Latest news with #HabibaAlMarashi
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
"Emirates Environmental Group" supports the Circular Economy through a leading dialogue on waste valorisation
Habiba Al Mar'ashi: 'Waste is a valuable resource that drives innovation and economic opportunities.' Dubai, UAE – The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) successfully organised its 3rd Panel Discussion of the year under the powerful theme: 'Your Waste, My Treasure: Advancing Circular Economy through Waste Valorisation.' The event that took place on 25th June 2025 was hosted by Dubai Chambers, it brought together a diverse group of experts, youth, and sustainability stakeholders to explore the transformative role of waste valorisation in achieving a circular economy in the UAE and the wider region. The event opened with EEG's renowned Inter-School Debate between member schools of the Emirates Environmental Group which was launched earlier in the year, where students enthusiastically debated the motion: 'Waste Valorisation: A Key to Achieving Circular Economy in the UAE and Beyond?' Representing the Proposition, The Millennium School, Dubai argued that, 'Waste valorisation enables resource efficiency, reduces landfill dependence and is central to closing the loop in a circular economy.' Speaking for the Opposition, JSS International School, Dubai countered, 'Waste valorisation alone is insufficient; without systemic change in consumption, design and infrastructure, circularity cannot be fully achieved and realised.' This engaging youth segment reflects EEG's strong commitment to environmental education and to nurturing the next generation of sustainability champions. While the expert panel discussion brought together a stellar lineup of natinal and regional sustainability thought leaders and innovators, including Mr. Tim Clarke, CEO of Warsan Waste Management Company; Ms. Ceylan Üren, Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer of The Waste Lab; Dr. Udayan Banerjee, Advisor to the CEO of Cleanco Waste Treatment LLC; Prof. Mohammednoor Al Tarawneh from UAE University; Ms. Muna Al Nahdi, Director of Sustainability & Consultancy at FARNEK; Eng. Ahmed Moosa Alkhajeh, Head of Waste Project Design and Implementation Section - Waste Strategy and Projects Department, Dubai Municipality; and Dr. Daker AlRabaya, CEO of Waste Processing & Recycling Business at BEEAH Group. The session delivered a breadth of ideas, with dynamic, back-and-forth exchanges that elevated the discussion beyond expectations. Speakers shared sector-specific updates, highlighted key challenges, and explored the potential for cross-sector collaboration—captivating the audience and sparking significant interest. They addressed not only the complex issues surrounding waste management but also constructively challenged and supported one another's viewpoints, contributing to a dialogue that was open, inclusive, and free from bias. A robust audience Q&A segment followed, with questions coming from attendees of all backgrounds, including engaged high school students. If not for time constraints, the discussion could have continued well beyond the allotted hour, as each speaker had more to contribute. The discussion witnessed attendance from private sector, government agencies, schools, media, VIPs and foreign dignitaries. 'The conversation during the panel discussion was a vital step towards mobilising actionable solutions to ensure that waste is no longer seen as a burden, but as a valuable resource that drives innovation, economic opportunity, and environmental resilience,' said Mrs. Habiba Al Mar'ashi, Co-Founder & Chairperson of EEG who moderated the session. She added: 'Bringing together voices from industry, government, academia and youth created a collaborative platform to accelerate the region's transition to a truly circular economy.' Throughout the session, participants explored the environmental, economic and social impacts of waste valorisation, the development of cutting-edge technologies such as the Warsan Waste-to-Energy facility, and Dubai's bold vision to achieve zero landfill by 2030. The dialogue underscored the UAE's role as a regional pioneer in embedding circular economy principles into national sustainability frameworks. Key themes that emerged during the discussion included the importance of public-private partnerships in accelerating the shift from waste to resource; the growing relevance of innovative reuse, recycling and upcycling models; and the central role of policy, behavioural change and education in enabling circularity. Experts also stressed the need for robust metrics, system design, and investment in innovation ecosystems to scale up impact and achieve long-term sustainability goals. