Author: EcoLife

    UAE trials waste scheme to reduce amount of phones and laptops in landfills
    06 Jul 2025

    Mobile phone and laptop owners in the UAE will soon be able to get money when they hand their devices in for recycling rather than throwing them away. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has launched a trial project with Tadweer Group that will see manufacturers and producers of electronic devices paying a fee to make […]

    Rainforest deaths are surging and scientists just found the shocking cause
    05 Jul 2025

    Trees in tropical forests are dying at an increased rate, with consequences for biodiversity, carbon storage, and the global climate. While deforestation is the primary cause of forest loss, intact forests are also experiencing a rise in tree death. Drought, higher temperatures, and fires have been the leading suspects, but a new paper led by […]

    Deposit, drink, return: Lisbon is the first European capital with a citywide reusable cup scheme
    04 Jul 2025

    The system could remove thousands of discarded cups from Lisbon’s public spaces every night. Every night, around 25,000 cups are used in Lisbon’s entertainment areas. Although many cups are sold as “reusable”, until now there was no system in place to ensure the effective collection, cleaning and recirculation of these containers. Through a new citywide […]

    Europe swelters under heatwave as summer wildfires rage
    03 Jul 2025

    Europe experienced its first major heatwave of the summer on Monday, as temperatures reached a record of 46°C in south-west Spain and early summer wildfires led to evacuations in southern France. Heat warnings have been issued in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal, with reports indicating that these are taking place earlier in the year than usual because […]

    UAE turtle population rises, but plastic threat remains

    The UAE’s turtle population has steadily increased in recent years, with the Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi reporting a 30 per cent increase in numbers compared with a decade ago. But ingesting plastic remains a key issue, with reports this year that discarded plastic bags have caused some turtles to lose their flippers. While plastic pollution is still a major issue […]

    Plastic bag ban helps to save camels’ lives, study suggests

    The nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags has been praised for helping to save the lives of the UAE’s camel population. The number of camels found dead with plastic bags in their stomachs has fallen by up to 80 per cent after restrictions were introduced by the government, new research has found. Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director of Dubai’s […]

    Sheikha Shamma opens collective to drive climate action through stories
    30 Jun 2025

    Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, founder of The Climate Tribe, opened the project’s first physical home – The Climate Tribe Hub – this week. Tucked away in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the interactive space serves as a gathering point for climate storytelling, sustainable design, and hands-on workshops. Every detail, from tables made of date seeds to furniture […]

    Abu Dhabi’s ADQ to focus on vegetable gene editing as it seeks stake in seeds company
    29 Jun 2025

    ADQ, Abu Dhabi’s wealth fund, plans to acquire a 35 per cent stake in France’s Limagrain Vegetable Seeds as the UAE enters a research-intensive phase to transform farming and reduce reliance on food imports. As part of the deal, ADQ’s agritech company Silal and Limagrain Vegetable Seeds plan to establish a research and development partnership […]

    Race to host next year’s Cop heats up as Brazil urges focus on action over ambition
    28 Jun 2025

    As the race to host Cop31 intensifies – with Australia and Turkey emerging as leading contenders – this year’s host, Brazil, is calling for the focus to shift from pledges to implementation. Cop30 will be held in Belem in November but leading climate figures have raised concerns about what can be achieved amid an underwhelming build-up, with many members […]

    Dubai launches conservation centre to focus on fungi

    The world’s first conservation centre dedicated to fungi has been launched in Dubai, to plug one of the biggest gaps in global biodiversity protection. The Centre for Species Survival – Fungi, unveiled on Tuesday at Terra, Expo City Dubai, aims to boost international efforts to assess and protect fungi species, most of which remain undocumented despite […]