The Dugongs´ Demands to UAE and COP28

Her Excellency the Special Envoy of the Dugongs presented today the demands of the Dugongs to the COP28. 

“We Dugongs are – as you can see – voluptuous and beautiful marine mammals. Our most densely populated habitat is just off the coast of the UAE. But there is an enormous danger to us Dugongs living here. 

“Our host country has helped the Dugongs over the past two decades, in its own territory and beyond. But recently, a consortium of oil and gas companies led by you-know-who started to build huge oil and gas infrastructure right in the middle of my home, Protected Area of Marawah. 

“We Dugongs are already under pressure, with many of our habitats becoming unlivable because of pollution, plastic, and because of oil and gas drilling. So, threatening our best living areas is offensive and should be forbidden! And all and above, this drilling for oil and gas does not make any sense at all, since we must end our emissions as quickly as possible. 

“COP28 has its main task written all over: phase out all fossil fuels rapidly! And as a local Dugoing, I may add that this needs to happen in reality, for instance here in the Arabian Gulf: Stop drilling in the Maraway protected area!  Declare a pause in construction here during the COP and reflect – I am sure you will see the light!”

The key demands of the Dugongs (and of supporting NGO Leave it in the Ground)

• If the UAE wants to present itself as a trustworthy climate player, it needs to immediately cancel plans for drilling inside the Biosphere Reserve.
• The government should publish the Environmental Impact Assessment, which forms the basis for permits to extract from Marawah.
• The consortium of oil and gas companies should pause or withdraw from the project as it is in direct contravention of the Paris Agreement on climate change and international biodiversity conservation,
• We call on Razan Al-Mubarak and everyone concerned to try and help the Dugongs and the other threatened species in the Arabian Gulf and especially in the Marawah Biosphere Reserve.