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GreenSpaceNewLife @simranvedvyas @SynergY plant trees to green landfills; reduce CO2 emmissions reduce waste increase healthy oxygen cover


Description

Summary

Youth have both special concerns and responsibilities in relation to the environment. A number of environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who have to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to them by earlier generations. Young people will be compelled to engage in new forms of action and activism to generate effective responses to ecological challenges. Environmental education has an important role to play in the promotion of environmental awareness.  I Simran Vedvyas, present investigating the change youth can bring by addressing environmental issues, through the specific climate action undertaken and then shared to mobilize youth and raise awareness to reduce the need of landfills and plant native trees near the landfills to green the area.  The environmental issue my project focused aimed for ‘Zero Landfill’ and drastic reduction needed in this direction. It is an important global issue because the rate at which we are generating waste and dumping them, there will be no space left and the toxins that the landfills generate will make life difficult on this beautiful planet.  From every perspective the causes of the problem are inevitable as the recycling practices are not so effective and developed and not everything is biodegradable making ‘Landfills an evil necessity”.  I investigated on - How we can reduce the carbon footprint of Dubai, combat global warming with the reduction of greenhouse gases, and create sustainability. This affects our future generations’ and us more and hence it should matter to us more than ever before.

“The world needs promising youth leaders and inspiring youth leadership aspiring for global healing and sustainable peace. It’s prime to tap into the passion, creativity, and ingenuity of all young people, and find ways to transform the community to be responsible by allowing inspiring young people to serve.


Category of the action

Reducing emissions from waste management


What actions do you propose?

In today’s globalized world, youth constitute a major segment of the total world population.   It is imperative that youth become the voice, as they are not only vibrant but can well act as the ‘agents of change’ to advocate about Environmental Issues. I believe that ‘Youth are the Future Champions!  Youth have both special concerns and responsibilities in relation to the environment. A number of environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who have to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to them by earlier generations. Young people will be compelled to engage in new forms of action and activism to generate effective responses to ecological challenges. Environmental education has an important role to play in the promotion of environmental awareness.

I Simran Vedvyas, present investigating the change youth can bring by addressing environmental issues, through the specific climate action undertaken and then shared to mobilize youth and raise awareness to reduce the need of landfills and plant native trees near the landfills to green the area.  The environmental issue my project focused aimed for ‘Zero Landfill’ and drastic reduction needed in this direction. It is an important global issue because the rate at which we are generating waste and dumping them, there will be no space left and the toxins that the landfills generate will make life difficult on this beautiful planet.  From every perspective the causes of the problem are inevitable as the recycling practices are not so effective and developed and not everything is biodegradable making ‘Landfills an evil necessity”.  I investigated on - How we can reduce the carbon footprint of Dubai, combat global warming with the reduction of greenhouse gases, and create sustainability. This affects our future generations’ and us more and hence it should matter to us more than ever before. Raising Awareness, taking people to think about Landfills and how much we are filling them by the waste we create, especially in UAE; this is a big concern.  Our project brought together many Emiratis’ and non Emiratis’ (expats) to work and address this environmental issue as youth for the first time.

Landfills areas Reduction and Greening the Space by planting trees-

Most common waste that fills the landfills is food waste and the most dangerous are the hazardous industrial and medical waste.  Food waste is a massive global problem that has negative humanitarian, environmental and financial implications.  As an individual, I suggest and encourage everyone to broaden their understanding about the Food print and Water print and learn how they can be calculated and reduced - which impact the planet.  This is the starting point and a small shift in our habit to choose the right food, can help a long way to reduce the foodprint.  Just by knowing how many miles the food ingredients travelled to and cost in production can help us understand and cultivate changes in habit to lessen the foodprint.  This practice can help us –‘Shopping the Best Waytoo. It can also encourage kids to eat more vegetarian food as veggies have lower foodprint.  Eating Local is also a very good practice, which means eating foods grown closer to where you live.  The food is not only fresh-picked but also higher in nutrients and richer in vitamins, minerals and proteins.  Above all eliminating food wastage and reducing the landfills, hence, is most crucial. We need to be thankful and become the shields for the Food Bounty.

Curriculum in schools and universities are following and promoting environmental education and the need to reduce food wastage, re-cycling and waste management. 

•Getting people to think about Landfills and how much we are filling them by the waste we create, especially as in UAE this is a big concern 

•Engaging Youth and  children in a fun way to visit the landfills, learn more about them and to plant trees there

•Youth raising awareness to reduce landfills

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught or what we experience"

 


Who will take these actions?

