The Sustainabilist - Health & Wellbeing by Dubai Carbon

The Sustainabilist ISSUE 28

Health & Wellbeing

A SUCCESS STORY

RISE OF REGENERATIVE TOURISM

ISBN 978 - 1978357310

Cover Story by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO, DEWA

Discover transformative personal journeys offered by AMAALA

IT’S IN THE AIR

EMPLOYEES AT THE CENTRE

Etihad ESCO highlights the role of ESCOs in improving Indoor Air Quality

Tabreed’s HSEQ Department excels in the company’s COVID-19 response

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The UAE’s wise leadership acknowledges that it is important to create encouraging environments for work and education, by means of empowering individuals and providing them with opportunities for growth and development.

ealth refers to an individual’s body being free from diseases, whereas wellness is an overall balance of one’s physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental and occupational wellbeing. With the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences affecting the health and lives of millions of people around the world, now, more than ever, it is important to focus on these topics. Past months have been challenging, with countries across the globe having to focus almost entirely on curbing the spread of COVID-19. We witnessed the world entering into an active recovery phase while acknowledging that the life post-pandemic and lockdowns, would not be the same. Along with focusing on ‘digital’ and ‘green’ as sustainable recovery strategies, it seems that the world agreed that this “new normal” should entail embracing one’s health and wellbeing as a core pillar moving forward.

Eng Waleed Bin Salman

Editor in Chief The Sustainabilist

In light of the pandemic, the UAE Government ensured the country’s citizens and residents get free access to available vaccines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the federal and local governments have been highly successful in carrying out their vaccination drives. In fact, as of May 2021, the UAE tops global rankings for vaccination rates, administering more than 120 doses of COVID-19 vaccine per 100 people. In the midst of the pandemic, federal and local government employees were given the option of working from home, and many private sector entities followed suit. This had a positive impact on the individuals’ lifestyle and wellbeing. Life and Work Beyond 2020 study found that employees in the UAE are very keen on work-from-anywhere models, with 64% revealing that the ability to conduct hybrid work – from home or office – contributed to their happiness. The UAE’s wise leadership acknowledges that it is important to create encouraging environments for work and education, by means of empowering individuals and providing them with opportunities for growth and development. The recently launched UAE’s National Wellbeing Strategy 2031 sets out a comprehensive 10-year plan to make the Emirates a world leader in quality of life. The new specialised centres, along with the 90 initiatives to be implemented by various government bodies, hope to improve the physical and mental health of the population, social relationships, education, and the efficiency of government services. The National Wellbeing Strategy 2031 aims to promote active and healthy lifestyle, healthy nutrition options, good mental health, positive thinking, and necessary life skills. This edition serves as a testament to the fact that entities in the UAE and across the region are putting Health and Wellbeing in the centre. Have a good read and stay healthy!

IN THIS ISSUE

COVER STORY

Doua and Esther of One Modern World talk about the effects of plastic on planetary health and how businesses can tackle the issue

HE Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA, shares his views on DEWA’s achievements in ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Interview with John Pagano, CEO of AMAALA to learn more about the new project being a pioneer in regenerative tourism

Conversation with Sabooh Asghar, Vice President HSEQ at Tabreed, to understand the company’s COVID-19 response and their initiatives to protect employee and environmental health 01

Letter from Editor in Chief

A Success Story, HE Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA

Awarding Inspiring Sustainability Solutions, Zayed Sustainability Prize

Say No to Plastic, Doua Benhida & Esther Dahmen, One Modern World

Rise of Regenerative Tourism, John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company and Amaala

Vaccine roll-out in the MENA Region

Interview with Sabooh Asghar, Vice President HSEQ, Tabreed

30 34

Rise in Sustainability-Focussed Education Supports Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, DIAC Ensuring Environmental Health via Carbon Neutrality, Vivek Tripathi, Founder & CEO, Olive Gaea Importance of prioritising employees' health and safety, Brian Spraker, Executive Director Health, Safety and Security, TRSDC Addressing Health and Wellness in the Workplace, Bureau Veritas, Intertek & ENERTIS

It’s in the Air, Faisal Al Raisi, COO and Acting CEO, Etihad ESCO

Consmer Behaviours post COVID-19

Power of Togetherness, Jeremy Doutte, Vice-President, Talabat

Impact of COVID-19 on Students, Dr Mercedes Sheen, Heriot-Watt University, Dubai

Health Engagement Programmes, Wissam Youssef, Co-founder and CEO, CME

Health and Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry, M Gunasekaran, Technical Customer Service Specialist, Lenzing Fibers

Prevention is better than cure, Adam Smith, Managing Director, Polypire Middle East

Editor in Chief : Programme Director :

Solaiman Al-Rifai solaiman.alrifai@dcce.ae

Managing Editor :

Līga Līce da Costa ligal@dcce.ae

Associate Editor :

Nirel Ethel Titty nirelt@dcce.ae

SUBSCRIBE Ensure you receive the newsletter of The Sustainabilist, please visit TheSustainabilist.ae In addition to our online publication which will soon be entirely digital, our website features all sorts of sustainability news. Join us online to access opinions, ideas, initiatives, and achievements in the realm of sustainability in the Middle East. We look forward to interacting with our readers on all of our social media and web platforms. In fact, you can even join our community of environmental bloggers and contribute on the website – click on 'contribute' and start writing.

Waleed Bin Salman

tellmeyourstory@dcce.ae

NEXT ISSUE The impact of digital transformation is all around us, the benefits of which, are seen in cities, organisations and also buildings. As the region aims to deliver strategic and economic development plans, creating sustainable living environments and world-class infrastructure plays a crucial role. The UAE is constructing some of the world’s smartest buildings to reduce operating costs and improve the working environment.The rise of smart buildings is set to be one of the most far-reaching transformation. The next issue, Construction/Smart Buildings will shed light on this evolution in the industry and how it will benefit the people of the region. We will soon begin collecting stories for the next issue, get in touch to contribute!

The Sustainabilist is published by Dubai Carbon. Articles reprinted in this issue are copyrighted 2021 by Dubai Carbon. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, without prior written permission of Dubai Carbon is expressively prohibited. Nothing in this magazine shall be taken as technical or advice and DCCE waives any liability with respect to any representations made.The production of this magazine will be offset with local carbon credits.

The articles reflect the opinions of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the publishers or the editorial team. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Health & Wellbeing

COVER STORY

A Success Story By: HE Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA

The Sustainabilist

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA, tells The Sustainabilist about DEWA’s achievements in ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

As a socially responsible government organisation, what are some of DEWA’s initiatives to safeguard the physical and mental health of the community it serves? DEWA supports the vision of the wise leadership to provide psychological, professional, and social support to all employees. This is in addition to providing an inspiring and happy work environment that balances their professional and social lives. DEWA has launched several awareness campaigns on COVID-19 using various channels and in different languages to spread awareness to all staff and customers. DEWA also provides several smart channels for customers to complete their transactions easily and conveniently. Customers can easily use them without the need to visit its premises. Customers can access all DEWA services such as bill payment; activating, transferring or de-activating electricity and water; and Electric Vehicle Green Charger services. Even if customers do need to visit DEWA’s centres, Customer Happiness staff will show them how to use the smart devices, which are disinfected after every use. Customers can also speak directly with customer care staff using video live chat through devices available at the centres. What role does employees’ wellbeing play in ensuring DEWA’s success? How is DEWA taking care of its employees’ wellbeing amidst COVID-19 pandemic and beyond? DEWA has implemented the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and the decision by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, regarding the return of Dubai Government employees to their workplaces. The gradual return of employees to the workplace started on 31 May 2020. On 14 June 2020, all employees returned to work in line with the guidelines issued by Dubai Government Human Resources Department. This excludes elderly staff and staff with chronic diseases, pregnant ladies, and female employees with schoolage children until the end of the school year.

DEWA’s facilities have been prepared according to the highest standards to protect the health and safety of employees, customers, and society. The measures include the continuous sterilisation of DEWA’s facilities, providing disinfectants, hand sanitisers, facemasks, and gloves. DEWA has thermal cameras at its entry points; and implementing flexible working hours to limit congestion when entering or leaving and dedicating different entry and exit points to keep safe distance. DEWA has an agreement with specialised health facilities to conduct COVID-19 tests and allocates special rooms for quarantine at DEWA’s facilities in case any of the employees show symptoms. In addition, contractors are checking their workers, engineers, and staff at their sites to prevent any infection to DEWA’s supervisors and engineers. DEWA came first in the Happiness Index in the large Dubai government entities category for the second consecutive year, with a 95% happiness level, according to Smart Dubai’s Happiness Index that monitors happiness levels among the people of Dubai. DEWA was the first organisation in the Middle East to receive the BSC COVID-19 Assurance Statement. What were the criteria for the same and how did DEWA excel in them? DEWA places the health and safety of its customers, employees, and partners at the top of its priorities. This is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. This statement from the British Safety Council is an international recognition of DEWA’s outstanding approach in dealing with COVID-19 as part of its integrated strategy and the guidelines by the relevant authorities in the UAE and the Government of Dubai. In addition to the precautionary measures that DEWA implements across all its facilities according to the highest standards, we provide a help line for staff, in cooperation with specialists and psychologists, to support the psychological wellbeing of employees and increase their sense of security.

Health & Wellbeing

The Sustainabilist

DEWA came first in the Happiness Index in the large Dubai government entities category for the second consecutive year, with a 95% happiness level, according to Smart Dubai’s Happiness Index COVID-19 has taught us a meaningful lesson that one’s health and wellbeing should be put first. How has this influenced DEWA’s internal policies? Would you say that there is a significant difference between DEWA pre-COVID-19 and DEWA post-COVID-19 in this regard? DEWA has always cared about the wellbeing of its staff and has actively supported Dubai’s efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, in cooperation with the public and private sectors, to keep society safe and accelerate digital transformation for customers and employees. DEWA has organised multiple awareness and online training by experts from the public and private sectors for its employees. This includes 70 awareness workshops and 54 online sessions. On its internal channels, it regularly distributes content on precautionary measures, health and safety practices recommended by concerned authorities. DEWA also conducted around 443 staff training programmes to maintain its excellence standards during the pandemic. DEWA will continue to update its employees on physical distancing, hygiene, use and safe disposal of face masks and gloves. This is in addition to updated FAQs on coronavirus, and how to support People of Determination during this pandemic. DEWA’s resilience and response in dealing with these rapid developments has been the result of its use of fourth industrial revolution technologies. DEWA will be one of the first government organisations to reformulate its corporate vision and strategy in line with the vision and directives of the wise leadership for the next phase after COVID-19. DEWA was given the Gold Award by International Business Excellence Award (IBXA-2020) in the Wellbeing & Health category. What does this achievement mean to the organisation and its employees? What lies behind this achievement? DEWA receiving the Gold Award by International Business Excellence Award adds to DEWA’s record of achievements. The Award was given for the Estisharati Programme which provides individual and group counselling and providing practical ways to solve employee problems. It is a result of DEWA adopting best international practices in motivating staff, unleashing their potential, and helping them overcome the practical, personal, and social difficulties of life. Everyone at DEWA should be respected, appreciated, encouraged, motivated and enjoy shared responsibilities. We are committed to providing all necessities to support our staff, who are the backbone of our business and success. DEWA has a set of programmes tailored to their needs and happiness.

