Sharjah24: The Government Communication Department of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) continues its efforts to build a more efficient and forward-looking government communication system in the Emirate. The Department, in this context, hosted today (Thursday) a special workshop on "Sustainable Communication".

The workshop aimed to arm members of the Government Communication Network (GCN) working in various government institutions and departments in the Emirate with right knowledge, attitudes and skills that enhance their thinking and support sustainable development goals in awareness and action.

Abu Bakr Al Tom, a sustainability and social responsibility researcher, conducted the workshop. In engaging with the participants, Al-Tom explained the mechanisms of employing knowledge for sustainable growth and all-around performance by acquiring self-improvement skills and achieving sustainability in various spheres of life. In addition, he underscored the importance of promoting and practising values of honesty, commitment, and integration and supporting the innovative vision of the nation.

In the context of building awareness about the goals of sustainable development at the level of the individual, institutions, and societies, Al-Tom stressed that communication is an effective tool to promote the sustainability vision adopted by the UAE in education, health, economy, energy, and others. 

He sought to link the concept of communication with the concept of sustainability. He stressed the close relationship between them to build a sustainable idea that enables societies and countries to follow the pace of development that meets the needs of the times without undermining the ability of future generations to meet the unique demands on natural resources.

Huda Al Dah, Manager of the Government Communication Department, SGMB, said, "the strategic approach towards sustainability in its various dimensions cannot be achieved without activating an interactive communication system that inculcates sustainability standards and values in communities and emphasises social responsibility for the common good in environmental and development spheres. We at the Sharjah Government Media Bureau believe that communication is the most effective way to make the public aware of the UAE's pioneering efforts in the field of sustainability and raise awareness about its requirements to achieve sustainable thinking.”

She added, “Talking about sustainable communication necessitates us to consider mechanisms for employing communication in its various forms, platforms, knowledge, and multiple skills to enhance awareness of sustainable development goals, fields, and applications. Therefore, in this workshop for the GCN members, we sought to develop a community nucleus that adopts a communication vision of sustainability.”

The workshop identified various applications of sustainable communication, which helped the GCN members understand the varying dimensions of the ambitious UAE vision of building a thriving knowledge society in which sustainability standards are achieved through harmony between services and the current and future development requirements and social responsibility. 

The workshop stressed the importance of transitioning to environmentally friendly technologies that provide high-speed communication, besides the need to educate society about best practices to achieve a balance between economic and environmental development.