Youth, Community, Government department and Municipality, Corporate 

Implementing the project- more insights on how they will work together 

The main activities  done in our project aimed to educate through youth and children – their parents, teachers, corporate, government and everyone around when they see the initiative taken by the youth and young generation.

With local support we arranged for digging the pits two days in advance to facilitate effective planting at the site and at few occasions arranged a special watering pipeline which used treated waste water only to the site so as to ensure the survival rate of these trees. At some places concrete foundation work was done to further put up water source supply tanks to water the plants with adequate required water only.

Visits were made and meetings conducted to Dubai Municipality to discuss the project and take permissions

The parents of participating students were highly supportive by way of encouragement, time and also monetary help when needed.

Internet at home, designing by some member students, awareness speeches in schools, social networking reaching out to over 5000 people and help from the local media – Gulf News, Gulf Today, 7 Days and Khaleej Times was supportive in getting the entire community engaged and interested in the campaign.

We had some corporate who supported to provide logistics ( To Name a few – Super Galvanizing Dubai ), Trees and Planting resources ( Timberland, Sun and Sand Sports  ) Green Creations ( who supported to provide pipeline to water the tree saplings by recycled waste water ), Al Futtaim Carillion who encourage sustainable work as part of their CSR activities ). 


 


Where will these actions be taken?

United Arab Emirates

and anywhere to follow

Clarifying how the project will limit emissions. Landfills contain materials that can decompose such as food waste. Due to this, methane is emitted that cause global warming. Specify if you have the literature that tells the exact quantity of emission reductions. 

.  The project research based on facts and data collected from reliable sources including interviews and media reports in United Arab Emirates served to spark the idea and define goals  that facilitated finding proper direction for preparing the required action plan for the Project.

I found that Dubai Municipality is implementing flaring solution at Al Qusais landfill site.23 With remarkable environmental initiatives of global stewardship and combating global warming, the capturing and flaring of the landfill gas that was previously vented into the atmosphere unhindered to generate useful electricity was undertaken by Green Energy Solutions & Sustainability LLC at Dubai Municipality.  I contacted the Managing Director of the company and also had several rounds of meeting with the officials from Dubai Municipality and we agreed to plant for the project Green Spaces- New Life, ‘a hundred and fifty trees’ at site.  The landfill gas-flaring project at Al Qusais Landfill is now successfully running 24 x7 and has been recognized to reduce the carbon footprint of Dubai, with the reduction of greenhouse gases, and creating sustainability generating 1MW electricity and targeting 15-20 MW of power from landfill gas in the next phase of the project. 

 


What are other key benefits?

The campaign addressed the environmental issue to reduce the landfills and plant trees to green the areas near landfills and waste composting sites, so that the effects of gases can be minimized and reduced. 

Action-led project undertaken by the students and youth contributing and reducing the carbon footprint of the city.  Thus, also combating global warming with the reduction of greenhouse gases and creating sustainability by understanding and spreading the needed awareness.

Aspiring to make a statement in the community and by youth penetrating this message into homes, schools, corporate and government levels the success was, further affirmed by the support of the press and social media.  

A society striving for sustainable development needs sustainable methods of landfilling and stressing to reduce them. ‘Zero Landfills’.  Planting trees at the landfill sites and waste composting sites reinforced the vision.

 


How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?

The green cover will provide more oxygen

The day of action is always  inspiring and engaging All the stakeholders give a positive and encouraging feedback Many of the supporters who sponsored the project by the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) also participate. The campaign provides an opportunity to connect with the community, parents, schools, press and media trying to make a significant difference aspiring for a just, peaceful and better world.  The participants also have a chance to tour the unique gas flaring plant, the first of its kind in the region, which is converting the landfill gases into clean green energy and usable electricity 

There are no negative effects.

The planning envisaged SMART objectives being Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. 

Wide sharing of information about the project supported by the press was encouraging 

My journey continues

 


What are the proposal’s costs?

Financial inputs to supports its implementation. 

Each planting 100 trees cost for all work including digging pits, arranging saplings, watering arrangements etc cost about Dhs. 10000/- which was covered by several generous companies as sponsors for the events.  The supported the youth vision.