Health & Wellbeing

Awarding Inspiring Sustainability Solutions By: Zayed Sustainability Prize

The Sustainabilist

ince 2008, the Zayed Sustainability Prize (known as the Zayed Future Energy Prize until 2018), has been at the forefront of facilitating, enabling, and driving sustainable development around the world, with direct and indirect impact positively affecting more than 352 million people. Inspired by the enduring sustainability and humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize remains an active contributor to the fulfillment of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expediating humanitarian development and prosperity, and effectively addressing pressing issues related to health, food, energy, and water, in addition to youth engagement.

Winner Highlights Women Empowerment STAREHE GIRLS CENTRE & SCHOOL, KENYA Located about 18km north of Nairobi, Kenya, Starehe Girls Centre was founded in 2005 as a charitable institution and national high school offering quality education for bright but mostly financially disadvantaged girls. A key focus for the school, which led it to victory in the 2017 Zayed Sustainability Prize, under the Global High Schools category – Africa region, is to invest in the development of fully-rounded and empowered young women who can realise their full potential and contribute to various aspects of Kenyan society. This includes equipping them with the necessary tools and skill sets to become future sustainability leaders. Starehe won the Prize for its project that mapped out the implementation a rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system to supplement the school’s electricity supply and reduce energy costs, thereby enabling the enrollment of a greater numbers of girls. The project also included the installation of a solar water heating system and streetlights, and sustainable energy awareness within the local community.

Since the 2017 win, Starehe has successfully created local awareness in energy efficiency and management within the school community, leading to a transition to LED lights in 2017 and replacing the non-energy saving bulbs that were previously used. This replacement resulted in reduced electricity bills of up to USD 1,000 per month. In addition, over 20 girls were inspired to pursue STEM-related fields, with three specifically in sustainable energy. Drawing inspiration from the project, the science department has recently mobilised some resources which will be used to enhance a practical learning experience by introducing students to robotics and advanced alternative energy technology. As part of its platform to enable women from local communities, the school presently runs various mentorship programmes and student-led clubs to promote environmental conservation and natural resource management, amongst others. An example of this is the ‘Cool Green’ campaign, which is being implemented as part of the school’s Zayed Sustainability Prize project, with the aim of raising student awareness on these fundamental areas. Notably, the campaign is currently organising an Energy Challenge Day,

where young sustainability champions will showcase how their ideas contribute to future sustainability, beyond Kenya. The most compelling ideas will be evaluated and nurtured further. As for the latest impact of Starehe’s awardwinning project on the community, the installation of the 25kW carport solar PV system in 2017 allowed the school to avoid 49 tonnes of CO2 to date, while also accruing approximately USD 40,000 in electricity bill savings, as of May 2021. These savings have gone a long way to support the tuition and upkeep cost required to ensure that economically disadvantaged girls remain in the School. The solar project was considered a timely investment given the COVID-19 pandemic’s adverse effects in Kenya, particularly on funding avenues that support the operations of charitable institutions, such as Starehe. Despite the unforeseen challenges, the school continues to pursue its mission of providing home and quality education to students in the Centre – and ensuring that no girl has been left behind.

Health & Wellbeing

Social and Economic Development M-KOPA M-KOPA, a leading SME and the 2015 Prize winner, is a connected asset financing platform that offers millions of underbanked customers access to life-enhancing products and services such as fridges, televisions, lighting and smartphones. Through the company’s innovative financing model, customers can build ownership over time through flexible and affordable micropayments. At the time, M-KOPA was the first company headquartered in Sub-Saharan Africa to win the Prize in the enterprise and SME categories. In line with its mission, M-KOPA has over the years, dedicated a considerable amount of its time and resources to making financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone through a diverse range of beneficiaries and markets. With this in mind, M-KOPA provides asset financing

to customers who are unable to pay a lump sum for a device and are largely underserved by traditional banking services, which often require credit history or assets to secure the funds. To date, M-KOPA’s platform has provided over USD 400 million in financing, enabling over 1 million customers to access their products and services such as solar home systems (800,000 solar home systems and 200,000 smartphones.) In terms of innovation, it has been over ten years since M-KOPA pioneered the wider pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar market through its original solutions. In total, their customers have replaced over 1 million toxic kerosene lanterns and diesel generators with clean solar energy, providing light to keep businesses open for longer and enabling greater income generation - whether that is getting a new job, working longer hours, or supporting a business. Additionally, access to PAYG Solar has enabled millions of customers to cease the emission of 2 million tonnes of

carbon dioxide and black carbon into the environment. Many more can breathe easier and healthier without toxic fumes in their homes. In addition, M-KOPA launched smartphone financing as gateways for customers to access knowledge and information previously out of reach, as well as connect micro-merchants with suppliers, customers and the wider community for jobs and upskilling. For M-KOPA, winning the 2015 Zayed Sustainability Prize amplified and validated its impact to like-minded development funders and private investors globally. In the year that M-KOPA won the Zayed Sustainability Prize, the Lifetime Achievement was awarded to former US Vice President Al Gore, and interestingly, M-KOPA’s CEO Jesse Moore met with the former Vice President at the Prize ceremony. Within a year, the company closed a successful equity round led by Generation Investment Management - a leading global sustainability investor founded by Al Gore.

The Sustainabilist Climate Action and Clean Energy

facilitate the energy transformation globally. He underlines the benefits of the low carbon economy, underscoring that international cooperation can help enlarge the clean energy market to further decrease energy costs and drive new economic opportunities. At present, Mr Junfeng's focus lies on the development of supporting policies and a robust action plan for achieving China’s pledge for carbon neutrality by 2060, which aligns China with the global target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C over this period. Water Scarcity

RESEARCHER LI JUNFENG, FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF CHINA. With an exceptional career dedicated to sustainability and the energy transition, Researcher Li Junfeng is the 2017 Zayed Sustainability Prize Lifetime Achievement winner. He currently serves as First Director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation of China. Spanning his 30+ year career, Mr Junfeng has been widely recognised for his distinctive policy efforts around the clean energy transition in his home country of China, which includes among others, drafting China’s Renewable Energy Law, which went into effect in 2006. He has also played a pivotal role in driving a robust platform for climate action in a country with one of the highest CO2 emission rates, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Mr Junfeng considers these two central areas as his greatest achievement, to date. In his remarks to The Sustainabilist, the prominent Researcher highlighted how winning the Prize nearly five years ago opened new avenues for the scholar to be involved in grassroots policy and action, both for renewable energy and climate mitigation. More recently, Mr Junfeng cites key policy shifts, that he has witnessed in the past decade both in China and around the world, to effectively address climate change and foster a clean energy transition, highlighting his contribution to promoting a green and low-carbon economy and developing renewable energy under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, formally adopted on March 11, 2021. Furthermore, Mr Junfeng continues to stress that international cooperation is crucial for advancing energy efficiency and accelerating renewable energy uptake to

crisis on the road to achieving SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Among the innovations he pioneered is ‘UV Waterworks’, which affordably, and efficiently disinfects drinking water. WaterHealth International Inc, the for-profit that installs UV Waterworks on a turn-key basis and sells safe drinking water at affordable prices, serving more than 20 million people daily in India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana. He also developed utility-sponsored programmes to bring residential Compact Fluorescent Lamps (and now LED lamps) to vulnerable households, reducing their energy expenditure, improving electricity supply and energy efficiency, and reducing CO2 emissions. Since the Prize win in 2012, Dr Ashok continues to drive impact and help scale up technology for drinking water through programmes, such as arsenic remediation treatments and several others, that are currently operational in more than 48 countries, benefiting more than 100 million low-income households since as early as 2000, across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

DR ASHOK GADGIL, DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION OF THE LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY (BERKELEY LAB). Dr Ashok Gadgil was the Director of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) in California at the time of his selection for the 2012 Lifetime Achievement winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, adding to his portfolio of international recognitions. By exemplifying sustainable inventions, Dr Gadgil’s lifelong passion and efforts have focussed on energy innovation and sustainability not only across water solutions, but also in the critical health – energy nexus, with the objective of delivering engineering services to socioeconomically disadvantaged people (better electric lighting, safe water, fuel-efficient stoves) to fast-track their rise from poverty. Dr Gadgil believes that the current pace of socio-economic improvement is a long and uncertain process, and specific problems in the everyday lives of millions can be solved quickly through engineering ingenuity. He has long called for political leadership to make sustainability the compass of policymaking, highlighting the need to urgently address water scarcity and the water

Dr Ashok says that access to safe drinking water in many parts of the world is viewed as purely an economic commodity and adds: “This means if you can’t afford it – you can’t have it. However, the moral imperative of the basic human right to clean drinking water must be drilled down into becoming a political necessity, which will provide motive to ensure delivery. There is surely enough engineering and creative talent to ensure adequate drinking water for everyone on the planet, however, we have not achieved that yet.” The Prize win provided enormous external validation to his decades-long efforts and commitment, gaining him further academic respectability. Moreover, it attracted very motivated and bright students to the field, while also utilising funds to support critical research that was going unfunded. “Much work remains, but the Prize delivers a very important symbolic support, and very important and prestigious validation, that this effort is worthwhile.” Recently, Dr Gadgil and his research group at University of California Berkeley have been working on an exciting project and technology that they invented to remove several toxic chemical contaminants from water cheaply, and on a distributed scale, for small communities. This promises major breakthroughs where communities face not just arsenic, but also chromate, selenium, or even some radioactive elements in their drinking water.

Health & Wellbeing

Say No to Plastic By: Doua Benhida and Esther Dahmen, One Modern World

oua and Esther of One Modern World talk about the effects of plastic on planetary health and how businesses can tackle the issue Humans consume the equivalent of a credit card worth of plastic every week, according to a WWF/University of Newcastle study. While this might not sound much it amounts to 40 pounds ingested plastic over a lifetime of 80 years. This is a sad culmination of the issue we are facing with plastic as part of everyday life, and with microplastics now appearing in our tap water and the remotest places on earth. Microplastics are small plastic particles, less than five millimetres long, from a variety of sources, such as textile fibres, car tyres or larger plastic debris that degrade into smaller and smaller pieces. How did we get here - or rather how did plastic get everywhere? According to the Emirates Nature-WWF, the average person in the UAE uses 94 kg of plastic per year. With average recycling rates of only 9% globally, the amount of plastic on earth is constantly growing. In addition to insufficient recycling capabilities, most plastic items, in particular single use products, are not recyclable and end up in landfill or leak into the environment. Plastic waste isn’t restricted to landfills where it contributes to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, even more so when considering its entire life cycle. 8 million metric tonnes – equivalent to one garbage truck full of plastic every minute – end up in the oceans every year, with devastating effects on marine life and birds.

