said: “The competence we have built up through knowledge and understanding has provided us with confidence to know what we can and cannot control. This allows us to be far more effective in coping with changes when they occur.
“We have to learn to cope effectively when our built environment does suffer disturbance. In some cases, we must learn to adapt in order cope with impacts such as climate change.
“We cope by planning for sea level rise, identifying areas at risk and building sea defences, or planning for water shortages by building Strategic Aquifer Reserves that are sufficient to provide 90 days of potable water for the residents of Abu Dhabi in the case of an emergency.
“We also have to cope by developing innovative irrigation techniques to make scarce water resources go further by managing to reduce the water used by forestry by 28 per cent per annum and increase agricultural efficiency by 45 per cent.”
Her Excellency told the United Nations global forum that it is important to foster a strong sense of connection to the environment among the public, as it helps to build a character of moral duty towards the environment - making people less likely to pollute, destroy or damage the environment.
To achieve this, for example, EAD has educated more than two million school children through educational programmes, such as the Enviro Spellathon, while 150 schools are participating in their Sustainable Schools Initiative. Projects, such as the newly-opened Mangrove Walk on Jubail Island, also show how eco-tourism initiatives can encourage people to get out and connect with their local environment.
Her Excellency said: “Connection provides us with a strong sense of place and a purpose to protect, further enhancing the resilience of Abu Dhabi. We are actively pursuing projects, including eco-tourism, to increase connection with the environment and we will continue to build competence, confidence and connection through our environmental education and awareness programmes.
“Within our own agency (EAD), there is an extremely strong sense of values and of being connected with the environment, pulling together as one team with a common vision for the future, because we want to do the right thing for the environment.”
Finally, Her Excellency called on Abu Dhabi residents to understand the personal contribution they can make to protecting the natural environment.
She said: “Understanding the importance of personal contribution can serve as a source of purpose and motivation. Contribution happens at various levels, from raising awareness to individuals volunteering for beach clean-ups or charity marathons. Between 2014 and 2019, we held 35 clean-up events with 27 entities, collecting around 33,000 kg of waste.
“By building connection and character that promotes responsibility to protect our environment, we enhance the resilience of Abu Dhabi.”
Organised and convened by UN-Habitat, the World Urban Forum has become the foremost international gathering for exchanging views and experiences on sustainable urbanisation in all its ramifications. The Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 10) is being held from 8-13 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi – the first time it’s taking place in the Middle East.
