A Green Wristband, A Statement, & A Promise At COP28

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met last month to discuss preparations for the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which will be held in Dubai later this year.

Both leaders were sporting a distinctive green bracelet - the COP28 conference's official wristband. At first look, the bracelets have a distinctive and inventive design that includes a collection of elements from the COP28 emblem that represent the interaction between man, nature, technology, and innovation. However, when you peek behind the surface, you will notice that there is much more to these bracelets than meets the eye.

The bracelets are created entirely of sustainable and recyclable materials, in keeping with the conference's goals of protecting the environment, promoting sustainable practices, enabling climate action, and preserving natural resources for future generations. Furthermore, the design creatively symbolises the UAE's commitment, as well as the nation's great progress in environmental sustainability and climate protection at the regional and global levels over the years.

This is not the first time a bracelet has been released in anticipation of a major worldwide event taking place in the UAE. Expo 2020 Dubai wristbands were introduced as part of the show's preparations, with each colour symbolising the show's themes of sustainability, mobility, and opportunity. As preparations for the exhibition began, it was not uncommon to see leaders and heads of state from participating countries wearing the wristbands to demonstrate their participation and commitment to Expo 2020's theme of "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future."

While wristbands produced exclusively for a global event have now become the norm, there has also been an increase in the popularity of bracelets worn as accessories - especially if those accessories represent the wearer's dedication to a cause. For example, 4ocean, an ocean cleanup company, is on a quest to recover millions of pounds of plastic waste from the world's seas, rivers, and beaches. 

The company then uses the recycled plastics from their cleanup efforts to make bracelets that are available for purchase; each bracelet purchased results in one pound of plastic garbage and other man-made detritus, such as old fishing nets, being removed from the ocean. Initiatives like this are becoming increasingly popular among a new generation of environmentally conscious customers who are pushing for more action to be made to protect our natural environment.

A recent poll in the UAE, for example, indicated that 61% of inhabitants believe climate change is real and that human activity is the primary cause. According to the survey, 55% of people believe that the future is still in their hands and that climate change and pollution can be handled. 

Such attitudes are consistent with a global shift towards a more sustainable way of life, and will be a primary focus when the UAE opens its doors to welcome the world for the 28th Conference of Parties in November. Not only will the event be a COP for All, but it will also be a COP of Action, uniting countries around the world to fight climate change as one - and it will all be symbolised in a unique green bracelet that reminds attendees of the impact of their lifestyles on our world.

Source: khaleejtimes.com