The Sustainabilist

The imperative for all action is to move away from today’s linear throw away model and fundamentally rethink the use of plastics. Need for cooperation to turn the tide Governments are starting to react to the amount of plastic in the environment and begin to take action. Earlier this year, the UAE Government announced the formation of a Circular Economy Council focusing on implementation of circular economy principles through relevant legislation, and rolling out programms and initiatives. These are steps in the right direction. To address the plastic issue at the root cause, a lifecycle approach is required, including design, manufacturing and end of life for any product. Due to the complexity of this life cycle approach, it needs to involve actors from all levels of society - policymakers, businesses, investors, industry associations as well as non-governmental organisations and citizens. Actions for businesses implementing plastic reduction measures Businesses have a big role to play in addressing the issue and driving the change. With packaging representing 45% of plastic products in the UAE, reducing packaging and switching to eco-friendly materials will have a huge impact on the plastic waste generated. There is a lot of innovation happening around the world in the material space with a focus on creating renewable and compostable solutions in line with circular economy principles. Staying on top of these innovation developments and understanding feasible business applications for such materials is the focus of local start up One Modern World, based in Dubai. One Modern World

provides quality sustainable solutions for businesses with a focus on reducing single use plastic. From eco-friendly disposable items to reusable products, combined with consulting services, One Modern World is an end-to-end sustainable solution provider supporting companies in addressing their plastic footprint. Other steps, besides packaging, which businesses can take towards circularity include replacing bottled water on their premises with water filtration technology or choosing eco-friendly single use products like biodegradable cups. These activities can have a significant positive impact on a company’s carbon footprint. However, there are situations when a business cannot replace plastic in its operations. In this case, the negative environmental impacts can be measured as part of a plastic footprint assessment and plastic offsetting applied. This however should be the last resort, only after reducing and replacing with eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the implications and challenges companies face when starting to manage their plastic footprint more actively is at the core of One Modern World’s value proposition. Together with local partners, like water filtration companies and their expert network, One Modern World can significantly lighten a company’s sustainability journey so they can focus on their core business. After all, the imperative for all action is to move away from today’s linear throw away model and fundamentally rethink the use of plastics. This will require a systemic shift, with contribution from all stakeholders, for a transition towards a circular economy in which plastic doesn’t become waste or pollution.

Health & Wellbeing

he Sustainabilist interviewed John Pagano, CEO of AMAALA, to learn more about the new project being a pioneer in regenerative tourism.

Q&A

The Sustainabilist

With operational zerocarbon footprint as one of AMAALA’s goals, how exactly is AMAALA planning to achieve it? AMAALA is a flagship Vision 2030 project which will help realise Saudi Arabia’s ambition for a diversified economy and a flourishing new tourism industry. Regenerative tourism is a powerful idea at the heart of the AMAALA vision and our mission is not only to preserve the environment around us, but to responsibly enhance it. AMAALA sits on the Saudi Arabian coast of the majestic Red Sea, in an area now known as the Prince Mohammad bin Salman Royal National Reserve. The landscape is breathtaking, with pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and imposing mountain ranges, home to a variety of delicate ecosystems, including thriving coral reefs. This was inspiration enough for the visionary founders of the AMAALA project to embrace the highest possible standards of sustainability. Let’s start by looking at our climate commitments. AMAALA aims to achieve

a net zero carbon footprint once fully operational and will have no connection to the national grid. The project will be powered solely by renewable energy, following the footsteps of The Red Sea Project, which awarded a Utilities Package to a consortium led by ACWA Power in November 2020. AMAALA will take the innovative approach of carbon insetting within its boundary as much as possible, rather than paying to offset our emissions elsewhere. It aims to balance out all carbon produced by AMAALA within its boundary through renewable power supplies and enhancing the natural ecosystems that absorb and sequester carbon. AMAALA is practicing carbon insetting to re-establish natural carbon sinks, increase soil health, restore local water cycles and reverse the loss of forests and biodiversity. It is a new model; a new standard for sustainable and responsible tourism development: enhancing biodiversity, allowing precious natural habitats and wildlife to flourish, nurturing communities and allowing local economies to grow. How does the commitment to ‘world-class sustainability’ translate

into actions? Tell us more about the sustainability criteria for this magical destination. Simply put: sustainability is the bedrock of the entire AMAALA destination – from the first foundations that are being laid to the ultimate guest experience. Understandably, this is no easy feat, but we are determined to lead by example. Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the circular carbon economy (CCE) targets to manage greenhouse gas emissions across the world, we have set the standard for our own sustainability goals. Our strategy is founded on three core priorities: i. Creating ‘Natural Harmony’ by enhancing marine and terrestrial natural capital, delivering carbon-neutral operations by 2025, driving optimal resource management by aiming to sustainably sourcing 50% of all food by 2030 and contributing to zero waste to landfill, and creating a knowledge base to position AMAALA as a sustainable leader with a strong commitment to hire, train and develop local Saudi talent

Health & Wellbeing

These foundations help us prioritise initiatives, such as a vigorous wilderness area access policy; waste water treatment methods; protecting breeding and nesting sites for our endangered turtles; creating the largest no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Middle East to enhance fish biomass and abundance; active monitoring of pollution levels; a marine friendly yachting policy; and do-not-disturb zones for sensitive habitats, such as turtle nesting sites, amongst several others.

ii. Shaping an ‘Arabian Legacy' as a beacon for regional transformation by employing a workforce of approximately 25,000 directly while generating a further 25,000 indirect opportunities iii. Curating ‘Inspirational Experiences’ for guests via eco-education to encourage guests to undertake a journey of self-transformation and renewal through sustainable experiences that educate and inspire We have a strong delivery model for our sustainability plans. This model includes a governance structure which highlights the oversight, responsibilities and collaboration points required by every single stakeholder and supplier to ensure we are able to embed sustainability in every pillar of the business. It also includes a strong reporting model, encouraging all parties involved to hold themselves accountable for the sustainability commitments internally and externally. We also have an Impact Assessment Framework to focus on sustainability issues that matter most for our project and to ensure we are efficiently and effectively meeting all our targets. Being blessed with warm, clear water, and abundant marine life surrounding the project area, what are some of the initiatives taken by the company to preserve the natural ecosystem? Central to the AMAALA experience is its ecological environment – from pristine coral reefs to vibrant marine life and a captivating mountain landscape. The crown (and hidden) jewel amongst these are the Red Sea coral reefs, recognised as one of the most productive and richest reef ecosystems left in the world, with endangered wildlife species living and breeding in the region. These rare and distinctive Red Sea reefs make up 6.2% of all global coral, with more than 365 reef-building species of coral – from solid and soft, to branching and encrusting species, found in shallow and deep-water colonies. This richness of regional biodiversity includes 19 coral species that are found nowhere else in the world. As we invite our guests to explore these wonders of nature, it is equally imperative for us to protect, restore and actively enhance the biodiversity of our marine and terrestrial natural capital and raise the value of natural resources across AMAALA to optimise economic and ecological sustainability. Before we completed the master plans, we worked closely with our strategic partners on a thorough marine and coastal spatial zoning project to understand the environmental landscape and to identify areas requiring conservation and protection, and other areas suitable for sensitive and appropriate development. AMAALA also undertook a six month integrated sustainability strategy project, which crytallised our key sustainability priorities and 129 initiatives. These include priority areas, such as: coral reef management, iconic species protection, Marine Protected Areas (MPA) management, and fighting plastic pollution.

How important do you think nature is to enriching the body, mind, and soul of an individual, as well as the social, economic, and physical benefits in reinforcing wellness and well-being? How important is wellness to AMAALA? The concept of wellness has undoubtedly gained greater importance following the global COVID-19 pandemic, both in everyday lives as well as a key consideration for vacations. As the global travel industry continues to acclimate to the "new normal" on its road to recovery, the importance of psychological and emotional wellbeing can no longer take a back seat. Industry leaders must take an active role in recognising the importance of achieving a harmonious balance between the mind, body, soul, and nature. Stepping away from screens and into the great outdoors – in my opinion – can provide a well-needed break from routine. Green and open spaces evoke a sense of tranquility while encouraging a spiritual connection with the world that surrounds us. Nature-friendly settings can also stimulate physical activity, in turn positively impacting brain function and helping people feel more energised and focussed. It also has a way of mending our spirit. These environments prompt us to become connected to the wider world around us and experience ourselves as an interconnected piece of the whole. As such concepts of wellness evolve and their benefits continue to gain momentum, AMAALA will bring to life the desires and ambitions of a community passionate about shaping, and living, transformative moments. Much like the meaning of our brand name that represents purity, radiance and hope, we are determined to cultivate

The Sustainabilist

innovative experiences that can truly rejuvenate the body, illuminate the soul, and promise a radiance that is captivating and ever-lasting. AMAALA will be a long-term partner for all guests in their path to wellness. Our wellness experts will ensure every guest they work with is equipped with the tools they need to make sustainable, lifestyle changes even after they have left this enriching and inspiring destination. AMAALA’s recreational /wellness activities are sure to create unparalleled experiences. What initiatives and programmes are in the pipeline and what is your inspiration behind these? We have shaped a health ecosystem centred around the individual. We strongly believe that our success hinges on the ability to motivate our guests. Therefore, we are setting out to inspire a fundamental shift towards a culture of holistic wellbeing. Whether through exceptional art, integrated wellness, healthy living, or meditation in a captivating natural setting, we will offer transformational experiences that reflect and deliver on the values of today’s health-conscious consumers. The vast majority of AMAALA’s wellness experiences will be housed in Triple Bay, our first masterplan taking shape as the world’s most comprehensive wellness retreat. It will be supported by top-tier luxury medical and integrated resorts and numerous recreational activities. Family wellness will be one of our key focus areas. Fun retreats will empower both parents and children to take a ‘pause’ from their busy daily routines, reconnect with each other and be inspired to live a happier, more fulfilled life together. A unique, multipurpose wellness trail will be mapped throughout Triple Bay, connecting each of the assets to encourage guests to actively explore the destination via walking, running, cycling, or even horse riding. AMAALA’s natural wonders will also serve as the backdrop for a range of rejuvenating and spiritual outdoor activities, welcoming visitors from around the world to experience mindfulness and enlightenment while enjoying group activities amidst peaceful natural surroundings. What would success look like for wellness campaigns at AMAALA? How do you plan to quantify that success? What measures will you use? At the intersection of fitness, mindfulness and wellness, AMAALA will offer an holistic experience for guests aspiring to become the best versions of themselves – and this will help us define success. Our team of health and wellness specialists, including trainers, coaches, nutritionists, technicians, and hosts will ensure our guests are able to thrive in an engaging, supportive environment that guarantees personal transformation.

The concept of wellness has undoubtedly gained greater importance following the global COVID-19 pandemic, both in everyday lives as well as a key consideration for vacations.

John Pagano

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER , THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AND AMAALA

John Pagano is the Chief Executive Officer of The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) and AMAALA, sister projects set along the north western coast of Saudi Arabia that will play key roles in the realisation of the Vision 2030 – KSA’s economic roadmap for the future. At TRSDC and AMAALA, John is leveraging his 38 years of international experience in delivering large scale multi-billion-dollar developments. Since 2018, he has led The Red Sea Development Company’s growth from the ground up and is creating a unique eco-luxury, sustainable, regenerative tourist destination that will contribute to transforming the global tourism industry and to the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy. In January 2021, he was appointed as CEO of AMAALA, and tasked with driving the next stage of development for the ultraluxury destination. John’s experience covers every facet of the real estate value chain including site acquisition, master planning, planning, project structuring, financing, construction, and asset management.

