His Excellency Sheikh “Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan”, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chancellor of UAE University, called the “UAE University’s” students and faculty members, and researchers in the various fields to contribute in the efforts of all sectors in the State, and respond to the “United Nations’” calls concerning the environment, water, forests, and renewable energy in order to achieve a green sustainable development, and work within these calls. His Excellency stressed that the State’s leadership, headed by his Highness Sheikh “Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan”, President of UAE, and his Vice President , his Highness Sheikh “Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum”, seeks to utilize all capabilities and resources in supporting researchers and encouraging them to conduct studies, research, and innovations that serve those fields, which are concerned with preserving the achievements of the State in this regard, and enabling it to move forward, seeking with its partners from other countries and international organizations to preserve the planet Earth. His Excellency stressed the importance of the contribution of youth in raising awareness about the requirements of preserving the environment among the various segments of society, and the requirements of transformation to the green knowledge-based economy, and the achievements of the State in this regard. The state advanced in (55) positions in (2012), and was ranked (77^th) among (163) States according to the accumulative assessment of the environmental performance index, while it was ranked first in the standard inventory and forest covers index, by the efforts exerted by the State to establish artificial forests and preserve them, since they are one of the most important absorbents of carbon dioxide, and a haven for wild animals. It also enriches the biological diversity in the region.

The “Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research” is participating with the UAE institutions, authorities, and Ministries these days in international events concerning the environment, as the (21^st) of March marked the “International Day of Forests”, the (22^nd) of March marked the “World Water Day”, the (23^rd) of March marked the “World Meteorological Day”, and the (29^th) of March will mark the “Earth Hour”.

Secretary-General of the “United Nations” announced lately that the survival of (6.1) billion people depends on the sustainability of forests that provide food, fuel, housing, and income, and that forests are one of the most important requirements of sustainable development that vary from poverty eradication, food security the elimination of climate change and adjusting to it, to the disaster risk reduction.

The “World Meteorological Organization” announced its slogan for this year “Weather and Climate: Engaging Youth”, as the youth benefit from the capability of understanding the weather and climate, and predicting them. Simultaneously, those young people will live in the second half of this century, and will face the increasing effects of global warming. Therefore, the organization encourages the youth to learn more about the weather and climate system, and contribute in the activities related to climate change.

The organization stressed in its speech for this year that the future holds changes and opportunities for the youth, which emanate from the social, economic, environmental and technological trends nowadays, and most of them will be related to the weather and climate in one way or another, and the major trends continue to shape the (21^st) century, represented by the immigration of people to cities, and the internationally increasing demand on natural resources, as more than half of the population of the world will soon be living in urban areas. As a result, big cities, which are more dependent than before on water, energy, and other resources related to the weather, will emerge, and rural communities will face more pressure to secure food for everyone. In addition, enhancing the ability of tomorrow’s cities and farms to endure will require faster, more accurate and sophisticated weather and climate forecasts.