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A greener education

Countries, governments, corporations and nonprofits around the globe are working to reduce green-house gas emissions and fight against climate change.

But on a smaller scale, what can be done?

Students at Al Dhafra Private Schools-Abu Dhabi are taking their climate action goals to the bank — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to be precise.

FAB, in partnership with Emirates Foundation, recently held its Climate Action competition, challenging schools in the Emirate to act against climate change and offered a cash prize to put those plans to work.

The competition, made up of two themes and consequently two winners, offered AED 200,000 in prize money to each of the winning teams to bring their plans to fruition.

After passing the first round of the competition that included approximately 700 schools, the Al Dhafra Schools-Abu Dhabi’s high school students were shortlisted along with four others to present their full strategy, says Nosheen Riaz, the school’s head of sustainability.

CAPTION: Climate Action Event

The team, made up of grades 11 and 12 students, put together a comprehensive project and business plan that includes solar panels; kinetic energy generation via stationary bikes; a greywater-recycling system for garden irrigation and restroom flushing; a custom-built interactive app tracking impact and setting sustainability challenges; and sustainability education through gamification.

The team will also focus on involving parents with events such as uniform swaps and awareness activities.

“Putting together the proposal and business plan really pushed us to think like real-world problem-solvers. It wasn’t just about having a good idea — it was about learning how to communicate it, back it up with research, and present it professionally. It taught us the importance of planning, teamwork and staying committed to a vision we believe in,” said team member Laura Gutierrez.

The team aims to implement the project in full within 10 months.

“Knowing that we now have the financial support to bring our idea to life is empowering,” says Roy Jean Kattar, another team member. “It means our efforts can actually lead to real change. We’re not just talking about sustainability — we’re doing something about it, and that’s an incredible feeling.”

See the winning announcement here: Al Dhafra Private Schools-Abu Dhabi winners

The winning team for the other category, Climate Conscious Children, went to Al Nahda National School for Boys for their Eco-Posts Mobile App.

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Throwing shade on the desert

The world’s scorching deserts are generally thought of as unforgiving environments, but the sizable, sun-exposed landscapes have proven suitable locations for vast solar parks. The unexpected result? Shade-bearing solar panels appear to be changing ecosystems.

Deserts are among the Earth’s major ecosystems. They cover more than 20 percent of the Earth’s surface and are home to plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh environment. Almost 7,000 species, like the scavenging brown hyena that gets its water almost exclusively from prey and fruits, are found there.

But the harsh environment the hyena calls home might be in for a little reprieve.

A new study from Xi’an University of Technology shows that solar panels that provide constant shade may be responsible for renewed and enhanced desert ecosystems.

The environmental impact of solar panels may be two-fold: They produce renewable energy and life-sustaining conditions.

The panels offer constant shade, which assists in moisture retention, lowers soil temperatures and, ultimately, reduces evaporation.

CAPTION: Solar Innovation Centre, Dubai, UAE IMAGE: Shutterstock

The research suggests these small alterations could allow vegetation to flourish and support microorganism growth that is imperative for soil health. The research study in China’s Qinghai Gonghe Photovoltaic Park used the DPSIR model. The model is typically tapped to measure environmental problems but was used here to develop a system for evaluating the positive impact of the panels. The results suggested that the solar panels were actually restoring the desert soil.

Measuring 57 environmental indicators, including soil composition, temperature, biodiversity and humidity, the research team assessed the area underneath the panels as having general good ecological health. This area scored almost double the health rate of the surrounding desert.

“The index system constructed in this study helps to clarify the changes in the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts and responses of desert photovoltaic power plants and their comprehensive relationships. The use of different levels of indicators is an effective method for examining integrated environmental decision-making and can help managers make improved decisions,” the team says.

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