As governments and industries set ambitious environmental targets to power sustainable growth in a world beset by rapid urbanisation, climate change and the scarcity of natural resources, achieving such commitments will require a bold transformation of societies.
In the Middle East, the challenges of achieving those environmental goals are further exacerbated by increasing consumer consumption as regional economies flourish.
For example, according to the World Resources Institute, 12 of the world’s 17 most water-stressed countries are in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The World Bank meanwhile estimates that five Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries produce more than 1.5 kg of daily waste per person, and the region is expected to double its solid waste output by 2050.
Against such a backdrop, it is deeply encouraging to see that bold transformation is already underway in the Middle East, and a robust vision of inclusive and sustainable development is taking shape – by ramping up recycling efforts, investing in waste management technology, harnessing the potential of clean energy, and embracing the power of digitalisation.
Spearheaded by countries such as the UAE and moulded by the collective efforts of government, private enterprise, and civil society, such circular transformation challenges the status quo with innovation and ingenuity, safeguarding natural habitats and preserving the environment while driving tangible progress towards sustainable economic growth.
Last month marked World Environment Day, which focused on solutions to plastic pollution, and presented an opportune moment to applaud the creative solutions driving the 3-R approach that comprises the circular economy loop – reduce, reuse, and recycle – as the UAE celebrates the Year of Sustainability and the region progresses on the road to Net Zero.
The UAE was the first country in the MENA region to develop a national pathway to net zero and one of the first countries in the region to seize the opportunities offered by the transition to a green economy, with the UAE Circular Economy Policy issued in 2021 promoting the efficient use of natural resources and encouraging the shift to cleaner industrial production methods.
In the years since then and building on its Net Zero by 2050 goal, the UAE has further accelerated its efforts to become a global recycling hub – creating a strong framework for Single Use Plastic Policy, for instance, and implementing a ban on non-biodegradable plastic products.
The launch of the Plastic Recycling Exchange – the world’s first trading platform for recycled materials – in 2022 marked the UAE’s pioneering foray into a global market that is expected to exceed $46bn by 2025.
Abu Dhabi meanwhile has set up the Centre for Waste Management to organise and coordinate all activities related to sustainable waste, and has earmarked space for a recycling plant that can handle 12,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) a year. The Dubai Can initiative has taken aim at single-use plastic water bottles, while Sharjah is working towards 100 percent landfill diversion targets for the emirate.
The overall strategy for a more circular UAE has also received major impetus through grassroots initiatives such as RECAPP by Veolia, the country’s first free-of-charge door-to-door recycling service provided by Veolia Middle East that actually rewards users for properly disposing off their trash. The app-based service has not only empowered thousands of residents to get into the habit of recycling but also helped local communities adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
Such initiatives are a perfect example of how to tap into global opportunities by converting a problem into a solution: A survey by the World Economic Forum found that 40 percent of the region’s respondents thought key barriers such as the lack of programmes and services stood in the way of greater recycling uptake. As a global leader in ecological transformation, Veolia has been at the forefront of removing such barriers and fast-tracking the adoption of circular economy principles in the UAE and around the region.
The development of a new mobile water service in Saudi Arabia that regenerates and recycles the resins used in the water treatment process, is another example of Veolia’s path-breaking innovation that provides a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to fixed water plants in a wide range of industrial applications.
As the UAE prepares to welcome the world to COP28 later this year, the vast potential of the region’s circular economy is thus increasingly under the spotlight – and it is time for all of us to mobilise and collaborate in the quest for pragmatic and sustainable environmental solutions that meet the vital needs of populations in a responsible manner and build a better 21st century.