HEALTHY To tackle environmental challenges, adapting is not enough. Climate change, biodiversity collapse, widespread pollution, resource depletion… Our societies need solutions to radically turn the tide, like treating all water pollution. Ecological transformation, that is our purpose.

For more information go to veolia.com/eco-transform

Resourcing the world

The Sustainabilist

Vaccine roll-out in the MENA Region COVID-19 vacccine doses administered per 100 people Total number of vaccination doses administered per 100 people in the total population. This is counted as a single dose, and may not equal the total number of people vaccinated, depending on the specific dose regime (e.g. people receive multiple doses).

United Arab Emirates

120 Bahrain 100 Qatar 80 Saudi Arabia Kuwait Morocco Jordan Lebanon Tunisia Oman Iran Libya Egypt Iraq Algeria Syria

Dec 22, 2020

Feb 4, 2021

Mar 16, 2021

Apr 25, 2021

Jun 6, 2021

Health & Wellbeing

he Sustainabilist interviewed Sabooh Asghar, VP of HSEQ at Tabreed, to understand the company’s COVID-19 response and their initiatives to protect employee and environmental health

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How does Tabreed provide positive Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) presence in the communities where the company operates? Tabreed’s compliance with HSE requirements begins with our leadership’s commitment and is manifested through organisational attitudes, accepted norms and behaviours, and is clearly evident through the company’s Integrated Management System (IMS) policy. We have fully implemented HSE, Quality and Energy Management Systems across Tabreed facilities, processes and systems through a variety of controls. I’m also proud to share that external auditors have confirmed our certification to ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 14001:2015 (Environment) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety) for the next three years. In the journey towards excellence in HSE culture, Tabreed's personnel not only manifested ‘Commitment to HSE’ but also buttressed their excellent workmanship with appropriate techniques, to identify and mitigate existing and foreseeable risks. This attitude and behaviour over the past few years has meant we safely arrive home each day in good health. With regards to the community environments in which we operate, we have taken significant steps to reduce noise and physical pollution at our plants and project sites, which has made an overall positive impact on the environment and quality of life in general. Tabreed continues to engage with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and is actively involved in extensive environmental management programmes, such as Go-Green, to help reduce our environmental impact. In March this year, Tabreed published its first ESG Report, which detailed how the company’s operations during 2020 had displaced more than 1.35m metric tonnes of CO2 emissions – equivalent to taking 193,129 passenger vehicles off the road over the course of the year – and saved 2.26 billion kilowatt/hours – enough to power 128,443 homes every year.

What role does employees’ wellbeing play in ensuring the success of the company? How is Tabreed taking care of its employees’ wellbeing amidst COVID-19 pandemic and beyond? Tabreed’s number one asset is its people, so the company does everything it can to keep them safe from the impact of injuries and illnesses, such as those caused by the ongoing pandemic. Tabreed’s extensive health surveillance programme includes medical tests for existing personnel and new joiners, as well as adhoc tests for those who are suspected to be unwell. We communicate with our staff persistently through HSE themes and tips on topics related to health and wellbeing, provide virtual eLearning awareness sessions and promote mental health care programmes through Tabreed’s Human Capital Department. Our COVID-19 related documentation is extensive, covering risk assessments, workplace assessment checklists, emergency plans, guidelines, flowcharts and circulars. Our plants are equipped with electronic display screens for sharing vital information, we have so far conducted 18 safety talks on COVID-19 (including videos), there is relevant signage at all our locations including project sites, and company management maintains constant surveillance on the ongoing pandemic efforts through the COVID-19 ‘dashboard’. This helps us maintain a strict health and safety regime across every level of the company. Other COVID-19 measures adopted by Tabreed include our workplace attendance and rotation policy, PCR tests and vaccinations for all employees, a vigorous disinfection regime at our offices and plants, plentiful supplies of PPE, comprehensive incident reporting procedures and temperature checks at entrances to Tabreed-controlled facilities.

Health & Wellbeing

What are some of Tabreed’s projects and initiatives pertaining to Environmental Health? In our fulfillment of environmental requirements set forth by federal/local authorities, Tabreed implements and continuously improves environmental management through some of the following key initiatives: • Air Quality Surveys - OSHAD (Abu Dhabi); Dubai Municipality • Blowdown Water Analysis – EAD (Abu Dhabi); Dubai Municipality • Soil Analysis (project sites only) • Waste Management - Tadweer (Abu Dhabi); Dubai Municipality and other emirates • Chemicals Management - EAD (Abu Dhabi); Dubai Municipality • Refrigerant leaks data/trend analysis - DOE • Reduction in plastic and paper waste; energy consumption – Tabreed’s Go-Green Initiative District Cooling protects the environment by reducing carbon emissions due to lower energy consumptions. What other environmental health benefits does this system offer? It means low quantities of hazardous chemicals in blowdown discharge to sewage and stormwater lines, little- to no environmental air emissions and minimal quantities of generated waste. Apart from energy efficient, centralised cooling technology, our plants also offer higher energy efficiencies through short-term and long-term operational and strategic measures. These include ad-hoc usage of thermal storage tanks instead of chillers, replacing soft starters with VFDs, and usage of treated water. Most of our plants use HFCs (0 ODP) and our future planning includes switching to better options (zero or low ODP and GWP) in line with international conventions and protocols. Another noticeable measure includes using sea water for cooling, based on standards set by the United Nations, which not only means huge savings but also energy efficiency by utilising an abundant resource while ensuring marine life is unharmed in the process.

we have taken significant steps to reduce noise and physical pollution at our plants and project sites

The Sustainabilist

Sabooh Asghar

VICE PRESIDENT HSEQ, TABREED

Sabooh Asghar is Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment, & Quality (HSEQ) at Tabreed. In his current role, Asghar is responsible for applying HSEQ standards, and overseeing environmental and quality management matters for Tabreed Head Office, 86 plants, and various project sites across the UAE and GCC. His prior experience includes 16 years of experience primarily across management systems, risk management, HSEIA studies, business continuity, engineering design, nuclear rules and regulations, and Quality Control at or for several UAE-based organisations, including ABS Group, GASCO, Dolphin Energy, National Drilling Company, and Abu Dhabi Ports Company. Asghar holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Oregon Institute of Technology, as well as a MSc in Thermal Hydraulics (Nuclear Engineering) from Oregon State University.

As a pioneer in district cooling, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Proud as we are to power the world’s most recognisable landmarks, our real inspiration is rooted in the power to change life for the better. With reliable energy solutions, valuable partnerships and efficient options, we strive to be the cornerstone of progress for humanity and community, sustaining profits while making the world more sustainable. Join us as we enter a new era of energy, driving progress for people, places and environments around the world.

Tabreed. Essential for Progress.

tabreed.ae

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Rise in SustainabilityFocussed Education Supports Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan By: Dubai International Academic City

ubai International Academic City and Knowledge Park witness a tremendous growth of environmentally-conscious students committed to climate action and wellbeing of our planet.

Health & Wellbeing

Sustainable development and conservation have been key components of the UAE’s vision for decades. Both remain strategic priorities under the comprehensive Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in March. Complementing this strategic vision, Dubai’s business districts for higher education and human resource management, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, have witnessed a year-on-year rise in student demand for natural and physical science, indicating a growing wave of environmentallyconscious talent committed to climate action. Andrew Mackenzie, Head of Institute of Sustainable Development, Middlesex University, believes this is due to an increased awareness of the negative impact humans have on the environment, climate change and also around gender and racial equality. Awareness, he says, is especially prevalent in the youth of today and “this is leading

more students seeking degrees and careers in the field of sustainability where they believe they can make a difference”. Collectively home to more than 27,000 students, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park are producing more graduates in these fields than ever before. And while it comes from a low base, the steady rise will contribute to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan that aims to transform the emirate into a people-centric city and enhance environmental sustainability. As well as nearly doubling the city’s population from 3.3 million to 5.8 million, more than 60% of Dubai will be comprised of nature reserves and natural areas, with land allocated for education and health facilities increased by 25%. As the catalyst for social and environmental change in the UAE, educational institutes and universities nationwide have risen to the existential urgency to educate the next generation of change-makers to respond positively to global warming.

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Home to more than 27,000 students, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park are producing more graduates in these fields [Sustainability] than ever before. “Education is a catalyst for social change and a crucial factor in creating a knowledgebased economy powered by people who care deeply about climate change,” says Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park.

Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, Vice Chancellor of The British University in Dubai, says applying urban sustainable design and creating smart cities “supports residents’ well-being and happiness within an environmentally-aware approach to healthy living and working”. This is key to sustainable living against a backdrop of growing urbanisation. Universities across the two districts have imbibed learning in sustainable practices across graduate, post-graduate, and specialised doctoral programmes, whether it is in business management, engineering, energy, geo-sciences or infrastructure. Some specialised programmes being offered include: Solar and Alternate Energy graduate programmes at Amity University in Dubai, Global Sustainability Engineering and Renewable Energy Engineering postgraduate programmes at Hariot-Watt University, a Master’s programme in Global Governance and Sustainable Development at he Middlesex University, and a Doctorate in Architecture and Sustainable Built Environment at the British University in Dubai.

this approach, the education districts have established a track record for producing highly-skilled graduates with the expertise and intelligence to create positive change as effective leaders and thus contribute to the UAE’s sustainability goals. As part of their eco-friendly drive, Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park partnered with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to exchange knowledge on nature, climate change, and related fields. They will promote academic initiatives, raise environmental awareness, and share research papers so the ministry can study the feasibility of sustainability projects and implement the most effective ideas. Furthermore, Dubai International Academic City completed a 1.1 MWp solar carport to meet up to a fifth of its electricity consumption demands. It will provide renewable energy to 12 university buildings.

“Not only is it vital to educate the next generation of change-makers to respond positively to global warming, but it is also essential for academic institutions to play their role. We actively encourage universities to launch sustainability-related programmes and continue to deepen collaboration and cooperation in research and development to address emerging market needs. Through this approach, we have a track record for developing highly-skilled graduates with the expertise and intelligence to create positive change as effective leaders and thus contribute to the UAE’s sustainability goals,” he adds. Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park continue to collaborate with universities to launch sustainability-focussed programmes and invest in research and development to address emerging market needs. Through

As the city rapidly evolves into a knowledgebased economy, Dubai’s education hubs demonstrate sustainability as a key focus of past and present strategies to cater to the talent requirements of the growing environmentally-focussed businesses. Offering more than 142 degrees across science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Dubai International Academic City’s 27 universities from nine countries play an important role in developing local and global talent. As one of the world’s largest higher education business districts, the Dubai International Academic City campus hosts over 150 nationalities and world-renowned academic institutions. Dubai Knowledge Park is focussed on education, vocational training and human resources.

Health & Wellbeing

Olive Gaea: Ensuring Environmental Health via Carbon Neutrality By: Vivek Tripathi, Founder & CEO of Olive Gaea

ewly launched carbon offsetting start-up, Olive Gaea, talks about the importance of a healthy environment and the company’s initiatives in mitigating climate change. As the world battles to recover from the Covid-19 health-crisis, a renewed understanding of the paramount importance of a healthy environment is finally emerging.

