The Rub’ Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, is often thought of as an area of endless sand dunes, a landscape that is striking but, as its name suggests, empty. But those who have been there many times know that there is much more to the Empty Quarter than the cliché of nothingness, even if visitors may have […]
Abu Dhabi is looking to the public to help shape the next stage of its single-use plastic policy, as the emirate prepares for a federal ban to come into force next year. The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi has launched a public survey aimed at evaluating the environmental, health and social effects of the single-use plastics regulations […]
Just beyond Dubai’s skyscrapers and busy streets lies a five-square-mile wetland reserve that is a vital seasonal habitat for migratory birds. Earlier this month, the Dubai Executive Council approved a Dh650 million ($177 million) development plan for the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, as the reserve is known. And at the heart of this vision are trees […]
Abu Dhabi on Wednesday set out a 25-year action plan to address the growing threat of climate change and protect the emirate’s precious natural resources for future generations. The comprehensive strategy, announced by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, will focus on bolstering the “highly vulnerable” environmental systems of groundwater, soil and biodiversity, which are viewed as critical to human health, […]
The UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment has hailed the country’s growing ties with China after seeing how a thriving date palm partnership is bearing fruit on an overseas trip to the country. Dr Amna Al Dahak visited the UAE-China Friendship Forest of Date Palm in Wenchang City, on the southern island province of Hainan, where an ambitious […]
Ecologists are concerned that forest ecosystems will not keep pace with a rapidly changing climate, failing to remain healthy and productive. Before the rapid climate change of the past century, tree populations in the Northern Hemisphere adapted to colder and warmer periods over thousands of years. During onsets of Ice Ages, tree populations migrated south, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
