About Year of Sustainability
About Year of Sustainability 2024
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, announced 2024 as ‘The Year of Sustainability’, running from January until December 2024. It aims to inspire sustainable practices and collective action, bringing together everyone who calls the UAE home. The year-long activations are overseen by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister President of the Presidential Court and Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Court for National Projects.
Why are we continuing the Year of Sustainability
Building on the success of 2023, the Year of Sustainability has extended into 2024 to continue the momentum of raising awareness and making changes for a brighter future. While last year was dedicated to learning about sustainability together, this year is about putting those lessons into action.
Last year’s slogan, “Today for Tomorrow” drew upon the sustainable legacy of the nation’s ancestors to inspire and change behaviours towards sustainable practices in three key focus areas: responsible consumption, encouraging conservation initiatives, and impending climate change.
The decision to continue the Year of Sustainability reflects the UAE’s efforts to implement sustainability in every aspect of our daily lives, and supports the UAE’s strategic initiative to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Under the slogan “Plan To Action,” the goal in 2024 is to engage the public through planned activations for four sustainable behaviours: green transportation, water and energy reduction, responsible consumption, and planting wisely.
About UAE Year of
Alyazia's Oasis
It was a breezy afternoon in the Al Ain Oasis, the birthplace of Alyazia. Amidst the dense canopy of palm trees, she cherished the lush greenery that her ancestors had nurtured for generations. Beyond the cosy clay walls, the falajes whispered ancient secrets, carrying life-giving water to nourish the oasis. Alyazia’s family cultivated abundant varieties of dates and fruit-bearing trees. The intoxicating aroma of orange blossoms mingled, with the fresh “regag” bread her mother lovingly made for breakfast. Near her home, Alyazia’s family kept goats that they milked. They also used the goats' hair to knit clothes and warm blankets. The generous and noble connection between the family and nature was boundless.
Alyazia’s childhood was filled with happiness, her hands skillfully weaving baskets under her grandmother's guidance, a testament to the sustainable practices passed down through generations. As Alyazia grew older, she noticed worrying changes. The birds that used to sing went silent. The falajes, once teeming with clear water, dwindled. The community's shift towards modern convenience came at a cost. Plastic bags replaced the palm baskets, and the emissions now veiled the once clear skies from an increasing number of cars. Desertification was starting to slowly creep and suffocate the trees. Luckily, a good man named Zayed Bin Sultan lived in Alyazia’s hometown. Because of his kindness and great character, he was loved by everyone who called Alyazia’s Oasis home. Sheikh Zayed cared for the people and went to great lengths to protect wildlife and the environment.
As Alyazia grew older, she was determined to make a difference and equipped with UAE’s new environment visions, strategies, policies and plans, Alyazia embarked on an adventure through education and activism. She delved into sustainability studies, driven by the memories of her beloved oasis. Her passion led her to uncover innovative solutions, empowered by the UAE’s initiatives to combat environmental degradation. Alyazia initiated community projects, advocating for the return to traditional practices that respected the delicate balance of nature. Alyazia’s success story resonated globally, demonstrating that progress and environmental responsibility could go hand in hand. The Al Ain Oasis was officially enlisted as a World Heritage Site and recognised as an extraordinary symbol of resilience and positive change, attracting researchers, environmentalists, and nature enthusiasts worldwide. With each step forward, Alyazia ensured that the legacy of Sheikh Zayed lived on, not just in the stories told but in the thriving landscapes that bore witness to the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
2015 was declared the Year of Innovation. It aimed to encourage and enable private and public sectors to cultivate and collectively work towards transforming the country into a global leader in innovation. UAE Innovates, launched in the same year, is a nationwide celebration and one of the largest innovation festivals in the world. The initiative has become a yearly flagship event in the United Arab Emirates. UAE Innovates is a consolidated effort by the government, the private sector, and individuals to help create a widespread culture of innovation.
2016 was declared as the “Year of Reading”. It aimed to cultivate a culture of reading in the country. In line with this, an integrated national literacy framework was created to produce a reading generation and establish the UAE as the world’s capital for culture, reading and knowledge content. As a part of the government’s initiative, March was announced to be the Month of Reading in the UAE every year starting from 2017. It is marked by a rich and diverse calendar of engaging activities and sustainable initiatives that motivate the community to read with the aim of transforming reading into a daily habit for everyone and equipping a future generation capable of driving the perpetual growth journey of the UAE.
2017 was declared the Year of Giving. It reinforced the culture of volunteerism, philanthropy and charity. It paved the way for the initiation of the UAE Food Bank in the same year, sending a message of love, tolerance and hope from the UAE leaders and its generous people to the region and the entire world.
2018 was declared the Year of Zayed, marking 100 years since the birth of the UAE's founding father — the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The year focused on promoting the life and legacy of the late leader and values.
2019 was declared the Year of Tolerance. It aimed to strengthen the values of coexistence and harmony aligned with the nation's goals in encouraging cohesion and openness. The year paved the way for a new outlook on inclusion for People of Determination and hosting The Special Olympics World Games 2019 the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event.
In the midst of the global pandemic's impact in 2020, the UAE announced that 2020 was the Year that propelled the nation Towards the Next 50. It focused on launching one of the largest national strategies for the next 50 years and preparing for the nation's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2021.
2021 was declared the Year of the 50th by UAE President, the Late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The year celebrated 50 years of the founding of the country. During 2021, The Golden Jubilee Committee was responsible for creating year-long activities, long-term initiatives and celebrations, The year 2021 witnessed many initiatives, starting with its first nuclear power plant, the Barakah launch, announcing the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative in addition to introducing a new visa laws scheme and uniting 11 cities of the UAE through a railway project to starting a new Emirati interplanetary mission between Mars and Jupiter.
2023 was declared the Year of Sustainability. It aims to inspire and change behaviours towards sustainable practices and collective action. It fosters public participation in three key areas: responsible consumption, encouraging conservation initiatives, and impending climate change.