The Mission Green Earth – Stand up and Take Action 2008’ campaign concluded on October 19 with one in 11 people of Dubai standing up for the cause of sustainable living and environment.

A total of 137,711 people across the UAE joined the Stand Up sessions across the country.

Dubai reported the largest participation with 99,018 people standing up for a greener future while others included 11,868 people in Sharjah, 6,679 in Abu Dhabi, 1,880 in Al Ain and 497 in Fujairah.

The participants at the Stand Ups took solemn pledge to pursue sustainable living and remind their government of its commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by formulating sustainable development policies for a greener future and further social responsibility.

“This is not just another green campaign; this is about saving and enhancing human lives because we know that those who will be hardest hit by climate change will be those who are already the most vulnerable in our societies,” Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai, and patron of the campaign, said in a recorded message.

'The Stand Up and Take Action Campaign this year is another catalyst act of the United Nations towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,' Dr Khaled Alloush, UN resident coordinator.

“Environmental sustainability and in particular addressing environmental landscaping in the UAE has been identified as one of Barclays key corporate responsibility objectives,” said Ahmed Khan, chief executive Emerging markets, Global Retail and Commercial Banking, Barclays Bank.-TradeArabia News Service