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal #9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal #13: Climate Action, and Goal #17: Partnerships for the Goals, this panel reaffirmed the urgent need for integrated, inclusive and forward-thinking approaches to address global environmental challenges and unlock a regenerative, circular future for the UAE and beyond. This impactful forum was made possible through the generous support of McDonald's UAE and Accenture, who served as the Main Sponsors—demonstrating their long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable innovation. Farnek contributed as the Support Contributor, reinforcing their leadership in environmental solutions. The event also benefited from the hospitality of Al Khoory Hotel, who provided catering services, and was enriched by the ongoing collaboration with EEG's Panel Discussions Partner, the Arabia CSR Network. Additional support came from prominent organisations including the Emirates Green Building Council, the Clean Energy Business Council, and the Swiss Business Council, showcasing a unified drive toward cross-sector environmental impact. Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a professional working group established in 1991 in the United Arab Emirates. It is devoted to protecting the environment through the means of education, action programmes and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the 1st environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organisation of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). EEG is a member of the UN Global Compact, the Global Urban Development (GUD) and the Global Investors for Sustainable Alliance (GISD). It is also a member of the One Planet Network under the programme of Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and its Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MAC) and Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML), EEG is a full Member (voting) of World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
Al Bawaba
05-06-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Emirates Environmental Group Celebrates the 28th Cycle of Emirates Recycling Awards to commemorate World Environment Day
Under the esteemed patronage and presence of H.H. Engr. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) proudly marked the 28th year of its Annual Emirates Recycling Awards on the occasion of World Environment Day, with a strong call to action to combat plastic pollution under this year's official theme, 'Ending Plastic Pollution.' The prestigious celebration was held at Dubai Knowledge Park and brought together a dynamic gathering of academic institutions, government entities, corporate leaders, diplomatic representatives, media, families and civil her opening address, EEG Co-Founder and Chairperson, Habiba Al Mar'ashi, emphasised the critical importance of the 2025 World Environment Day theme. She said 'Recycling is no longer optional—it is essential. As we stand at a critical juncture for our planet, the Emirates Recycling Awards reminds us that sustainability is a shared responsibility. Through our collective commitment to responsible waste management and environmental stewardship, we are actively shaping a greener, healthier future for generations to come.'She further lauded the UAE leadership for declaring 2025 as the 'Year of Community,' recognising the significance of uniting people through shared purpose. 'The spirit of community engagement and environmental action has always been at the core of EEG's work. As we celebrate this Year of Community, let us remember that real transformation begins with active, informed and united citizens. Environmental protection must be a collective endeavor,' she Emirates Recycling Awards are a cornerstone initiative that celebrates outstanding contributions to waste diversion and resource recovery. This year's awards underscored the far-reaching impact of EEG's robust recycling campaigns, which have tangibly reduced carbon emissions, conserved energy and protected precious natural Al Mar'ashi announced that in the past year, EEG collected and sent for recycling a total of 1,524,769 kilograms of recyclable waste and diverted them from ending in landfills, achieved through its multi-category campaigns across the UAE. These included:• Aluminum Cans: 32,833 kg• Paper: 1,173,494 kg• Printer Toners: 9,169 pcs• Plastic: 131,468 kg• Glass Bottles: 149,668 kg• Mobile Phones: 3,921 pcs• E-waste: 14,028 kg• Scrap Metals: 11,569 kgThese results highlight the measurable environmental gains and serve as a testament to the remarkable collaboration among UAE population, students, businesses and in Each Category:• Aluminum Cans Collection:o Academic: Higher College of Technology Fujairaho Individual/Family: Ibrahim Pashao Company/Institution: Emirates Flight Catering• Paper Collection:o Academic: Gems Modern Academyo Individual/Family: Sultan Ali Alzaabio Company/Institution: Department of Finance Abu Dhabi• Toner Cartridges Collection:o Individual/Family: Pavan Jolly Pratheesho Company/Institution: Besix Construct LLC• Plastic Collection:o Academic: Our Own High School, Dubaio Individual/Family: Ali Darwish Mubarak Salim Alzaabio Company/Institution: Abela & Co• Glass Bottles Collection:o Academic: The Arbor Schoolo Individual/Family: Mariah Mubarako Company/Institution: Dubai World Trade Centre• Mobile Phones Collection:o Academic: