In a step towards environmental sustainability, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has partnered with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, to conduct a research project to develop effective strategies to reduce domestic waste in the emirate.
The project will focus on exploring and implementing behavioural change techniques tailored to the unique sociocultural fabric of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is home to more than 200 nationalities.
The project will cover all sectors of the population and will include rural, urban, and suburban communities throughout the emirate. Researchers at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will use a multidisciplinary approach, combining fields such as sociology, psychology, and waste management to devise solutions that are both effective and culturally sensitive.
The agreement between EAD and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi was signed on 3 September by Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, and Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Vice Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
Her Excellency Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: “Using the university's advanced research capabilities, we aim to understand how Abu Dhabi’s diverse community perceives domestic waste and its handling. This research will inform and guide stakeholders, including retail, consumers, households, and waste management companies on reducing domestic waste at source. Ultimately, our goal is to decrease the volume of domestic waste, including plastics, that ends up in landfills and the environment.
“By knowing how people think and act we can implement behavioural change programmes, encouraging people to be responsible citizens and changing how domestic waste is handled. The study results will act as a guide for effective communication across the population. We know that change can only happen when the community is informed, engaged, and takes proactive steps to alter their habits for the good of our shared environment.”
Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Vice Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, said: "In a transdisciplinary university such as Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, our primary goal is to foster impactful research that aligns with the national priorities of the UAE and addresses global challenges.”
"Our partnership with the EAD exemplifies this commitment. By exploring the sociocultural aspects of domestic waste in Abu Dhabi, we aim to devise solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also resonate with the diverse communities in the emirate.
"This project represents a comprehensive and collaborative strategy that transcends traditional academic boundaries. We believe that achieving real change requires engaging stakeholders beyond academia and involving the community in meaningful ways. To accomplish this, we have outlined a multifaceted approach that combines sociology, psychology, and waste management expertise to guide behavioural change towards sustainability."
This research collaboration will see a team of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi researchers undertake a comprehensive analysis of international case studies and the collection of data in Abu Dhabi through surveys and focus groups, to assess the emirate’s inhabitants’ current practices and identify barriers and motivators. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will propose evidence-based recommendations and actionable measures to enlighten policy makers and foster effective and sustainable changes in residents’ behaviours towards domestic waste.