United States rejoined the Paris Climate agreement and President Biden announced a budget proposal calling for more than USD 36 billion to fight climate change.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), not only is the current pandemic a reminder of the delicate relationship between people and our planet: healthier environments could prevent almost one quarter of the global burden of disease. This is why, despite the harsh downturn COVID-19 brought to most economies worldwide, green investments and sustainable development are now, more than ever, at the forefront of many governments and businesses' agendas.

Here in the UAE, the government is bidding to host the COP28 summit focusing on economic opportunities in climate action, and has strongly reaffirmed its goal to become a global leader in the green economy, launching a number of prominent strategic initiatives, spanning from the Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai 2040 Master Plan.

Over the past few months, New Zealand became the first country to introduce a law that will require banks, insurers and investment managers to report the impacts of climate change on their business. Europe pushed ahead its Green Deal, and China reinforced its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060. All the while, the

The corporate world is also taking significant steps towards greater responsibility, accountability, and more sustainable operations, and BlackRock - the largest asset manager in the world - is now requesting the companies in which it holds shares to explain how they plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

we might not have a single easy-fix to solve the issue of climate change, but we know that decarbonsing at scale is finally possible.

The Sustainabilist

As consumers call for more sustainable business practices, it is now clear that decarbonisation is no longer an option. Science tells us that if we want to mitigate the impact of climate change, we must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This means that we must necessarily cut carbon emissions by 50 percent, the equivalent of 23 gigatons of CO2, by 2030. As the population, and with it consumers and new markets, grow, this is a massive task. However, failure is not an option: meeting the targets set by the Paris Agreements is the only chance we have to preserve this planet, and with it, our very own future. Today, we might not have a single easy-fix to solve the issue of climate change, but we know that decarbonsing at scale is finally possible. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, estimated that conservation, restoration, and land-management could well contribute to achieving one third of the Paris Agreement decarbonisation targets. According to research, in fact, reforestation, avoided deforestation and soil sequestration could remove up to 7 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year by 2030. Nature Based Solutions' projects can also boost economic growth and resiliency not only providing environmental benefits, including increased water quality and biodiversity, but also pouring fresh funds to support sustainable development especially where it is needed the most - the Global South.

Our goal is to make carbon offsetting easy, convenient, and affordable, helping everyone, anywhere, anytime to build a resilient climate future. We do so by calculating our customers' carbon footprint following the ISO 14064 on greenhouse gas emissions and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology, and then offsetting it via natural climate solution projects that are verified by trusted parties such as Verra and Plan Vivo. The platform is powered by precise geo-tagging and QR code tracking, so users can know the exact location and the impact they help to generate with new plantation projects in just a few clicks. Olive Gaea also allows users to track progress and get rewarded driving further positive change through monthly and annual subscriptions. Moreover, it helps customers to offset purchases made on e-commerce businesses including grocery orders, food and fuel delivery, and online stores, among others. More and more companies are leveraging carbon credits generated by natural climate solutions to achieve their net-zero emission targets. Today, platforms like Olive Gaea are making carbon neutrality finally accessible to individuals and businesses leveraging a transparent, accountable, and science-based process to reduce emissions and remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

According to a paper by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey, there can be no climate mitigation without investing in nature: "climate action requires both the reduction of emissions and the removal of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere." Natural climate solutions can help with both; and they can help starting today.

Carbon offsetting alone won't be enough to stop climate change, it must necessarily go hand in hand with emerging new technologies and sustainable strategies that aim at reducing the environmental footprint in the first place. But it will play a major role in driving action and building a resilient climate future that puts environmental health at centre stage.

This is why at Olive Gaea we're all about bringing reforestation and natural climate solution projects at the fingertips of individuals and businesses alike.

To know more about Olive Gaea visit www.olivegaea.com

Health & Wellbeing

Why investing in the health and safety of workers is the most important investment a business can make

By: Brian Spraker, Executive Director Health, Safety and Security at The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC)

The Sustainabilist

rian Spraker shares insights on the importance of prioritising employees’ health and safety, and the steps being taken by The Red Sea Project to ensure it.

Following uncertainty caused by the pandemic, the importance of safe practices at work are arguably more important than ever. This is a mission that is already central to our business philosophy at The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), where the physical and mental wellbeing of employees is of paramount importance. Employees are our most valuable asset. The turbulence we’ve seen over the past year has demonstrated that ensuring the health, safety and overall wellbeing of every employee needs to be a top priority for any business. It is no longer enough for companies to do the bare minimum. Real investments need to be made to ensure that employees are truly protected and cared for while at work. At TRSDC, our strategy for health and safety encompasses the entire business. This includes innovative approaches to not only meet recognised standards in worker welfare set by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), but exceed them to set new benchmarks for workplace health and safety. By committing to raising these standards, we hope to make every worker’s experience onsite positive and, most importantly, safe – whether they are employed by us or one of our partner’s. Investing in the physical health of employees Simply put, prioritising the health and safety of employees is the most important investment a company can make. It may sound cliché, but it is my view that without a happy and healthy workforce a company cannot achieve its full potential. At TRSDC, we are building an entire tourism destination from scratch, in an area that has never been developed before. While this is an incredible feat and will serve to benefit the Kingdom, local economy and the environment, this has posed considerable challenges for maintaining the health and safety of our workforce. The remote location of the site makes it a challenge to ensure all workers and contractors are in close proximity to medical facilities at any given time. At the peak of construction activity, up to 30,000 workers could be in multiple locations over a huge development area. Therefore, having the ability to respond rapidly to medical emergencies has been a critical component of our worker welfare programme. We recognised that to counteract the danger that working in this remote location potentially posed we needed to build a medical facility right in the middle of the desert. In 2020, International SOS – Al Rushaid was brought on board to manage all medical services across the project. This included the construction of a 700 m2 central medical to provide a range of services including primary healthcare, occupational health services and emergency response. By investing in this central ‘hub’ medical facility and satellite clinics at construction worksites across the development, all workers can readily access medical assistance should they need to. This not only benefits the project in the short term, as we are prepared for medical emergencies, we also hope that by making this significant investment in their care, we are helping to instill long-term trust between our employees and the company.

Health & Wellbeing

I have seen firsthand how important it is that workers’ mental health is given the same level of attention as their physical wellbeing

The Sustainabilist

The simple investments make all the difference In my role, I have seen firsthand how important it is that workers’ mental health is given the same level of attention as their physical wellbeing. Simple investments, like providing access to exercise and recreational activities and enabling regular communication with family and friends, is not a huge expense but makes a world of difference for our workforce. Given the remote location of the site, we have worked hard to make the development feel like a home away from home. With employees from over 35 different nationalities this can be a challenge, but it is about looking at how even small improvements to accommodation and everyday life can be gamechanging for your people. For instance, in the Construction Village, where our workforce lives, there are 12 landscaped neighborhoods. Each room is shared by a maximum of just three workers and is equipped with en-suite bathrooms and partitions between beds for privacy. There are personal safes for belongings, computers for checking e-mails and Wi-Fi available in all areas so that staying in touch with friends and family is easy. These small additions are not compulsory industry wide, but we’ve decided to go that one step further to provide our workforce with a truly comfortable and secure place to live. Providing opportunities for adequate downtime outside of work can also vastly improve mental and physical health and is key for a healthy work-life balance. Workers can leave the site and explore the natural surroundings by bike or on foot. On site, workers can enjoy the use of cricket pitches, volleyball and basketball courts, football pitches, gyms and cinemas that we’ve provided. A supermarket and barber shop are also available on-site for workers to use during their spare time. These facilities demonstrate that every effort is made to ensure our workers have a variety and choice as to how they spend their free time, which is vital for overall wellbeing.

Brian Spraker

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY AT THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TRSDC)

The most important investment a business can make At TRSDC we have invested heavily in the health and safety of our workforce because we truly believe this is the most important investment we can make. Building an entire hospital from scratch and offering the staff world-class accommodation may look like a significant investment, but it is also the little things we provide that can greatly improve their day to day lives. TRSDC employees are the life and centre of the project, and without them the project would not have been able to get off the ground or develop at the speed that it has.

At The Red Sea Development Company, Brian Spraker has the opportunity to make a difference in the Middle East and raise the level of worker health, safety and welfare across the region. He is proud to be part of a team that is leading the way in establishing a new normal for workers in the region. Brian has more than 28 years of experience in international and domestic construction health, safety, and environmental field. With positions held at both the project and corporate level. His Skills include organizational leadership development, establishing emergency-response systems, development of HSE management systems, conducting root-cause incident investigations, implementation of incident tracking and trending analysis systems, establishing corporate wide HSE training programs, conducting project and fabrication facility HSE audits.

Health & Wellbeing

Addressing Health and Wellness in the Workplace By: Bureau Veritas, Intertek & ENERTIS

ESIA members talk about the major steps they took to implement various initiatives at their workplace to improve employee health and wellbeing amidst the pandemic.

After almost 18 months, it is clear an unprecedented event like COVID-19 has inevitably speeded up digital transformation across industries and revolutionised relationships, businesses or otherwise. Without question, the health and wellness crisis created, forced employers to deal with never-beforeseen circumstances around the world. Many organisations took major steps to implement various initiatives at their workplace or within communities. Today we shed light on MESIA members, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, and ENERTIS experiences in dealing with the crisis.

Bureau Veritas Safety is an absolute at Bureau Veritas. The health of our teams, their families, and our clients is our top priority. At Bureau Veritas, we have implemented a coordinated approach at global and local levels to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on our business and to protect our employees. The guidelines of authorities in respective countries and the recommendations of Worl Health Organization (WHO) have been put in place in each country to protect everyone’s health and safety and ensure business continuity. The main measures that were implemented to protect the safety of our employees and clients are

hygiene and health, travel restrictions, teleworking, and condition of business premises. Trainings and displays in premises have increased the awareness about social distance, use of masks, what to do in case of symptoms, and quarantine measures. Except for essential client services, the travels were restricted, and remote technological channels like remote audits, remote inspections, digital training have been reinforced. With our digital working tools, remote management of teams and teleworking were implemented. Business premises have been disinfected continuously, personal protective equipment has been provided to all employees and visitor access has been strictly restricted. Bureau Veritas not only protect the employees but also has in place an initiative of ‘Restart Your Business with BV’ solution to meet the needs of all sectors of the economy as they reopen for business by training teams effectively on hygiene good practices and checking that protective measures are properly set up and implemented.

The health of our teams, their families, and our clients is our top priority.

The Sustainabilist

Intertek

Enertis

Kindness – Intertek’s New Global Wellbeing Programme If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we all need to be kind. Kind to our planet, kind to others, and kind to our mind. At Intertek, our purpose is to make the world a better, safer and more sustainable place; and, now more than ever, our colleagues are working to ensure that our clients, our communities, and indeed, the whole world, can navigate these times in the safest possible way. In 2020, we took an important step in supporting our own wellbeing by introducing a new global programme, Kindness. It is based around six core areas of wellbeing: making connections with others; energising and motivating ourselves; mindpower and self-confidence; staying positive; mindfulness and building resilience; and feeling supported. Colleagues have access to e-learning modules on each of these areas and can use a personal Kindness Journal to focus on their own wellbeing goals. To summarise, Kindness is a personal experience that supports our colleagues in doing the simple things that will help them build their own personal strength and resilience, and unleash their potential.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we all need to be kind.

