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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.

More like this: How Coldplay takes sustainability on tour

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Air pollution impairs cognitive
function

Breathing polluted air can impair cognitive function within just four hours, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and University of Manchester found that short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) significantly reduces selective attention and the ability to recognize emotions. The findings suggest that even brief encounters with air pollution can affect higher-level brain functions.

The study tested 26 adults under controlled conditions, exposing them to either clean air or high levels of particulate pollution for one hour. Cognitive tests before and after exposure showed that participants had more difficulty focusing and interpreting facial expressions after breathing polluted air.

The researchers highlighted the need for further research into PM2.5 and its effects on brain health, especially long-term.

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How Coldplay takes sustainability on tour

With 45,000 other fans, I went to a Coldplay concert last month. It had been 20 years since my last one and this time was a very different experience. The technology wasn’t just a flashy addition, it was an essential part of the sustainable show.

Concert-related CO2 emissions come from a wide range of sources — travel, ticketing, audience electronics, energy consumption for staging, lighting, sound, ventilation, hotel stays for attendees, band members, and crew, as well as waste from packaging and plastics.

After launching “Everyday Life” in 2019, Coldplay told the BBC that they would stop touring until they could ensure it could be done sustainably.

“We’re taking time over the next year or two to work out how our tour can not only be sustainable but how it can be actively beneficial,” frontman Chris Martin said.

Fast forward to 2021 and the announcement of their Music of the Spheres Tour, where the band vowed to cut direct carbon emissions by 50 percent, covering every aspect of production and travel.

Among the innovations used to cut their carbon emissions: Energy centers placed around each venue consist of 44 sustainable tiles for fans to dance on and 15 kinetic bikes that generate energy to help power the show. Data collected from these centers records the amount of energy produced during specific songs, shows and across tours.

“From collecting unprecedented amounts of data to taking specific actions today based on rigorous analysis, Coldplay is modelling a trajectory toward a low-carbon, biodiverse and equitable future.”

– John E. Fernández, director of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

On average, these installations — along with solar panels set up around the stadium — generate about 17 kWh each night, enough to power the center stage.

The band also encourages concertgoers to use public transportation and shuttle buses organized for the event; set up water stations around the venue; and requests that fans bring refillable bottles.

Every flight, including freight and charter, uses sustainable aviation fuel, and the stage is built with reusable and recycled lightweight materials.

In 2023, the band reported powering 18 shows from a portable battery system made from recycled BMW i3 batteries. Over 2022–2023, they also achieved a 59 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to their 2016 tour.

But it’s not all about direct emissions and energy consumption.

Coldplay also focuses on food and waste management. So far, 72 percent of all tour waste has been sent for reuse, recycling or composting. They’ve also donated nearly 10,000 meals from tour catering to the homeless over the same two-year period.

For each ticket sold, a tree is planted, and the band partners with several sustainability-focused organizations, including ClientEarth and One Tree Planted. To top it all off, Coldplay’s tour merchandise is made from organic and recycled materials.

It seems like they’ve got the bases covered. But is it enough?

Carbon Market Watch praises the band’s efforts but points out that some information is missing from their data — such as emissions from fan travel. They also suggest the numbers could be reduced by playing fewer concerts.

The data and sustainability claims have been audited and verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.

“For some time now, Coldplay has been leading by example in taking seriously and acting on the various interrelated environmental and social challenges facing humanity; climate change, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, environmental injustice and more,” says John E. Fernández, director of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.

“With each subsequent year of their tour they demonstrate an evolving vision and expanded commitment to move the entire music industry toward true and humane sustainability and planetary resilience. From collecting unprecedented amounts of data to taking specific actions today based on rigorous analysis, Coldplay is modelling a trajectory toward a low-carbon, biodiverse and equitable future,” he adds.

After all, they’re one of only a few taking such measures.

Comprehensive industry-wide data is scarce. That’s why MIT is conducting its own research, led by Fernández and MIT research scientist Norhan Bayomi of The Climate Machine, an MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative research group.

“This latest analysis of Coldplay’s impact on the environment from touring is again setting a new standard for the entire music industry. The data and the methods of analysis support the conclusion that substantial progress has been made to reduce emissions in touring,” Fernández says.

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On the path to sustainable
construction

The United Arab Emirates is a popular tourist destination, with much of the draw attributed to its impressive megastructures: the Burj Khalifa and the Future Museum in Dubai, Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace and Qasr al Watan, the Louvre and, of course, Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

There is over U.S. $710 billion invested in ongoing construction projects aimed at fostering economic growth and development. At the same time, architectural marvels and rapid urbanization often come at the cost of environmental sustainability.

Listen to the Deep Dive:

Shadeedha Saradara is a Ph.D. student at Khalifa University. With KU professor Malik Khalfan, she examined the sustainability initiatives surrounding construction efforts in the UAE, evaluating their effectiveness and drawing comparisons with regional and international standards.

The UAE government is unequivocally committed to attaining its sustainable development goals.

