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= Environmental volunteering in the United Arab Emirates = The United Arab Emirates is increasing efforts to encourage environmental volunteering within the country. It has listed the issue as one of its top priorities in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals and maintaining the UAE's own sustainability and growth. The UAE's approach to engaging the public in issues of environmentalism and creating a sense of shared community responsibility utilizes a combination of awareness campaigns, integrating environmental education into the national school curriculum, and promoting volunteering as a key aspect of the UAE's culture.

The government has also spearheaded a number of environmental campaigns and events nationally to encourage nationals and residents to get involved in the country's efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Engaging the public in environmental activism
In 2016, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment was formed with the mission to “reinforce the UAE’s policies and strategies on climate change, environmental and sustainable development.” Additionally, the council took on the role of enhancing domestic efforts within the UAE and promoting civic engagement with environmental issues.

As part of the Ministry’s efforts to engage the public in taking action against climate change, there have been a number of educational initiatives and awareness campaigns conducted nationally.

In May 2014, the UAE hosted the Abu Dhabi Ascent as a precursor to the United Nations Climate Summit held in September of the same year. The two-day meeting was convened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Government of the UAE with the goal of bringing together individuals from the government, private sector, and wider society to promote discussion and action on issues of climate change.

In an effort to introduce environmental awareness to younger generations of UAE residents, environmental content and related educational materials have been integrated into the national curriculum.

In November 2016, the ‘Our Generation’ initiative was jointly launched by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ministry of Education to develop a school curriculum that educates students on climate issues and encourages them to make efforts to reduce their carbon footprints.

Volunteering opportunities
The UAE government has encouraged volunteering as a means of engaging the public in environmental issues and creating a sense of shared responsibility within the community. The UAE Government Portal lists the following organizations and initiatives as potential volunteering opportunities :


 * Volunteers.ae: A portal that connects volunteers to organizations with open opportunities. Volunteers register themselves on the portal to allow organizations to contact them for support. Organizations are also able to publish opportunities and events as well as the types of volunteers needed to allow registrants to browse opportunities available.
 * National Volunteer Program for Emergencies, Crises and Disasters: Launched by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), the program aims to create a community of volunteers who gain qualification to support national response efforts during times of emergency, crisis, or disaster. Program participation is open to nationals and residents of the UAE.
 * Day for Dubai: Launched in 2017 by the Dubai Government, the initiative calls upon the Dubai community to volunteer one day a year to support community services and organizations. Volunteers can choose to devote a full day to their volunteering or divide up their time over a year to reach a full day.
 * Takatof by Emirates Foundation: An initiative aiming to promote the culture of volunteering within the UAE. It specifically targets the youth and encourages them to volunteer their time to various humanitarian and social programs.
 * UAE Red Crescent Authority: The volunteer department engages volunteers in activities that support the local community. Members are divided into one of three categories: Student Crescent for students from elementary to secondary levels, University Crescent for college-aged students, and Volunteers for general members of society.
 * Dubai Volunteering Center: A formal body of the Dubai Government established to focus on managing volunteering services in the UAE. The center connects community organizations and causes with registered volunteers.