Dubai Municipality on Tuesday marked the 20th National Environment Day under the theme "sustainable consumption and production," reinforcing its vision of building a happy and sustainable city.

The civic body organised a number of activities to celebrate the important annual event that sheds light on the significant environmental issues in the UAE.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality said that this year's celebration is focusing on highlighting the contribution of sustainable practices and rationalising the consumption of resources to achieve sustainability.

"The issue has been gaining a lot of importance in light of the high level of consumption of energy, water resources, food and the generation of waste and carbon emissions. We strive to raise the level of environmental awareness in the emirate and develop partnerships with various segments of the society to accelerate the environmental work, and to contribute to the creation of a sustainable environment," he said.

Lootah said sustainable production and consumption is counted among the priority global issues, and has been receiving much attention for decades.

Alya Al Harmoudi, Director of Environment Department at Dubai Municipality said that the department has organised several events during the occasion, including an environmental exhibition in the main building of the Municipality with environmental competitions on sustainable consumption and environmental shopper.

The department also participated, in cooperation with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, in the cleanup activities at the Jebel Ali Sanctuary beach, which was attended by 400 volunteers from various segments of the society, and 2,000 seedlings of mangroves were planted on the occasion.