As news broke on Monday of a new UN report declaring the world has a rapidly closing window to ward off catastrophe caused by climate change, many of us were left wondering what on Earth we can do about it.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the report as a “code red for humanity”, which would be enough to send anyone into a state of apathy. But now is not the time for indifference.
"It should be enough to ring alarm bells for humanity," says Geeta Pahlajani, founder of local sustainability-focused everyday essentials brand The Goodness Company. "It is clear that climate change impact will not just be seen in the next few hundred years, but will be prevalent in our lifetime as well. We can already see this via the wildfires in Turkey and more recently Greece, all of which have had a disastrous impact due to rising temperatures and heatwaves across the Mediterranean."
While it's on governments and big corporations to do the bulk of the work, we can all chip in, says Pahlajani. "Reducing climate change impact is a collective human responsibility. We can all do our bit by being mindful of our actions."
Here are 10 easy ways you can be more eco-friendly today:
1. Tackle the grocery store one step at a time
“It’s all about baby steps,” says Doua Benhida, who runs Instagram account The Zero Waste Collective. “Start with a reusable bag and use that for a couple of weeks or months. Analyse the foods you eat and how much plastic you use with it, so you can cut down.”
Sukriti Verma, co-founder of local e-store Shift Eco, advises keeping a reusable bag in your car, so you don’t forget it at home. “This will prevent you from bringing unnecessary plastic bags home.”
Once you’ve cracked that, Benhida says it’s time to get your reusable pouches for fruits, vegetables and pulses. If you don’t want to buy these, Verma says you could always insist on your fresh produce being weighed loose and having the stickers put on your main shopping bag, or the item. “This saves so much plastic in one grocery store visit.”
If you’re keen to take it a step further, Benhida says get containers for deli items such as hummus or spices. “It can be tricky, as you have to explain to the guy at the counter that he needs to weigh it, then null that weight and add the foods, but once you’ve eased into it it’s fine.”
Refillable bottles are also an option. “My go-to is Carrefour as it has so many options to be plastic-free. They sell coffee in bulk, bread in bulk, dairy, nuts, and so on. The one in Mall of the Emirates even has a refill section for oil and vinegar, and detergents, as does the Organic Food and Cafe.
“A lot more supermarkets are offering refill sections now.”
2. Buy local
While you’re at the supermarket, buy local products, says Pahlajani. “Whether this is seasonal fresh produce or local brands, choosing to spend your purchasing power wisely can be very beneficial for the environment. Local goods save energy spent in transportation, packaging and preservation.”
This doesn't simply extend to food, either, as buying furniture, clothes, toys and other items made in the UAE, or wherever else you live, also reduces the amount of energy expended on manufacturing and transportation. And you also help out a local business while you're at it.
3. Eat fewer animals
“Industrialised animal agriculture is a large contributor of methane and other greenhouse gas emissions rapidly accelerating climate change impact,” says Pahlajani, who advises consuming more plant-based meals.
“You don’t have to go vegan,” says Benhida, who also offers this advice, reiterating her earlier point of taking “baby steps”.
Nada El Barshoumi, the brains behind blog One Arab Vegan, says the same. “If you can’t commit to going totally meat-free, make it a point to eat as plant-based as possible – whether that means eating one plant-based meal a day, practicing meatless Mondays or going vegan during weekdays – every little bit helps.”
Benhida says, after time, you’ll find it easier to incorporate more veggies and less meat. “It’ll become a habit, and maybe you’ll even become vegetarian or vegan.”
Pahlajani adds: “There are plenty of plant-based vegan substitutes available in supermarkets today.”
4. Rewear your clothes
Most of us know by now how bad the fast fashion industry is for the planet, and while many won’t forgo buying new items altogether, we can at least commit to shopping less. “Take care of your clothes and shoes,” advises El Barshoumi. “Getting small rips repaired or old heels cobbled is a great way to lengthen the lifespan of your favourite wardrobe staples.”
For those special occasions when you may want to wear something new and fabulous, why not try renting your outfit? “The fashion industry is the world’s second biggest pollutant, currently accounting for around 10 per cent of humanity’s carbon emissions and 20 per cent of wastewater,” says Sophie Kjoller, co-founder of Best Kept Shared, a peer-to-peer luxury fashion rental platform that launched in the UAE last month. “On average, we buy more than 50 new articles of clothing annually and roughly 50 per cent of those items will be worn three times or less."
Kjoller says the best thing you can do is increase the number of times each item is worn. “We believe that if you cannot wear an item at least 30 times, then you shouldn’t own it, you should rent it.”
5. Say goodbye to cling film
There’s no need to use cling film and tin foil to wrap up leftovers anymore, says Verma. “Instead, get reusable silicone lids and ziplocks or beeswax wraps.”
6. Reduce refined sugar intake
Not only does this have an added health benefit, but it’s also good for the plant. “This is often a hushed topic by large corporations, but sugarcane crops are highly water intensive, produce massive emissions and solid waste during processing that flow into water bodies and negatively impact the environment,” Pahlajani explains.
“With sugar present in most products we eat today, large biodiverse regions are being cleared for sugarcane production causing irreversible damage to our ecology.”
Pahlajani says instead use natural sweeteners such as local date sugars or syrups or coconut-based sugars. "However, everything should be consumed in moderation as it's usually food trends that cause large spikes in demand leading to unsustainable practices being adopted in production regions negatively impacting biodiversity."
7. Use the 'four Rs'
This is a motto Benhida uses. “First refuse plastic, but if you can’t refuse it, then reduce it – for example, take the plastic spoon, instead of the spoon, fork and knife. If you can’t reduce it, then reuse it – there’s no problem with washing your plastic cutlery and then reusing them. And if you can’t reuse it, then recycle – remember it’s not OK to use plastic because you’re recycling, but it is OK to recycle the plastic you are using.”
8. Switch off your lights
There are so many easy ways to reduce your electricity consumption, which is not only good for the world, but also your wallet. “Switch off lights and air-conditioning when not in use,” says Pahlajani. Taking it a step further, she says you could even explore using solar energy sources. “Several electricity providers locally have started to offer solar-powered options. This not only helps with reduction of carbon emissions but can also lower monthly electricity bills.”
9. Don’t ignore your bathroom
While 90 per cent of packaging is recycled in kitchens in the UK, only 50 per cent is being recycled in the bathroom and, consequently, accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of total landfill waste, according to Recycle Now. There are numerous easy fixes to this in the form of shampoo and conditioner bars, bamboo toothbrushes, toothpaste tablets, reusable make-up wipes and more. Start with the toothbrush, and take it from there. For more information, click here.
10. Forgo paper
"Use paper only when necessary," says Pahlajani, who believes a "paperless society should be the ideal way forward". You can do this by using QR codes and digital tickets instead of printing out your passes to events or flights, for example. Sign up for magazine and newspaper subscriptions online. Take notes on your phone, instead of with a notepad. Think before you print. Use a digital calendar instead of a hardback organiser. If you do have to use paper? Make sure you throw it in the recycling bin afterwards.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
ELECTION%20RESULTS
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RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