– Shadeedha Saradara, Khalifa University

Saradara says the built environment is a major contributor to global environmental challenges, responsible for over 50 percent of the annual global extraction of materials and a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions.

“In 2015, the same year members of the U.N. signed the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, the construction industry was responsible for 38 percent of the total world carbon dioxide emissions,” Saradara says. “It’s imperative that we quickly and substantially reduce these emissions in the building sector on a worldwide scale if we want to achieve the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.”

However, the journey to sustainable construction is fraught with obstacles. The UAE, a nation synonymous with rapid development and constant construction, serves as a case study for this challenge.

“The UAE’s transformation from a modest economy to a global hub has been meteoric,” Saradara says.

IMAGE: Unsplash

“But this comes with a hefty carbon footprint. The construction sector here must now pivot toward a circular approach that emphasizes reuse and minimizes waste. This isn’t just an environmental imperative, it can also have economic benefits, reducing the long-term costs associated with material consumption and waste management,” she adds.

Saradara notes the UAE’s commitment to sustainable development is evident in its policies and practices. Despite its reliance on fossil fuels and the environmental pressures of air-conditioning and desalination, the country is striving to reduce its carbon emissions and enhance its sustainability credentials.

“The construction sector stands as a cornerstone of the UAE’s economy, but this comes with a set of environmental responsibilities,” she says. “There are new green building standards and certifications which are augmented by existing global certifications, and efforts to reduce emissions from the construction industry and construction and demolition waste are all backed up with Emirate-level programs and policies.”

More legislation and initiatives are still needed to address the challenge of sustainable construction, but Saradara says the UAE is definitely heading in the right direction: “The UAE government is unequivocally committed to attaining its sustainable development goals, showcasing its dedication to ensuring a sustainable future for its population and natural resources.”

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HYDROGEN: The future fuel for aviation?

In June 2023, Rowan Atkinson – the versatile English actor, comedian and writer – authored an opinion piece for the Guardian casting doubt on the environmental benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Listen to the Deep Dive:

While the arguments and studies he based his arguments on have been debunked, he rightly argued for more focus on hydrogen-powered vehicles.

It, however, is too early for hydrogen vehicles since there currently are just 72,000 hydrogen-fueled vehicles on the planet. In comparison to the 14 million EVs sold the previous year alone, the hydrogen-vehicle numbers pale. It, however, is indisputable that hydrogen-fuelled vehicles will be one of the major players in the times to come.

Intelligent Energy, a start-up in Leicestershire, U.K., has started to roll off the hydrogen fuel cell units capable of powering cars, trucks and buses. BMW is heavily invested in hydrogen-powered vehicles and has started delivering its iX5 hydrogen vehicles to select partners in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. While the hydrogen-vehicle future is already here, there has been a keen interest in hydrogen as a fuel for the aviation industry.

The aviation industry is a vital part of global transportation and economic growth but its heavy dependence on fossil fuels and thereby greenhouse gas emissions is a severe problem.

Mudasir A. Yatoo, Ph.D.

—Research associate in the Materials Department at Imperial College London and freelance consultant at Outsmart Insight.

In order to tackle these challenges, hydrogen as a fuel is emerging as a promising solution.

One of the primary motivations for exploring hydrogen as an aviation fuel is its potential to reduce carbon emissions. When combusted, hydrogen produces only water vapor as a by-product, presenting a pathway to mitigate the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.

Hydrogen for aviation comes with benefits including environmental sustainability; energy efficiency; versatility in terms of production and scalability; and synergy with other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy.

Fuel cells and hydrogen storage systems are two such technologies that have the potential to provide the necessary energy density and power output for commercial aviation.

The ability to store significant energy in a small space is vital for long-range flights and heavy payloads. The energy content per unit mass of hydrogen is 120 MJ/kg, the highest, but its volumetric energy density is very low because of its exceptionally low density at ordinary temperature and pressure conditions.

Although hydrogen’s energy density per unit volume is lower than traditional jet fuels, advancements in fuel cell and storage technologies are making it increasingly feasible for commercial aviation.

However, major challenges in infrastructure, technological advancement and safety remain. Establishing a strong hydrogen infrastructure including the availability of hydrogen at airports worldwide is one such key challenge.

Developing and integrating hydrogen storage, transportation and refueling infrastructure into existing airports are crucial.

Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires careful handling to ensure safety. Adequate safety measures and regulations and learning lessons from existing hydrogen applications, such as fuel cell vehicles appear to be the way forward.

Therefore addressing safety concerns and public perception surrounding hydrogen in aviation should be prioritized.

Furthermore, a concerted effort is required: Collaboration among government bodies, industry stakeholders and research institutions is necessary.

The road to the hydrogen-based aviation industry is long, but world governments’ policy support and funding with a clear focus on emissions-reduction targets could very well catalyze the transition sooner than later.

Mudasir A. Yatoo, Ph.D., is a research associate in the Materials Department at Imperial College London and freelance consultant at Outsmart Insight.