Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
In the UAE, environmental action has long been more than just policy. From restoring Abu Dhabi's fisheries at record speed to cutting hundreds of millions of plastic items from circulation, the country has shown how pairing scientific rigour with an understanding of human behaviour can achieve transformative results.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), brings that perspective as she joins the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Human Science of Environmental Action.
For her, the appointment is an opportunity to contribute the UAE's experience to global efforts to embed behavioural science at the heart of environmental governance.
In a recent interview with Aletihad, she highlighted the country's longstanding belief that "effective environmental action depends not only on strong science, but also on understanding how people make decisions".
Global evidence reinforces this approach. Dr Al Dhaheri cited a 2022 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which shows that behavioural shifts alone could theoretically reduce global emissions by up to 70% by 2050.
"This would essentially wipe out emissions from China, the US, India, the EU and Russia combined," she explained.
Dr Al Dhaheri pointed to Abu Dhabi's fisheries recovery as a prime example. After stocks fell to just 8% of sustainable levels in 2018, behavioural interventions co-designed with fishermen helped rebuild them to 97% by 2024, one of the fastest documented recoveries worldwide.
Similarly, the emirate's Single-Use Plastic Policy has prevented 490 million plastic bags from entering circulation since 2022, while 267 million bottles have been recovered, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 116,000 tonnes - the equivalent of removing over 185,000 cars from the road for a year.
The council, she noted, recognises that human decisions influenced by biases, values, and emotions lie at the core of every environmental challenge.
The findings of a 2022 survey by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows that 40% of emissions in the US stem from direct consumer behaviours, while a further 60% arise indirectly from purchasing choices.
"With a focus on intellectual understanding, emotional connection, practical tools and resilient will, the council aims to shift global thinking from purely technical solutions to approaches aligned with how people actually behave," Dr Al Dhaheri said.
Nature as Part of Identity
Growing up in the UAE, Dr Al Dhaheri has been surrounded by landscapes that reveal both the fragility and resilience of nature. She knew early on that environmental stewardship is a cultural duty.
"[That belief] continually informs my approach to policymaking, where science must be paired with values, identity and emotional connection to create meaningful, generational impact."
She sees promise for a universal shift toward valuing nature as part of people's identity and wellbeing.
A 2024 global study published in "Nature Climate Change" found that 69% of people across 125 countries were willing to contribute part of their income toward tackling climate change.
"When environmental protection becomes an expression of personal and cultural values, collective action becomes far more powerful and long-lasting," Dr Al Dhaheri said.
Abu Dhabi's experience mirrors that readiness. Research conducted by Sorbonne University in partnership with EAD in 2024 and 2025 found that 64% of Abu Dhabi residents had taken steps to reduce their ecological impact, and almost half were recycling at least one material.
An EAD survey revealed 88% of young people reduced their use of single-use plastic bags six months after the 2022 ban, and nearly half identified climate change as their top concern.
"Abu Dhabi brings evidence-based policymaking, strong regulatory experience and proven large-scale restoration results to global conversations," Dr Al Dhaheri said.
Initiatives such as the Sustainable Schools Initiative, which has engaged nearly half a million students, and the e-Green Platform, the region's first free environmental e-learning system with 1.2 million users, demonstrate how behavioural science underpins the delivery of national climate ambitions.
