Sustainability

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

    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 […]

    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 […]

    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 […]

    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 […]

    How Dubai’s 20-minute city ambitions are becoming reality

    Dubai’s 20-minute city ambitions are a “reality in the making” as the Metro expansion, alongside the promotion of walking, cycling and greener spaces help to change perceptions of urban life, experts say. The UAE can also learn from older cities’ mistakes by dispensing with legacy systems to reimagine a new world. The topic was in sharp focus at the Mobility […]

    Vegetation in UAE deserts grew by 40% after 2024 floods
    19 Jun 2025

    The flood that hit the UAE in April last year caused an increase in greenery in the country’s desert landscapes, research has found. Vegetation in some areas increased by up to 40 per cent compared to the same time in 2023 and this has had a lasting impact, which is “very surprising”, climate scientist Dr Diana Francis […]

    How your old phone could become a ‘tiny data centre’ helping researchers to track marine life

    For just €8, researchers are turning old smartphones into devices capable of tracking marine life and buses. Old phones could have a new chapter as tiny data centres, a new line of research has found. Each year, more than 1.2 billion smartphones are produced globally. Despite the expense to consumers and the environmental toll of […]

    ‘We don’t need a disaster to justify resilience’: Climate projects can bring big economic benefits
    09 Jun 2025

    The 320 climate projects analysed were found to have potential yields of about €1 trillion in projected returns over a decade. As floods, fires and heatwaves grow more frequent and destructive, new research shows that climate adaptation isn’t just urgent. It’s also one of the smartest investments governments can make. According to a new report […]

    Clean start: UAE hotel soaps recycled in drive to cut waste and boost hygiene

    Each year, hotels across the UAE throw away an estimated 16 million bars of soap – many after just a single use. Now, a growing number of hotels are signing up to a grassroots recycling programme that is tackling the waste head-on, transforming used soap into new bars for communities in need. Launched in 2023, the Unisoap […]