Our Own High School, Dubaio Individual/Family: Amal Saeed Al Shamsio Company/Institution: Dubai Public Prosecution• E-Waste Collection:o Academic: Delhi Private School Dubaio Individual/Family: Muneera Darwish Alzaabio Company/Institution: Jaleel Holdings LLC• Scrap Metals Collection:o Academic: Sultan Bin Zayed School Al Aino Individual/Family: Fateem Ali Alzaabio Company/Institution: Marco Polo HotelMrs. Al Mar'ashi extended heartfelt appreciation to the sponsors and partners who contributed effectively to the success of the awarding ceremony. Special thanks were given to:• Silver Sponsors: McDonald's UAE and Acer• Event Host: Dubai Knowledge Park• In-Kind Sponsors:o Almaraio Brother Internationalo ITL Cosmoso Nikai Group of CompaniesAdditionally, she acknowledged the participating hotels that generously offered hospitality vouchers to the award winners. In her concluding message, Mrs. Al Mar'ashi called upon all segments of society to make sustainable practices a daily priority. 'Let us honour the Year of Community by working hand-in-hand to safeguard our environment. Every action counts. Let's continue to support initiatives that ensure a greener and healthier future for generations to come,' she urged.
Mid East Info
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
EmiratesGBC enters MoU with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region to further the agenda of Sustainable Built Environment in the region
EGBC and CNRE to work together to realise their common objectives. Partnership aims to leverage joint strength to achieve environmental sustainability in the region Dubai, UAE; May, 2025: Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) has announced a partnership with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE), a public-private partnership between the Dutch Government and knowledge institutes, technology companies and technology providers, to further champion key issues related to environmental sustainability in the region. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently in Dubai seeks to leverage EGBC and CNRE's respective networks to promote a host of good practices in the region and internationally, including Near Zero and Net Zero buildings and communities; Resilience in the built environment for new buildings and retrofits; and Research and education in areas of sustainability in the built environment. The signing of the MoU was marked by a welcome note by Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Emirates Green Building Council; opening remarks by Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, H.E. Dr. Carel Richter and an introduction by Andre Vreman, Chairman of Climate Neutral Real Estate. A round table discussion on 'Towards Climate Neutral Real Estate in the UAE – Opportunities and Challenges' moderated by Abdullatif AlBitawi, CEO of EmiratesGBC, further advocated the urgent need to prioritise environmental sustainability in the region. As part of the MoU, CNRE and EmiratesGBC will partner to host informative events on green building topics to meet their joint environmental and sustainability objectives. They will work towards enabling real estate to become climate neutral in energy and water supply, while driving asset value and enabling green finance. Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Emirates Green Building Council, said; 'Collaboration is key to driving collective action across industries to achieve a sustainable future for all. At Emirates Green Building Council, we are deeply committed to advocacy to ensure we provide the right platform to drive change, and we are thrilled to partner with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE) in their mission to accelerate net-zero design, construction and operations for real estate assets in desert climates. We look forward to powering our shared vision of sustainable building and environmental impact in the region through this strategic partnership.' EmiratesGBC is a professional forum devoted to protecting the environment through promoting and encouraging the green building concept within the whole building supply chain, shaping policies for the built environment and facilitating collaborative solutions to promote sustainable practices in the UAE. EGBC is part of a global network of more than 75 Green Building Councils across 31 countries to join hands to find solutions to Reduce. Electrify. Adapt. for a sustainable built environment with the core belief that what we build today defines our tomorrow.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EmiratesGBC enters MoU with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region
