Labworx

The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has announced the launch of its National Integrated Energy Model this month. Devised in collaboration with Khalifa University (KU) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the model aims to set out a roadmap for the country’s energy sector to follow over the coming half century.

As well as defining specific objectives and putting in...

Dubai-based explorer Hamish Harding broke new ground earlier this month, when he and his American counterpart Victor Vescovo plumbed the depths of the Mariana Trench in a two-person submersible. By traversing the entire length of the Challenger Deep, the pair set a new Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled at full ocean depth.

Aside from making history, their mission was a...

Plastic pollution has been a serious problem for countries all over the world for many years now. A difficult situation has only become worse in recent months, with the pandemic affecting waste generation in 2020 through the proliferation – and improper disposal – of the single-use face masks, gloves and gowns designed to curb its spread.

This is very much a global issue – but addressing it ...

Abu Dhabi has kicked off 2021 with the announcement of a number of deals aimed at diversifying its energy generation portfolio and weening itself off fossil fuels. The initiatives were announced last month as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which, due to coronavirus complications, took place in a virtual capacity this year.

Among other avenues of research being pursued, the emirate is...

Last month, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) announced the launch of the UAE Environmental Policy. The announcement was made by MOCCAE Minister Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi via a virtual press briefing.

Agreed upon by the cabinet in November 2020, the policy is aimed at preserving precious ecosystems, promoting ecological products and services, supporting the country’...

The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) has been named as winner of the “Outstanding Contribution to Biodiversity Global 2020 Award” by Capital Finance International (CFI). As the largest environmental watchdog in the region, EAD was recognised for the outstanding efforts it has made to prioritise conservation in the Emirati capital.

“One of our main strategic priorities and mandates is th...

The UAE has made another stride towards improving the national water security situation last month, after one of the country’s biggest agricultural firms struck a business deal with an Israeli company to shore up its water supply in an innovative manner.

The Al Dahra Agricultural Company, a manufacturer of animal feed and other related products, has teamed up with Watergen, the forward-think...

Due to their ability to reach remote locations and their imperviousness to the kind of errors that make humans unreliable, drones can play an important part in helping the environment. That potential is being taken advantage of in the UAE, where the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) is planning to use these remotely piloted machines to plant thousands of mangrove seeds along the country’s coas...

In a country like the UAE, water scarcity is a real concern. Due to its sizzling temperatures and dry climate, there is barely enough water in the Emirates for the personal use of its citizens and the cultivation of its agricultural crops, let alone for the purposes of gardening or landscaping.

With that difficulty in mind, environmentalist and entrepreneur Chandra Dake has launched “Breatha...

One silver lining incurred by the coronavirus pandemic is the catalysing effect it has had on many people’s attitudes towards the environment and how their own daily habits can impact upon it. As well as prompting individuals to reassess their daily routine, it has also encouraged governments to plough a more sustainable furrow.

The UAE is a case in point. At present, the country is forced t...