[ad_1]
ABU DHABI, 28th March, 2023 (WAM) — EU Ambassador to the UAE Andrea Matteo Fontana, accompanied by a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from 16 EU Member States, visited the The Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi, conducted a campaign to combat climate change by planting mangroves and raising awareness of the importance of these ecosystems.
The visit was organized by the EU Mission to the UAE to highlight the key role of mangroves in mitigating climate change as a nature-based solution, supporting the UAE’s ambitious goal of planting 100 million mangroves by 2030 initiative, and for the UAE-led Mangrove Climate Alliance.
The visit also saw the participation of youth from the Arab Youth Center and UAE Youth Climate Representatives. The delegation was welcomed by Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director, Abu Dhabi Environment Agency; Dr Das Himansu and Huda Al Mazrouei.
Representatives from Jubail Island also joined the delegation, including Eng. Corporate Director Abdullah Al Shamsi and Adventure Director Mohamed Hafez. During the visit, the delegation visited the Jubail Mangrove Park accompanied by a guide to learn more about the important role of mangroves in addressing climate change.
They also had the opportunity to plant several mangrove trees with the youth participants.
“Mangroves have an exceptional carbon storage capacity,” says Andrea Matteo Fontana. “They absorb 10 times more carbon than tropical rainforests. Mangroves are vital to our planet and we are proud to support the UAE’s efforts to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.”
The EU is committed to working with global partners to find sustainable solutions to climate change. The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets to make Europe climate neutral by 2050, while the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy aims to protect nature and reverse ecosystem degradation.
The EU has also committed to planting at least 3 billion more trees in the EU by 2030.
As COP28 approaches, the EU is committed to working with the UAE COP presidency, youth climate advocates and global partners to find sustainable solutions to climate change.
“If we are to emerge stronger from this climate crisis, we must work together with international partners and young people,” Fontana said.
The visit to the Jubail Mangrove Park highlighted the importance of collective efforts to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems to mitigate climate change and achieve a sustainable future.
Ambassadors and representatives from EU Member States include Etienne Berchtold, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria; Jaan Reinhold, Ambassador of Estonia; Nicolas Niemtchinow, Ambassador of France; Osama Ibrahim Nafa, Ambassador of Hungary; Alison Milton, Ambassador of Ireland Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy; Atis Sjantis, Ambassador of Latvia; Robert Lauer, Luxembourg; Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta; Jakub Slawek, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland; Bogdan Octavian Badica, Ambassador of Romania; Natalia Al Mansour, Ambassador of the Republic; Liselott Andersson, Ambassador of Sweden; Douwe Buzeman, Deputy Head of Mission, Netherlands Embassy; Katja Decker, Head of Press and Economic Affairs, German Embassy; Michal Florus, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of the Czech Republic.
[ad_2]
Source link