UAE’s Year of Sustainability 2024 unveils unique plan to encourage sustainable behaviour change among public

Building upon the remarkable success of last year’s initiative, the UAE has decided to continue the ‘Year of Sustainability’ in 2024 to continue fostering environmental consciousness and sustainable practices across the country.

President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made the announcement on February 4. The Year of Sustainability 2023 marked notable achievements in raising awareness and encouraging behaviour changes that inspired collective progress towards a more sustainable society.

The ongoing initiative is an open invitation to all individuals living in the UAE to contribute their ideas and suggestions for impactful activities as the country seeks to instill a sense of responsibility among its immensely diverse population.

Year of Sustainability for collective sustainable action

The Year of Sustainability 2024 has revealed its tagline “Plan to Action”, aiming to engage people through planned activations in 4 areas: green transportation, responsible consumption, planting wisely, and water and energy reduction, said Emirates News Agency.

The team leading the initiative has unveiled its first activation – launch of the Sustainability Champions Society – a platform inviting people of all ages to share their stories and be a part of numerous events and gatherings across the UAE throughout the year.

Ideas for impactful approaches and community-driven activities can be shared here. “We want to build upon the success of last year’s initiative and continue the momentum towards sustainable behaviour change,” said Eisa Alsubousi, Project Lead of the Year of Sustainability.

Explore UAE’s deepening focus on climate action

The initiative is expected to launch multiple activations throughout 2024. These include meaningful collaborations between government, private and public entities through a focus on building sustainability leadership.

In addition, it is also set to engage the public in legacy projects developed during 2023, including the “Material Lab” – a collaborative model for sustainable production, allowing innovators and businesses to rethink production and design, from conception to manufacturing.

Furthermore, the Year of Sustainability 2024 also focuses on launching a unique experience for younger audiences that could be used as a visual learning tool across classrooms to better prepare students in terms of responding to different environmental challenges.

The UAE’s deepening focus on climate action and sustainable practices is prominent globally. It hosted the COP28 Summit in Dubai last November, inviting thousands of participants and organisations to find solutions to pressing problems.