São Paulo – On a visit to Brazil since early this month, Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, the advisor on environmental affairs and oil to the emirate of Ajman, in the United Arab Emirates, met with Brazilian authorities to discuss sustainability projects. He believes that there is much in common between preservation works underway in Brazil and in the Emirates, and claims that Brazilian projects may provide inspiration to similar actions in his country.
Al Nuaimi’s appointments in Brazil started in the state of Amazonas, where he spent two days in an Indian tribe, visited the National Institute for Research on the Amazon (Inpa) and met with the state governor, Omar Aziz. “My visit was meant to get to know the Amazon from the environmental standpoint,” he told ANBA by telephone. “It was a brand new experience, I used to read about the Amazon in newspapers and magazines and now I went over to know its culture, its plants, its animals… The Amazon is not just for the Brazilians, it’s for the entire world. It is an important resource to curb carbon emissions,” he said.
According to com Al Nuaimi, the governor Aziz told him that Brazil still has many challenges to overcome in the field of environmental preservation and that one of them is the development of alternative energies. “He asked me what I would do if oil were to run out,” he said. “He claimed that everything has an end and that by 2017, 70% of all energy sources will be renewable. We need to invest in technology, in clean energy and in people,” he finished off.
In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Al Nuaimi met with the mayor of Canoas, Jairo Jorge, and with governor Tarso Genro. “With the mayor, we discussed sustainability plans,” he says. “I got to know many of the city’s projects, such as residue treatment, for instance. We shared ways of preserving the environment. It was a great visit, during which we were able to gain a good grasp of the projects developed (in Canoas and in the Emirates),” he said.
Al Nuaimi also discussed the Islamic centre that should be established in Canoas starting in the second half of the year, as previously announced by ANBA. “We discussed how the Islamic centre may become part of these sustainable projects. We want the centre to attract not only the Muslims, but the entire population of the city,” he said. The centre will comprise a mosque, a school, a library, a convention centre and a multi sports court.
“With the governor, we exchanged many ideas about sustainability. I told him that Brazil may learn from the Emirates and the Emirates may learn from Brazil. I told him that we may develop projects together. I invited him to promote a mission to the Emirates, with businessmen and people linked to the agricultural sector to get to know our projects,” said Al Nuaimi.
Last Sunday (12th), the advisor also gave talks on the environment at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs). This Wednesday, a meeting is scheduled with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Marco Maia, in Canoas. On Thursday, Al Nuaimi will visit the technological park of the Lutheran University of Brazil (Ulbra).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