EGBC and CNRE to work together to realise their common objectives. Partnership aims to leverage joint strength to achieve environmental sustainability in the region Dubai, UAE: Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) has announced a partnership with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE), a public-private partnership between the Dutch Government and knowledge institutes, technology companies and technology providers, to further champion key issues related to environmental sustainability in the region. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently in Dubai seeks to leverage EGBC and CNRE's respective networks to promote a host of good practices in the region and internationally, including Near Zero and Net Zero buildings and communities; Resilience in the built environment for new buildings and retrofits; and Research and education in areas of sustainability in the built environment. The signing of the MoU was marked by a welcome note by Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Emirates Green Building Council; opening remarks by Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, H.E. Dr. Carel Richter and an introduction by Andre Vreman, Chairman of Climate Neutral Real Estate. A round table discussion on 'Towards Climate Neutral Real Estate in the UAE – Opportunities and Challenges' moderated by Abdullatif AlBitawi, CEO of EmiratesGBC, further advocated the urgent need to prioritise environmental sustainability in the region. As part of the MoU, CNRE and EmiratesGBC will partner to host informative events on green building topics to meet their joint environmental and sustainability objectives. They will work towards enabling real estate to become climate neutral in energy and water supply, while driving asset value and enabling green finance. Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder, Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Emirates Green Building Council, said; 'Collaboration is key to driving collective action across industries to achieve a sustainable future for all. At Emirates Green Building Council, we are deeply committed to advocacy to ensure we provide the right platform to drive change, and we are thrilled to partner with Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region (CNRE) in their mission to accelerate net-zero design, construction and operations for real estate assets in desert climates. We look forward to powering our shared vision of sustainable building and environmental impact in the region through this strategic partnership.' EmiratesGBC is a professional forum devoted to protecting the environment through promoting and encouraging the green building concept within the whole building supply chain, shaping policies for the built environment and facilitating collaborative solutions to promote sustainable practices in the UAE. EGBC is part of a global network of more than 75 Green Building Councils across 31 countries to join hands to find solutions to Reduce. Electrify. Adapt. for a sustainable built environment with the core belief that what we build today defines our tomorrow. About Emirates Green Building Council: The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) was founded in June 2006, and became the 8th full member of the World Green Building Council in September 2006. EmiratesGBC promotes and educates on green issues in the built environment and is the official body for the UAE endorsed by the World Green Building Council. EmiratesGBC currently has around 170 members in the UAE which represents 1000s of individuals interested and involved in Green Building in the UAE and the region. In addition, EmiratesGBC members receive discounts on a number of programmes such as those related to conferences, seminars, training and green building events. About Climate Neutral Real Estate: The Climate Neutral Real Estate Gulf Region programme is a public-private partnership between knowledge institutes, technology companies, technology providers and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Climate Neutral Real Estate aims to achieve net-zero buildings, first during operations, and also address and later include the emission impact of construction materials. The aim of this programme is to achieve leadership to accelerate net-zero design, construction and operations for real estate assets in desert climates. For more information: Nivine William Burson
The National
11-03-2025
- The National
UAE breathes cleaner air, as levels of major pollutant fall
Levels of a major pollutant in the UAE's air have dropped significantly in a year, according to a report that ranks countries by air quality. While concentrations of the smallest type of particulate matter remain above levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the 2024 World Air Quality Report from Swiss company IQAir reveals that they have fallen by more than a fifth. As a result of the improvement, the UAE is now ranked 17th globally in terms of countries with the worst air pollution, an improvement of 10 places since the 2023 report, which focuses on levels of PM2.5 or particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometres in diameter. 'In 2024, air quality in West Asia [which includes the Middle East] showed moderate improvements, with PM2.5 levels dropping in each country across the region, although air pollution remains a significant challenge,' the report said. 