Finally, we made two donations to charity organisations and carried out several Pro Bono activities, in support of wider community outreach and COVID-19 prevention. During this year of pandemic, our flexibility to adapt to work remotely, as well as the responsibility and commitment of our employees, have been key to Enertis’ resilience and to keep high productivity levels. We believe that, thanks to everyone's efforts, we managed to achieve a good balance between on-site and remote work while ensuring everyone’s safety.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we allowed our employees to work remotely, making it easier to carry out a proper disinfection of empty offices. As an example of the measures that have been implemented in our worldwide offices, we gave the employees the possibility of undergoing serology tests at Enertis’ expense, and, to date, three rounds of voluntary tests have been carried out to determine the overall immunity level. If an employee tests positive, or if he/she has had interactions with a person tested positive outside the company, proper support and guidance are provided as the necessary steps are taken. Physical presence in the office is voluntary and subject to prior registration on an internal management platform. Additionally, desks have been equipped with plexiglass, workstations have been placed in alternate locations, and a manual of anti-COVID-19 measures has been established. Also, ten HEPA filters have been installed to cover all workspaces, hydroalcoholic gel dispensers have been placed in meeting rooms, offices, and reception areas, a "sanitising station" has been set up, and chairs and tables have been placed outdoors. Moreover, we hired an external advisory service to make our prevention plan designs more robust and the audits carried out to verify their proper implementation obtained good results.

Teleworking, remote audits, inspections and trainings as well as voluntary physical presence at workplaces became the new norm. However, one can wonder to what extent some of these measures will and should be sustained, or has COVID-19 changed the future of work forever? Employee health and wellbeing is prioritised like never before, as a result, major transformations in the working environment are within reach!

We allowed our employees to work remotely, making it easier to carry out a proper disinfection of empty offices.

Health & Wellbeing

It’s in the Air

By: Faisal Al Raisi, COO and Acting CEO, Etihad ESCO

The Sustainabilist

tihad ESCO’s COO and Acting CEO tells The Sustainabilist about ESCOs’ role in enhancing health and wellbeing indoors, by improving the quality of air and light whilst seeing the reduction in utility bills. By definition, Energy Service Company (ESCO) is a company that offers energy services, usually design, retrofitting and implementation of energy efficiency projects after identifying energy saving opportunities through energy audit of existing facilities. Generally, ESCOs are appointed to enhance energy efficiency and achieve energy savings in a respective facility. However, this should not be achieved by compromising indoor environment quality. In the wake of COVID-19, an indivudal’s lifestyle has undergone tremendous changes. People are spending more time indoors, hence Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) turns out to be more important than ever before. IAQ is one of the main factors affecting the health of building users, it is an indicator of quality of life. In fact, bad IAQ can cause diseases and aggrevate symptoms, yet it remains among the most ignored topics. The problem exists as most of the facilities do not measure IAQ, it is not included as a key performance indicator (KPI) in maintenance and operation contracts, and may not even be available to most facilities. According to a study Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems and COVID-19, published in March 2021, the impact of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) on human beings is almost 2-5 times higher as compared to outdoor air pollution. As during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns, people started to spend more time indoors (homes, offices, schools, and hospitals), they were more prone to the pollutants present in the building environment. As a result, the risk of IAP has increased several times, contributing to a considerable fall in the immunity due

to rising chances of respiratory health problems. The impact is even worsening the underlying symptoms of other chronic health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and asthma, consequently, making people more vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. A phenomenon called “Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)” is the name given to a condition that is thought to be caused by being in a building or other type of enclosed space. It is attributed to poor IAQ. However, diagnosing SBS can be difficult because of the wide range of symptoms. These can also mimic other conditions, such as the common cold. The key to SBS is that your symptoms improve after leaving the building, only to come back when you return to the same location. Common Causes of SBS: • Poor ventilation in the building • High levels of dust • Tobacco smoke • Rooms with poor lighting • The presence of mold or fungus • Carbon monoxide • Heat or low humidity

Health & Wellbeing

In fact, bad Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can cause diseases and aggrevate symptoms, yet it remains among the most ignored topics.

ESCOs’ Role in Enhancement of Indoor Air Quality while implementing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) The implementation of ECMs identified during energy audits can be clubbed with enhancement of IEQ, these ECMs can be broadly divided in 4 categories as per the implementation approach.

CONTROLS

RETROFIT

REPLACEMENT

SELF-GENERATION

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ECMs that can improve the quality of air and light, whilst seeing a reduction in utility bills: USE OF SOLAR WINDOW FILMS

Smart thermostats are thermostats that can be used with automation and are responsible for controlling a home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. They perform similar functions as a Programmable thermostat as they allow the user to control the temperature throughout the day using a schedule, but also contain additional features, such as sensors and WiFi connectivity, that improve upon the issues with programmable thermostats. DEMAND CONTROLLED VENTILATION

Faisal Al Raisi

COO AND ACTING CEO, ETIHAD ESCO Solar window film reduces solar heat gain and is designed specifically to work on windows and standard glazing. The film works by reducing heat and glare, which in turn prevents the steady build-up of heat getting through the window throughout the day, that can end up making your home, office or workplace uncomfortably hot. USE OF SMART THERMOSTATS

Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) is a feedback control method to maintain indoor air quality that automatically adjusts the ventilation rate provided to a space in response to changes in conditions such as occupant number or indoor pollutant concentration. Carbon dioxide sensors monitor carbon dioxide levels in a space by strategic placement. The placement of the sensors should be able to provide an accurate representation of the space, usually placed in a return duct or on the wall. As the sensor reads the increasing amount of carbon dioxide levels in a space, the ventilation increases to dilute the levels. When the space is unoccupied, the sensor reads normal levels, and continues to supply the unoccupying rate for airflow.

I agree with the slogan ‘Healthy Buildings, Healthy People’. At Etihad ESCO, we strive to retrofit the built environment through choosing designs, ventilation systems, materials, products, and solutions to ensure energy efficiency whilst reducing the risk of health problems among the building users.

Faisal Al Raisi is the COO & Acting CEO of Etihad ESCO. He is leading Etihad – the super ESCO in the emirate of Dubai, which is thriving to make Dubai one of the most sustainable cities and a leading example of energy efficiency for the region and the world. Mr Al Raisi is playing a key role in the expansion of Etihad ESCO portfolio. He is actively involved in the formation of two verticals under the Etihad umbrella – Etihad Facility Management (FM) and Etihad Electro-Mechanical (EM) over the past year and is currently working to develop several other verticals.

Health & Wellbeing

96% of adults in UAE willing to take personal action on sustainability issues

tudy of 24 countries shows the pandemic is prompting billions to consider more sustainable behaviours

New research on sustainability, commissioned by Mastercard, reveals a marked increase in consumer passion for the environment, as personal attitudes toward the environment evolve as a result of COVID-19. Over four in five (83%) adults in the UAE are more mindful of their impact on the environment since COVID-19

Nearly three quarters (74%) of adults in the UAE think it’s now more important for businesses and brands to do more for the environment. Almost three quarters of adults in the UAE (74%), say companies behaving in more sustainable and eco-friendly ways is more important than before

Respondents in the UAE highlighted the top three issues they want companies and brands to focus on, besides dealing with the pandemic. They want brands to focus on the health and wellbeing of their employees (41%), a reduction of air and water pollution (31%), and more sustainable and durable products (31%).

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Seven in ten adults surveyed in the UAE (72%) feel reducing their carbon footprint is more important now than pre-pandemic.

Source: Research conducted by Mastercard under its Priceless Planet Coalition published on April 22, 2021

Almost three in five people (58%) have become more conscious about how their actions can impact the environment than ever before, with Gen-Z and Millennials (65%) leading this shift.

Health & Wellbeing

Power of Togetherness By: Jeremy Doutte, Vice-President, Talabat UAE

ealth authorities in the UAE and talabat setting the example of public and private sectors joining forces to encourage the vaccination drive

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In May 2021, the UAE celebrated yet another accomplishment as it moved to the top of the global rankings for vaccination rates. This comes as a result of ramped up efforts by the country and dedicated government efforts to combat COVID-19 as we slowly return to normalcy. The findings of a YouGov survey commissioned by G42 Healthcare with 1,011 respondents published in February 2021 showed that more than 76% of UAE public believe COVID-19 vaccine will bring life back to normal in a year. The UAE has taken great strides to curb the spread of the pandemic and provide treatment to those infected through the country’s world class healthcare system. This was possible due to the infrastructure put in place by the government with over hundreds of vaccination centres across the country to ensure the vaccine is easily accessible to all residents who wish to receive it. The vaccine is provided free of charge to all UAE residents, and information is regularly communicated to raise awareness

about the importance of protecting themselves and others in the society. As it spearheads its way to recovery, the UAE ranked among the top 20 countries for 2020 on five indicators related to the competitiveness of the tourism sector and ranked eighth in the world in marketing effectiveness when it comes to attracting tourists, according to the Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Report from the World Bank, reflecting the public’s trust in the UAE and its relentless efforts in combating COVD-19. Additionally, one of the core ways in which the UAE government is battling the spread of the pandemic is by working closely with the private sector to ensure that employees and their families have easy access to the vaccine. This is where talabat comes in - as the leading online food delivery and q-commerce app, we were one of the first private companies to proactively reach out to the authorities at the end of last year to facilitate a nation wide vaccination drive for riders, as part of the company’s continuous

efforts to maintain the wellbeing of our riders, the communities and the ecosystem they operate in. We are very proud that the UAE is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to launching a successful national vaccination programme, and we support the leadership’s vision in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its citizens and residents. At talabat we also believe in leading by example and that is why we proactively reached out to authorities from the onset to join forces and encouraged our

The well-being of our riders and that of the ecosystem they operate in became of even higher priority for talabat during the pandemic and we took additional steps to keep them safe riders and employees to vaccinate. As industry leaders, it is our responsibility to support the government and help the economy return to pre-covid state as fast as possible, and this can only be done if private companies do their part in enhancing the physical – and subsequently the mental wellbeing – of their employees by encouraging them to participate in the vaccination drive. Reflecting back on last year, the vital role that delivery riders played at the outbreak of the pandemic is undeniable. While everyone was at home during the National Sterilization Program, delivery riders were on the road ensuring that UAE residents were getting food and essentials delivered at their doorstep. Last Ramadan during the lockdown, talabat riders were at the forefront, supporting communities across the UAE by delivering 90,000 meals and 4000 medicine packages from Dubai to all other emirates free of charge to people in need across the country - a reminder of the crucial role our riders play in the community, delivering food, groceries, or pharmacy

essentials on a daily basis. Naturally, the wellbeing of our riders and that of the ecosystem they operate in became of even higher priority for talabat during the pandemic, and we took additional steps to keep them safe. From the start of COVID-19, talabat was the first in the industry to roll-out the strictest safety measures such as utilising Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for all riders, as well as offering customers the option of contactless delivery and cashless tipping, which we continue to enforce until date. Our riders are also provided with a 24/7 talabat helpline to report potential contact with any sick person or queries pertaining to their own health. In December 2020, in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), and the Ministry of Health and Prevention, we started the rollout of talabat’s nationwide voluntary rider vaccination programme to support the government’s efforts to eliminate COVID-19 in the UAE. Today, almost the entire fleet of talabat has received the first dose and more than half of the fleet received the second dose, while all the riders in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have been fully vaccinated as of April 2021. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect ourselves from COVID-19, that’s why our riders are choosing to vaccinate to boost their immunity, helping to protect them while on duty. We are simply encouraging them to stay safe and facilitating the vaccination process for the riders that are choosing to vaccinate. Every person that chooses to vaccinate is leading by example and encouraging others to do the same, which we have seen happen at talabat, with more and more employees and riders choosing to vaccinate. The benefits of taking a proactive approach with the vaccination programme have cascaded right across our entire talabat ecosystem; our riders feel more confident while they are on duty, and even customers and restaurant partners have welcomed the initiative and expressed they feel safer knowing that talabat riders are choosing to vaccinate – an example of how companies in the private sector in collaboration with health authorities can help lead the way to recovery and a more normal way of life across the UAE. By taking an active role in the UAE’s nationwide vaccination programme, we are keeping each other safe and helping our economy stay robust. Not only are we in this together, we are also stronger together.

