The world is in the midst of an alarming pollution crisis. The way of life for many animals that live in the world’s oceans has changed dramatically due to our collective carelessness. Increasingly more concerning developments about the state of the world’s oceans are coming out and they are not painting a pretty picture.
As grim as the situation currently is, we still have time to take action. In Dubai, an initiative launched early this year, is hoping to make a noticeable impact on the rate of plastic waste production.
What is the Dubai Can initiative?
Dubai Can is an initiative instituted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The idea behind the initiative is to promote sustainability.
As part of the campaign, residents and tourists visiting Dubai are being given access to free and safe drinking water. Instead of spending their money on bottled water, people currently staying in Dubai may use refillable water bottles to stay hydrated.
Up to 50 water refilling stations will be made accessible to people across the emirate.
Where to find Dubai Can refill stations?
Residents and visitors can access more than 30 water stations across the city, with prime public locations including beaches, parks, malls, and key tourist attractions. The drinking water from the stations will be kept cool at a temperature of 10°C offering people a refreshing, clean, and safe alternative, whilst also encouraging a ‘refill culture’.
Here’s a quick look where you can find the drinking water fountains:
All water stations across the city will offer the highest standards of hygiene and maintain strict adherence to municipal, healthcare, and federal regulations.
Why you need to be involved
Why is participating in the Dubai Can initiative in the best interests of everyone? The simple answer is that we need to mitigate the damage that we are doing to the environment.
According to the United Nations, we have collectively produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic pollution since the material first became widely used over six decades ago. That is an almost incomprehensible amount of pollution.
The impact of plastic pollution may be difficult for us to grasp, but that is not the case for the world’s animals. Animals living in the water unwittingly feed on microplastics and they fall ill because of that. Plastic pollution has also led to the widespread destruction of many animal habitats.
We need to change our mindset regarding single-use plastics. The Dubai Can initiative is giving us a push in the right direction on that front.
Make the switch to reusable water bottles today
Now is the perfect time for us to start picking up the habit of using refillable water bottles.
The Dubai Fitness Challenge is starting on October 29. Instead of using bottled water to stay hydrated during the upcoming challenges, you can use a reusable container and cut down on your personal waste.
You can also take your reusable water bottle with you when you take part in the Dubai Run on November 20.
The upcoming month is going to be plenty of fun for Dubai residents. Start contributing to a more sustainable future by engaging in the Dubai Can initiative while you’re having fun!
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Images are from Dubai Media Office.