'The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait saw the most notable reductions in PM2.5 concentrations, with the UAE experiencing a 22 per cent drop and Kuwait a 24 per cent reduction.' The UAE's concentration of PM2.5 has fallen from 43 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre) to 33.7 µg/m3 in a year. The WHO recommends a maximum of 5 µg/m3, a figure met by just seven of the 138 countries analysed in the report. Habiba Al Marashi, chairwoman of Emirates Environmental Group, said that the authorities in every emirate monitored air quality and that multiple steps had been taken to achieve improvements. She indicated that slight reductions in the amount of traffic may have contributed to the UAE's better performance. 'The increased use of public transport has helped,' she told The National. 'Even putting the [Salik] toll on the main streets has helped in reducing it a little bit. Maybe it deters people from making unnecessary trips.' Smart transport technologies make route-finding more efficient and 'reduce wasted time and unnecessary routes', Ms Al Marashi said. Another factor is the 'increased number of trees that are being planted' and the growth in green space. The ability of parks and gardens to cut air pollution has been established by research, with a study from China in 2023 finding that more green space 'significantly decreases the PM2.5 concentration'. Other research published this year suggested that an increase in the area covered by parks and gardens may have caused a slight reduction in Dubai's temperatures. Other Gulf nations have PM2.5 levels between 25 and 32 µg/m3, while Iraq is West Asia's most polluted country, with a figure of 38.4 µg/m3. Diana Francis, who heads the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Lab at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that, since 2010, the UAE had experienced a decrease in the levels in the air of aerosols – all types of dust and pollution. 'Changes in land cover use and more built environment is the major contributor to these trends, in addition to the increase in rainfall, which helps to clean the air of suspended particles.' she said. However, Dr Francis said that while there may have been falls in the levels of particulate matter, this cannot be said of gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides. 'Stricter policies on pollutant emissions need to be put in place given the big negative impact of these pollutants on human health and crop health,' she said. 'We still see on our roads trucks and buses that emit huge black smoke clouds, for example. The same goes for cruise [ships] docked at the ports. There are still many areas where improvements can be introduced.' The small size of PM2.5 mean that they reach into the deepest part of the lungs and can enter the bloodstream. Short and long-term health effects, including heart disease, lung cancer and diabetes, are linked to the pollutants. 'When the air pollution is quite high, we notice a lot of hospital admissions because of chronic lung disease and heart attacks. Chest infections and asthma attacks are more common, especially when pollution is very high,' said Kamran Siddiqi, a medical doctor and professor in public health at the University of York in the UK. The most polluted countries in the world are Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India, which have PM2.5 concentrations of between 50 and 92 µg/m3. In Central and South Asia nearly one-third of cities have average PM2.5 concentrations more than 10 times the maximum recommended by the WHO, the report said. 'While governments have implemented measures to curb pollution, challenges persist due to policy enforcement gaps, rapid urbanisation, and the continued reliance on polluting fuel sources,' it said. Prof Siddiqi said that in South Asia, in addition to pollution from traffic and industry, the burning by farmers of stubble in fields was a major pollution source. 'It's particularly a problem in Punjab, which covers both India and Pakistan,' he said. 'In Bangladesh, it's primarily fumes coming out of factories and traffic.' He said that enforcing laws banning stubble burning was difficult, because the activity happened over a wide area. But, he noted that some cities in the region were trying to clean their air by, for example, introducing electric buses. Emerging technology also allows individuals to measure their exposure which helps people to travel on routes or at times of day that are less polluted, he said. Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School in the UK, said that many health issues caused by air pollution took a long time to emerge and that poorer people were often most heavily exposed. 'Many of the developing nations of the world have a younger-age population,' he said. 'With that younger-age population exposed to high levels of air pollution, there are problems to come many decades on. The problems of air pollution are not necessarily immediate. You will have in future more people with illness because they've been exposed to that pollution when they were younger. It's imperative that national and local governments do all they can to improve air quality.'