Health & Wellbeing

Student Life: Impact of

COVID-19 on Students By: Mercedes Sheen, Associate Professor and Academic Head of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University

ssociate Professor and Academic Head of Psychology, of Heriot-Watt University, tells The Sustainabilist about the impact of COVID-19 on students’ mental health.

The outbreak of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) has impacted the lives of nearly all sections of society with people being asked to self-isolate in their homes or schools to prevent spreading of the virus. This isolation had serious repercussions on the mental health of many school and university students, resulting in psychological problems including depression, anxiety, stress and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When schools and universities in the UAE were ordered to close on March 8, 2020, few were aware of just how much our daily lives would change. With the shift to online learning, many students became isolated from their friends and families, graduations were cancelled, social lives were suspended and many students found themselves having to study in home environments which were not conducive to effective learning. The closing of international borders and cancellation of international flights led to further isolation, with many students stuck living alone in halls of residence far away from their friends and families. Indeed, the sudden shift to online learning was particularly tough on students, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought what was an already vulnerable population into renewed focus for alarm. Student mental health and wellbeing have long been of concern to parents and educators alike. According the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health conditions account for 16%

of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19 years. Globally, half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age. Still, most cases are undetected and untreated, and depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. The pandemic has only added to this burden. In addition, mental health issues can have many underlying causes during this time. Social isolation from friends and family and faculty mentors, lack of social support, and loneliness, have largely been implicated for this alarming rise in mental health issues amongst UAE students. DR MERCEDES SHEEN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND ACADEMIC HEAD OF PSYCHOLOGY, SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AT HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY DUBAI, DIVES DEEPER INTO THE MENTAL IMPACT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. Locked in with Distance Learning: Schools and universities were amongst the first to be affected by the lockdown at the start of the pandemic as they were forced to shut their doors on March 8, 2020. Despite this shift to online learning, the UAE Government was determined for schools and universities to maintain high academic standards with the Ministry of Education (MOE) rolling out a carefully designed teacher training progamme to ensure a high quality of online education was maintained with a good degree of success. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

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Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a media statement said “Schools are closed, but education will never stop.” As COVID-19 moves into its second year, many schools and universities have implemented a blended approach to education. This blended style of delivery is likely to continue into the next academic year. Luckily for all stakeholders, including students, parents, and teachers, the UAE is technologically advanced and the success of our blended approach is apparent in the high academic standards we have continued to see with our students at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. However, distance learning with minimal human interaction can be intimidating and stressful for students, especially for first-year students. Distance learning also requires constant access to technology and, although the UAE is technologically advanced, students still face equipment or internet reception issues, causing stress and uncertainty for many. Some strategies that students can use to overcome some of these challenges include establishing a studying routine that allows them to take breaks, engage with other students outside of class, and attending regular wellbeing counselling sessions.

Times such as these require students to stay strongwilled and to ask for help when they need it. Social Activities on Hold: Although we live in a digital age, with many users spending an average of three hours a day on social media. A survey conducted by The Media Lab suggests that there is a limit to our mental capacity of being constantly online without any personal interactions. The many challenges that students have experienced with the suspension of face-to-face teaching, and the accompanying restriction of movement, can have long-lasting adverse effects on students’ mental health. Spending hours online for school-related activities, followed by many more hours on social media, is detrimental to student well-being. Moreover, since many high school and university students rely on peer feedback and peer interaction in forming their identities, it remains unclear what effect this isolation will have on their future development. Therefore, it is important that students have access to online peer mentoring where students can support each other, not only academically but socially as well. It is also vital that students incorporate some type of physical activity into their daily lives to reduce stress and help manage the anxiety resulting from the pandemic. Higher Education Concerns: Global lockdowns, the suspension of flights and border closures, have resulted in many students seeking to pursue educational opportunites overseas suddenly finding themselves with limited options for pursuing further education. Since restrictions were put in place in 2020, many universities already faced with a backlog of student applications, experienced mounting pressure to relieve the student recruitment pipeline. This put undue pressure on students through uncertainty and doubt as to the future of their education. In a recent

The image was taken pre-COVID survey of 4,000 undergraduate students by Strada, 13% of them said the pandemic was likely to delay their graduation. Another concern was that many countries were suspending or delaying final high school exams which meant further uncertainty regarding their entry into university. To combat this uncertainty, several universities, including Heriot-Watt University Dubai, offered students the opportunity to apply for their chosen undergraduate programme based on schoolassessed grades, including mock exam results and teacher-predicted grades. Disruption in Career Paths: The dynamic nature of the pandemic has meant that many young adults seeking to pursue further education or employment opportunities are facing many logistical challenges in pursuing their goals. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated over 114 million jobs were lost globally during the pandemic in 2020 alone. This has led to a decline in working hour,s which translated into further loss of employment opportunities. The fact that many employees have been faced with unprecedented furloughs has caused the global job market to shrink even further. With an uncertain picture of what the job market will look like in the forthcoming years, hopeful graduates face an unclear future creating further stress and anxiety for many young people. One way of adapting to this situation is to develop and enhance other soft skills to improve their suitability for their chosen career paths. Volunteering and undertaking internships are just some ways that students can add to their resumes to make them more attractive to future employers or post-graduate programmes. With the world facing some of its biggest challenges, many global humanitarian organisations are also looking to increase their volunteer base. Wellbeing should be a priority above all else. We know that stress, loneliness, and anxiety are amongst the most top areas of concerns. Times such as these require students to stay strong-willed and to ask for help when they need it. Students also must understand that these difficult times are just temporary. We suggest that several coping mechanisms should be incorporated as part of students’ daily routines. Simple ones, such as keeping track of your goals and adapting timelines, exercising, spending time with family, taking up other activities, and attending counselling sessions can support students through online learning, lockdowns, and other pandemic-related restrictions.

Health & Wellbeing

Health Engagement Programmes:

The gateway for organisations to enhance wellbeing for their people

By: Wissam Youssef, Co-founder and CEO, CME

o-founder and CEO of CME tells The Sustainabilist about Health Engagement Programmes and encourages organisations to adopting them to help achieve health and wellbeing goals of their employees.

As new and emerging technologies continue to bring concepts to life, businesses, industries, and society are together accelerating towards a sustainable future. Healthcare today is thriving due to an ecosystem of connected devices that have completely revolutionised the sector, redefining practices and delivering more value than ever before.

Companies and healthcare payers have seen the opportunity to build on this transformation to strengthen their interest in the health and wellbeing of people, solidified through the influence, impact and practicability of comprehensive strategies such as Health Engagement Programmes. Health Engagement Programmes explained Since the outbreak of COVID-19, people are more health-conscious and have a greater desire to engage in healthy activities. Many organisations around the world, no matter how large or small, have evolved their respective corporate wellness programmes into digitised Health Engagement Programmes, which leverage modern technology capabilities with gamified experiences – enabling unprecedented success within organisations as a behavioural change tool. With this in mind, it is understandable why the healthcare gamification market is expected to reach USD 13.5 billion by 2025 . Smart devices, mobile applications, and analytics are the winning combination behind Health Engagement Programems popularity and practicality, facilitating programmes' implementation, enhancing experiences and engagement, developing robust relationships between concerned parties, all while enabling an objective measurement of the programme’s ROI. INGO health, the brainchild of CME, is an example of health engagement programmes that drive healthier habits with tangible rewards and social interactions. It is offered by companies as part of their corporate wellness programmes, and by insurers and healthcare payers as part of their medical or life insurance plans.

INGO Health ampliﬁes the motivational aspect by integrating multiple gamiﬁcation layers, points earning and tangible rewards, with personalised daily and weekly goals, in a highly interactive and human-centric experience. Furthermore, in addition to tracking training, steps, calories, and sleep, it monitors water consumption, a key metric that regular apps are unable to accurately measure, thanks to a uniquely designed Smart Water Bottle that precisely captures water intake. The multi-stream of data gathered from the app enables the organisation to build new capabilities in data-drive care management, as well as unveiling prevention-centric insights that can help both organisations and end users mitigate any potential health risks. A powerful vector of change for HR and finance departments With Health Engagement Programmes, organisations ensure that their people are committing to greater health and wellbeing goals, resulting in reducing sicknesses and medical bills, improving staff engagement, and creating social interactions between employees leading to strengthening the company’s culture. These programmes are great way for businesses to achieve their aspirations, reduce cost and enhance the wellbeing of employees – with technology and gamification coming together. Another aspect of Health Engagement Programmes is the ability to extract new type of insights based on aggregated users’ behaviours, monitoring the programme adoption and evolution, and measuring its financial and social impact. Organisations can for example track the evolution of the percentage of staff with a “sedentary” lifestyle, or the portion of their workforce that does not drink enough water. They can implement targeted initiatives to improve the status-quo, welcoming a new chapter of sustainability in the health and wellbeing area. Organisations can also cross data of sick leaves, medical claims or work practices with lifestyle indicators, and derive actionable insights

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to efficiently reduce illnesses, increase employee productivity and, as an overarching effect, boost the company’s work environment and business results. This helps organisations foster a culture that values and celebrates its employees, by supporting them and amplifying collective impact and shared culture of purpose.

Furthermore, it is important that organisations do not neglect the advantages that rewards can provide them. In addition to acquiring valuable feedback, catalogues can also include options that boost an organisation’s profile and engagement level through social interactions, providing opportunities to become involved with bonus schemes or other human-centric initiatives.

Technologies and mechanics Organisations have identified that their corporate wellness programmes objectives can be met by harnessing the vast power of the Internet of Things (IoT). Due to their proven capabilities and everincreasing market penetration, smart devices and wearables are now universally acknowledged as the gateway to widespread claims prevention and health and wellbeing enhancement. Backed by IoT and nextgeneration features, they precisely collect essential data, evaluate overall health, and monitor physical performance. Users then receive notifications regarding their performance and reminders to, for example, exercise and drink water. This new data stream enables organisations to plan data-driven care management with new insights that benefit both businesses and end-users. Gamification techniques – including challenges, motivational messages, badges, rewards, and leaderboards to stimulate positive group influence – are the basis for ensuring sustained engagement, with points earned and rewards catalogue gifts acquired whenever daily or weekly goals are accomplished. Rewards are one such method, which is an effective way to magnify proactive lifestyle benefits and motivate participants to continue with their newfound health-centric habits.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, people are more health-conscious and have a greater desire to engage in healthy activities.

