Mohammed Arham: reflection on Antonios Vouloudis’s talk

Antonios Vouloudis talked about the various sustainability projects the UAE have introduced, whether it’s to do plastic waste management to dealing with urban heat island effects. One of the ideas that I resonated with in his talk was when he provided the anecdote about how in the past, there were a limited availability of paint containing no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compound) in the market, however, after governments regulations requiring the use of paints with no VOC, the suppliers started to produce such paints to fill the gap in the market. This showcases the importance of regulations in markets that revolves around supply/demand. So, in some cases it becomes essential for the government to chime in, in the form of regulations to achieve such effects, since sustainability is not always the top priority of private companies. To relate this to the “Bag it” documentary we watched during the first class, we realize how the scarcity of corporate lobbying in UAE may put it at a unique position compared to its western counterparts at efficiently passing sustainability policies & law.

His talk also included new plastic recycling plants planned by the government and while researching more into these new planned plants, I came across an article showcasing some familiar pictures of recycling stations, placed all around Abu Dhabi (image below). The recycling plant below is right outside Khalidiyah Park, which is close to where I live, made me realize the magnitude of my ignorance, as I never once used the station or paid it any close attention. I would not be surprised if there are many others from the same neighbourhood who were quick to dismiss it like myself. It’s sad that even when recycling is made so convenient, I have somehow managed to find a way to not partake in it. However, now that I am aware of such a location and its purpose, my family and I can use it to do our part in plastic recycling.