The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has launched a public consultation project focused on air quality and noise to ensure that the voices of the community in Abu Dhabi are heard and represented.
The agency will be actively soliciting input from the public regarding proposed policies, regulations and strategies prior to their formal adoption to reflect the needs, expectations, and interests of the community in policymaking.
Through this project, EAD and ADPHC aim to provide a comprehensive approach through addressing ambient and indoor air quality, noise, and odour together, creating a better quality of life for residents and citizens.
The public consultation survey is established to obtain feedback from residents of Abu Dhabi regarding air quality and noise levels in the emirate. It covers both outdoor and indoor air quality, odours and noise pollution.
The survey aims to assess public awareness, personal experiences with air and noise pollution, and related health impacts. It also seeks suggestions on improving air quality and reducing noise levels in the emirate.
The public consultation will be conducted through a public poll that will be launched to gather input from a wide range of residents, allowing everyone to participate in the decision-making process via Abu Dhabi-related social media platforms.
A series of local community consultation sessions will also be held providing a more personal and interactive platform for community members to go through the poll. These gatherings will foster open dialogue and ensure that local’s questions are heard and answered.
Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD, said, “Consulting our community members in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is crucial because air quality impacts the health, wellbeing, and daily lives of individuals and communities. EAD monitors over 20 air quality and noise stations across the emirate, collecting more than 4 million data points annually which lays the foundation for knowledge-based planning.
“We are consistently working closely with key stakeholders to balance Abu Dhabi’s economic and social development with the need to protect our environment and our various partnerships including Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre is a prime example of that.
“By incorporating public feedback, Abu Dhabi environmental policies will be more robust and better suited to address real challenges from a holistic view that covers public perspectives. This leads to more effective, inclusive, and widely accepted solutions and it indirectly drives related government entities to adopt solutions that are required to address public challenges and concerns. In addition, Abu Dhabi citizens will be empowered, public awareness will increase, and understanding of the policies being crafted will be enhanced, fostering a more transparent approach.”
Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Acting Director-General of ADPHC, said, “Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre is delighted to be working alongside our esteemed partners at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), to enhance air quality and reduce noise levels within the emirate, creating a healthier environment for all. Air quality is a crucial factor that significantly impacts an individual’s health, particularly those suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as air pollutants can exacerbate these conditions. This initiative aims to enhance community awareness while providing data that enables us to identify key areas of focus when developing the air quality and noise strategy. Community input offers valuable perspectives that reflect public awareness, needs, views, and suggestions.”
The data from the initiative will be analysed by the Policy Public Consultation team from EAD, that will quantify the overall public opinion highlighting common concerns, suggestions, or areas for improvement. Thematic analysis will also be conducted to help target areas of concerns or interest. The analysis will include pattern identification in terms of public awareness and air-friendly practices. Sentiment analysis will also be conducted to assess the tone of responses (positive, negative, or neutral) to help refine communication strategies and clarify concerns.
The agency will use the survey’s results to ensure the analysis of public perspective is informing the development of actions and solutions related to air quality and noise. In addition, EAD will share the analysis with concerned government stakeholders to inform emirate-wide action and collaboration.