Considerations for organisations Although Health Engagement Programmes come with transformative impacts and results, organisations must first select the most efficient solution to meet their goals. As such, they must take several factors into consideration during the selection process, and the following steps will boost efforts in this direction: Organisations must ensure their solutions meet personalisation requirements. Customisation is a vital element for users to accomplish their objectives not only because they can receive rewards based on their performance, but also tailor their profiles and track their progress, helping to maintain interest and engagement. Excellent user experiences are essential for wellness programmes to succeed. Therefore, organisations should ensure apps and devices provide engagement, simplicity, and accuracy to facilitate improved health and well-being efforts. Numerous organisations have brought upon themselves unnecessary complexity when building their respective rewards catalogue. Those starting out on their Health Engagement journeys should pursue a different route and consider solutions that already boast such a catalogue. The ability to track the programme adoption and the evolution of the participants aggregated key health and wellbeing indicators over time, to create segments and groups, and to measure the programme impact on social and financial levels. Backed by new technologies, smart devices, and comprehensive engagement capabilities, Health Engagement Programmes are – when implemented correctly – a certain formula for improved health and wellbeing. For companies, gamification of wellness programmes goes beyond engagement to enable sustaining behavioural changes, especially with the help of technology.

Health & Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing in the Hospitality Industry By: M Gunasekaran, Technical Customer Service Specialist - South Asia and Middle East, Lenzing Fibers

Gunasekaran gives us an insight into how wood-based fibre offers the perfect balance between health, wellbeing and sustainability to the hotel industry

In 2018, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a video called ‘Made in Forests' starring acclaimed actress Michelle Yeoh. The video highlighted how our reliance on conventionally sourced cotton and polyester for clothing has, unbeknownst to many, adversely impacted the environment. The narrative then shifted to a potential, sustainable alternative: Wood-based fibre. Unlike cotton production, which involves pesticide use, as well as huge water and energy inputs, the production and lifecycle of wood-based fibres – TENCELTM lyocell fibres, in particular – has sustainability at its core, from the get-go. These innovative products are now increasingly finding application in the hospitality industry, particularly in linen management. Health & wellbeing of the guests of the hotel industry The UAE’s hotel industry places a strong focus to provide extreme comfort to its guests. Amidst pandemic, the need of the hour is a higher importance on wellbeing. Sleep is one of the most fundamental aspects of wellbeing and TENCELTM Lyocell fibres support factors that help all its users to enjoy a sound sleep.

Utilisation of bed and bath linen made of wood-based fibres is better as compared to other alternates, such as cotton as these fibres are enabled with water-saving capabilities. Such linen products are unfavourable for bacterial growth due to lyocell-fibre composition, which can be treated with eco-friendly agents. The fiber shrinks less, wrinkles lesser as compared to regular cotton and breathes more. This absorbs the moistures and giving the guests a cooling effect in summer and other kinds of climate. This fibre is also the most ideal for sensitive skin.

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Key benefits to the hotel industry – Increased lifecycle of linen & overall sustainability of the hotel Wood-based fibres or cellulose fibres, specially TENCEL™ fibres, are made by dissolving wood pulp and reconstituting it by dry-jet spinning. Firstly, the pulp is sourced from sustainably managed forests, which are devoid of pesticide use and exaggerated water or energy input. In contrast, traditional cotton production affects water bodies, marine ecosystems, and ultimately, human health. So, as opposed to polyester, spandex, or nylon, which are inherently detrimental to the environment, lyocell fibres can be created much more sustainably, and with the use of eco-friendly agents and dyes. But the charm of lyocell is not limited to sustainable production and biodegradability; the products boast superior functionality, softness, and a unique natural texture that is gentle on sensitive skin. Wood-based fibres are also known for their intrinsic moisture management and thermalregulating mechanism. So, naturally, linens made from these fibres are ushering in new possibilities in the hospitality industry. Latest developments in the lyocell fibre market have seen innovators claiming a reduction in water use per piece of linen by a massive 30%, for every wash, throughout the product life cycle. And since fibres can be twice as soft as cotton, last longer, and withstand repeated wash-and-dry cycles, they make a strong case for replacing cotton-based products. These advantages are giving woodbased fibres strong traction in the hospitality industry, in the aftermath of the pandemic. Better hygiene for a better wellbeing Lodging and other tourism services involve common touchpoints, amenities, and reusable toiletries, which can aid virus transmission. So, as the service economy reopens in the “new normal”, hoteliers have to balance hygiene, and adherence to pandemic-related regulations. This challenge is further complicated by the sustainability imperative, which has long been on the back burner, but which can no longer be ignored, in the increasingly eco-centric new normal. The hotel industry needs to showcase the highest standards of hygiene in order to uplift the overall industry.

Fibres can be twice as soft as cotton, last longer, and withstand repeated wash-and-dry cycles, they make a strong case for replacing cotton-based products. Under these circumstances, the advent of lyocell fibre-based linen has the potential to transform the overall wellbeing narrative. During a time when guests are demanding ultra-hygienic premises and services, hoteliers can turn to lyocell fibre-based linen, which are unfavourable for bacterial growth, while also being soft, comforting, and aesthetically pleasing. The availability of such products, as part of cost-effective rental models in the UAE, can also add a huge impetus to the nation’s quest to safely reopen its service economy, and lead the eco-tourism movement. Shifting the narrative towards health, wellbeing and sustainability Pandemic-induced awareness of eco-consumerism and sustainability is expected to endure, beyond the current crisis. This warrants the re-strategising and realigning of focus towards health and wellbeing of the stakeholders in all the industries including hospitality. The hospitality industry will be forced to assimilate holistic sustainability into its operations while emphasising on the overall health and wellbeing of its guests. Thankfully, the re-opening currently underway is an opportune window for the industry to implement sustainable alternatives like fibre-based linens and align with broader SDGs especially the 3rd goal: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, and the 13th goal: Climate Action. For the UAE's part, this window is rather limited, due to the fast-approaching Expo 2020 Dubai. Themed under ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, one of the main goals is to create sustainable solutions to global problems. So, there has never been a better time to bridge the gap between health, wellbeing, and sustainability. Considering the key health benefits of lyocell fibres, they present a timely opportunity to not only address multifaceted challenges, but also set the right precedent, for the future of mental health of the people of the UAE and beyond.

Health & Wellbeing

Prevention is better than cure By: Adam Smith, Managing Director, Polypipe Middle East.

dam Smith, Managing Director of Polypipe Middle East explores the role of public health and how it can be supported in the built environment. Public health can be best described as the science and art of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. Our modern perception of public health came into play just over a century ago, when the study of hygiene and disease prevention become prevalent at leading educational institutions. However, the idea of public health is deeply rooted in human history. Practices to improve human health and wellness date back to early Chinese medicine. The development of water and sanitation systems in Ancient Rome is evidence of early community-wide efforts to improve public health. With the rise of germ theory, the 20th century gave way to great changes in public health, driving the idea that cleanliness must be embraced as a path to health and disease prevention. Today, the practice of public health focuses on ways to promote a healthy lifestyle and detect, respond to or prevent disease. In order to achieve this, a preventative approach is most effective. This approach includes optimising our buildings to support health and wellbeing. In fact, the construction industry has an important role to play in protecting public health. As city-dwellers, we spend most of our lives indoors, rendering the link between our buildings and our health even more important. This connection is encouraging innovative transformations in the industry that enhance health, wellbeing and sustainability.

Going forward, it is necessary for the construction industry to place health and wellbeing at the core of the design and build process. The buildings we occupy are made of diverse systems that must work holistically to maintain occupant comfort and health. Just like in a plane or a car, the systems in our buildings must also be thoughtfully engineered to prevent failure and protect public health. Creating healthy living and working environments is a core component of enhancing public health. One way we can do so is by optimising cleanliness. Material selection and performance are integral to ensuring health and safety, especially in hygiene-critical environments like healthcare facilities. A healthcare facility is designed to treat, recover and protect, not harm. Therefore, the materials and systems used within the facility should do the same. For example, selecting certain materials, such as copper, to use in buildings systems can deliver antimicrobial properties that help reduce the risk of infectious diseases. Another way we can enhance Public Health in our buildings is through the use of robust and reliable drainage solutions. The role of drainage is critical to life in our buildings. Low quality drainage can cause toxic gases to enter buildings through blocked vents, dry taps or damage drain lines. They can cause foul smells and disturbing noises that are not just inconvenient, but harmful to human health. Furthermore, research has shown that the spread of infectious

The Sustainabilist

diseases, like COVID-19 or SARS is directly linked to poor drainage. High performing drainage systems, such as Polypipe Middle East’s Terrain FUZE, can mitigate these risks to maintain healthy indoor air quality and reduce the spread of disease. Our climate and water management systems also play a vital role in protecting public health. Systems should enable the natural climate-water cycle (capture, store, treat and re-use) to reduce waste and protect precious assets, such as clean water. In my experience with Polypipe Middle East, the integration of sustainable water management systems can have a powerful effect on building safety and sustainability. Not only do they help support a circular economy model, but they can also improve overall efficiency and resilience of the building. For example, certain sustainable water management solutions, like our award-winning Permavoid system, enables the creation of green roofs. Green roofs can help reduce flood risk, increase biodiversity and cool building temperatures. Ultimately, they help to create a safer and more comfortable living environment, in addition to delivering cost savings and potentially increasing property value. As our cities grow larger, global organisations like the United Nations, are calling for sustainable urban development, urging companies to adopt practices that support water sanitation, responsible consumption and safe housing. For the construction industry, this means incorporating more practices that support human health and sustainability along the supply chain. This process starts at the planning and design stage engaging the right manufacturers and distributors at an early stage enables the delivery of safe and reliable public health systems. Ultimately, the responsibility to improve public health is community wide. public health should be at the forefront of the industry, with change driven by collaboration and collective efforts of individuals, organisation and decision-makers.

As city-dwellers, we spend most of our lives indoors, rendering the link between our buildings and our health even more important.

Healthy Spaces Create Healthy Minds

BUILDING RETROFIT Etihad ESCO is a DEWA venture that was established in 2013 to make Dubai built environment a leading example of energy efficiency for the region and the world. As a Super ESCO (Energy Service Company), it enables the energy performance contracting market in Dubai by developing energy efficiency projects targeting more than 30,000 buildings. Etihad ESCO aims to jumpstart the creation of viable performance contracting market for energy service companies by executing building retrofits, increasing penetration of district cooling, building capacity of local ESCOs for private sector and facilitating access to project finance. The Dubai ESCOs market will provide new business opportunities for joint ventures, international partnerships as well as engage UAE national entrepreneurs through a diversified supply chain from financial institutions, technology providers and equipment manufacturers to service providers across the project development, management and reporting stages.

www.etihadesco.ae

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