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Shaikh Nahyan praises ATCUAE efforts

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the national motor sport authority, has received the Achievement of Excellence certification through the global sustainability programme operated by the FIA Institute.

Shaikh Nahyan receives the Achievement of Excellence certificate from ATCUAE President Mohammed bin Sulayem. — Supplied photo

Dubai — The UAE has become only the third country in the world, and the first in the Middle East, to receive the highest official recognition available for efforts to reduce the impact of motor sport on the environment. The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the national motor sport authority, has received the Achievement of Excellence certification through the global sustainability programme operated by the FIA Institute.

This recognises the Club’s successful implementation of a wide-ranging series of sustainable development initiatives in line with the global environmental goals of the FIA, motor sport’s governing body, which it represents in the UAE.

Motor sport authorities in Britain and Norway are the only others worldwide to have earned the same level of recognition in sustainability. Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, says the ATCUAE’s performance in sustainability should serve as an example to more sporting bodies in the Emirates.

“I encourage other sporting organisations to follow the lead of the ATCUAE, and support the government’s initiatives to ensure sustainable development while preserving the environment, as part of the UAE Vision 2021,” said Shaikh Nahyan.

Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, emphasised that the certificate received by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE for the “Outstanding Achievement” comes as a continuation of the tireless efforts following the directions of the UAE to achieve the goals of sustainable development within the various fields, particularly in the environment and its protection.

Bin Fahad added that this certificate is a great achievement for the UAE and embodies the dedication of the club towards preservation of the environment as well as ensuring sustainability in accordance with the valued approach of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The club’s efforts in promoting environmental sustainability through its commitment and awareness efforts promotes the importance of the development of environmental work in the UAE.

The sustainability drive was designed to reduce the ATCUAE’s own impact, while also promoting environmental awareness and responsibility amongst other motor sport stakeholders in the UAE, as well as the hundreds of volunteers essential to the running of events.

“We’re committed to achieving continuous environmental improvement in all our activities, and the great progress we have made is underlined by the fact that we have earned the highest level of certification from the FIA Institute,” said ATCUAE President Mohammed bin Sulayem, who delivered the Achievement of Excellence certificate to Shaikh Nahyan.

Over the past two years the ATCUAE has made major efforts to minimise waste, promote recycling and the use of recycled materials, and use resources more efficiently, to reduce consumption at motor sport events and in its day-to-day activities.