A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday between the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Federal Environment Agency (FEA) to exchange information and environmental data to promote their common interest in protecting the environment and combating all forms of pollution in the Emirate.
The MoU was signed by HE Majid Ali Al Mansouri, EAD’s Secretary General and Dr. Salem Masri Al Dhahiri, Director General of FEA in a ceremony held at EAD offices.
Mr. Al Mansouri said that this MoU come inline with EAD’s Air Quality Monitoring and Management Project that aims to address the impact of current and future development activities on the quality of ambient air in Abu Dhabi, and indeed in the country, to monitor effectively and comprehensively the major industrial and residential areas.
He said “four different types of stations have been in operation for the past year and a half to enable identification of pollution sources and to provide for inter-stations comparison with the level of development taking place in or around the area of concern. The four types of stations are Urban/Residential, Road Side, Industrial and Regional Background”.
Al Mansouri noted also that EAD hosts the central database for air quality and noise data series - as it is connected to all air quality monitoring stations in the Emirate to provide access to all quality controlled data and providing instant feedback on the same. The Database is equipped with modeling software and emission inventory setup to enable round the clock monitoring of pollution levels and production of the daily Air Quality Index on the dedicated air quality website, www.ead.ae.
In order to enhance the performance of the central station and to collaborate in the field of Air Quality forecasting for the Emirate, share scientific experience and build national capacity, EAD has signed a MoU with UAE Armed Forces – Metrology Unit, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and now with the Federal Environment Agency (FEA).
Dr. Salem Al Dhaheri, Director General of FEA, said “signing this MoU comes within the framework of promoting opportunities for cooperation and partnership with all stakeholders in the country, especially with the competent environmental authorities in the UAE, where it would contribute to developing the capacity of the national network to monitor air quality as it was established by FEA to provide the latest information on air quality in UAE.
He hoped also to see in the next phase development prospects of cooperation in other areas to achieve the strategic objectives of the two entities.
According to the agreement the two sides agreed to activate joint cooperation in pollution control and maintain the quality of ambient air through the use of the available resources in this area. That will be done by electronically linking the EAD air quality monitoring network in Abu Dhabi and the central station of the FEA, through linking the FEA’s Central Computer in Dubai with EAD’s central station in Abu Dhabi.
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