Hello,
If like me, you have too many old devices tucked away in a drawer at home, a financial incentive may be on the way to nudge you closer to a recycling point.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has launched a trial project with Tadweer Group in which manufacturers and producers of electronic devices pay a fee to make them more accountable for how phones are disposed of.
When recycled, that fee will be passed back to consumers.
Speaking to The National at the launch, Ali Al Dhaheri, chief executive of Tadweer Group, said the way electronic goods will be processed will ensure secure personal information is disposed of accordingly.
The programme, known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), is widely considered an essential component of sustainable waste management. Countries such as the UK, Germany and South Korea have used EPR for various product categories, resulting in improved recycling rates and reduced environmental harm.
Read the full story here.
Almost 100 arrested for environmental crimes in UAE-led operation in Amazon Basin
The UAE has led a major international operation against environmental crimes in the Amazon Basin, resulting in 94 arrests and the seizure of assets valued at more than $64 million.
The 14-day action, Operation Green Shield, was a multinational investigation co-ordinated by the Emirates with Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.
Read the full story here.
Climate change tripled deaths in European cities during heatwaves
Climate change tripled the number of heat-related deaths across European cities in the recent heatwaves, analysis by scientists has estimated.
Global warming, caused primarily by humans burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, led to the searing, more intense heat that gripped much of Europe in late June and early July, researchers found.
The heatwaves were up to 4ºC hotter across cities compared to a world without climate change, the researchers from the World Weather Attribution said.
Read the full story here.
The big fact
Kelp forests can absorb carbon up to 20 times faster than those on land. Kelp is a type of seaweed which grows incredibly fast – some can grow up to half a metre in length each day.
Jargon buster
Global boiling: A dramatic phrase popularised in 2023 by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to replace "global warming". The term aims to emphasise that the planet isn't just warming, it is overheating.
A full guide to understanding climate jargon is here.
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