 

My findings revealed that landfills have a life-cycle cost, not just the start-up cost, and they are being banned or phased out by many communities.   It is alarming to learn about the millions of tonnes of trash generated globally and locally, which consists of paper products, yard clippings, industrial and hazardous waste, plastics and food waste.   Uneaten food waste making up half of the waste during Ramadan in Dubai, and tonnes of e-waste dumped in landfills across UAE.   I discovered that people lack waste management practices and often confuse dumps and landfills.  Researching about waste management initiatives in the region GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council), the reports showed that UAE is spending billions for waste management and recycling projects and various municipalities in the UAE either launch their own projects or collaborate with private companies for joint ventures.    I figured that Dubai has five main landfill sites – 3 dedicated to general waste, one in Jebel Ali for medical and hazardous waste, and one exclusively for construction waste, Al Ghusais (Sonapur) being the largest and Tadweer Waste Composting site. Trucks rolling in every 30 seconds, tipping their contents and heading off. A bulldozer packing and smoothening the waste with sand poured on top, and waste-water sprayed to keep the sand down. More than 20% of all waste sent to the landfills in the UAE is recyclable. Al Ghusais Landfill receives about 5000 tonnes of waste every day and (about) similar for the others.  With the majority of goods being shipped into the UAE, the repackaged and sold, the country has one of the world’s highest levels of domestic wastes. 

 


Time line

Long Terms- Benefits for a Greener and Healthier Environment

There are already 2000 trees planted in UAE at various Landfills and Waste composting sites.

1000 Native Ghaf trees are being planted during 2015

Link to City 7 National TV News at 7 and 9 pm 2nd May 2015

https://youtu.be/R2IyXSJJT2s?t=5m31s

http://www.prlog.org/12452116-dubai-youth-plant-200-native-ghaf-trees-to-nurture-dubai-municipality-jebal-ali-landfill.html

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationgeneral/2015/May/nationgeneral_May26.xml&section=nationgeneral

http://ameinfo.com/finance-and-economy/economy/retail/200-ghaf-trees-planted-to-nurture-dm-jebel-ali-hazardous-waste-treatment-facility-by-uae-youth/

http://www.scpclearinghouse.org/news/150-a-greener-earth-dubai-with-200-ghaf-trees-planted.html

 


Related proposals

Not Applicable


References

The work received International acclaim as the personal commitment honoree ‘Youth Environmental Conservation Award’ by John Muir Association USA.

1. www.about.me/simranvedvyas

2.              www.simran-synergy.blogspot.ae

3.               http://gulfnews.com/life-style/people/dubai-s-green-teen-makes-it-to-iconic-times-square-screen-1.1220465

4.               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH6mA1oEPuc

5.               http://www.webofcreation.org/Manuals/krause/swanson.html; Garbage Theology
Findings of a Garbologist / Theologian/Environmentalist
by John E. (Jack) Swanson

6.               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp5_v7x-Hqs      

7.              http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/society/youngest-uae-olympic-torch-bearer-starts-youth-foundation-1.1054837

8.               http://www.un.org.esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch05.pdf     

9. http://www.paryavaranmitra.in/Default.aspx?sID=750

10.               http://mih.tiged.org/SproutSpart/lessons/?id=1052191

11.              http://expo2020dubai.ae/en/theme/sustainability

12.               http://recoveredenergy.com/d_landfill.html

13.               http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/landfill1.htm

14               http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uneaten-food-makes-up-half-of-waste-in-dubais-landfills-each-day-during-ramadan#ixzz2lxOjAK00

15             http://goumbook.com/tonnes-of-e-waste-dumped-in-landfills-across-the-uas/

16             http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/landfill.htm

17            http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/landfill3.htm

18             http://www.uaeinteract.com/docs/UAE_regions_leader_in_waste_management_/30950.htm

19              http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/more-20-of-all-waste-sent-to-landfill-in-the-uae-is-recyclable-1.1218723

20              http://www.kippreport.com/analysis/dumping-raw-sewage-and-scavenging-for-recyclables-on-mountains-of-waste/

21         http://www.epa.gov/tio/download/remed/revegetating_fact_sheet.pdf

22         http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/house-home/plant-library-damas-tree

23               http://arabianindustry.com/utilities/news/2013/jul/29/dubai-municipality-uses-gas-flaring-solution-to-get-rid-of-harmful-landfill-gas-4393298/#.UpdrXqVtxhA

24              http://us.climaterealityproject.org/presenter/simran-vedvyas_4335

25              http://arabianindustry.com/oil-gas/news/2014/feb/13/opec-global-energy-demand-growing-quicker-than-predicted-4599413/

26              http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/dubai-running-out-of-landfill-space-to-dump-its-rubbish#ixzz2lxOQZ2dt

27              www.synergyouth.weebly.com

28 http://bit.ly/1hFjTW0

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31             http://bit.ly/1gJh84ql

32             http://bit.ly/18pkEvw

33           http://bit.ly/1aF9Nxg

34            http://bit.ly/1fvNDoT

35              http://bit.ly/194X9vi