Behavioral science lies at the heart of Healthy Living’s approach, enabling a deeper understanding of how people make decisions in real-world contexts, and translating those insights into practical and targeted interventions. This ensures that Healthy Living initiatives are grounded in evidence and relevant to the lived realities of Abu Dhabi’s population.

His Excellency Dr Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health, said: “One-size-fits-all approaches rarely deliver lasting impact– they don’t reflect the different ways people live their lives or the unique realities they navigate every day. Meaningful and sustainable behavioral change starts with listening – understanding the choices people face, and the environments that shape those choices. At Healthy Living, our focus is on translating these insights into action – designing policies, systems, and environments that respond directly to people’s needs.

“Through our collaboration with BSG, we are better able to understand communities’ needs and identify gaps in services they need. This approach helps inform what we design and deliver, ensuring interventions are targeted, effective, and focused on where they can achieve the greatest and most lasting impact for generations to come.”

Rasha Attar, Director of BSG at the Office of Development Affairs, said: “Since its inception, Healthy Living recognized the value of behavioral science in policy and has taken an evidence-led approach to shaping its initiatives. This collaboration is helping to build locally grounded insights that inform decision-making, support healthier outcomes across Abu Dhabi, and contribute to the growing international evidence base for behavioral science in policy”.

BSG’s work supported the development of Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack nutrition grading label launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. The system classifies packaged food products from Grade A (highest nutritional value) to Grade E (lowest), enabling consumers to compare items within the same category and make more informed choices.

A key milestone in the collaboration has been the evaluation of front-of-package nutrition labels using BSG’s simulated online supermarket. The study, which engaged 2,733 UAE residents, found that product placement and clear labelling significantly influenced purchasing behavior, particularly staple items such as bread, where healthier options were more frequently selected.

Complementary research involving 4,000 UAE residents further demonstrated that nutritional labelling improves consumer understanding, increases the intention to choose healthier options, and generates positive sentiment. At the same time, the findings highlighted persistent misconceptions around dietary balance, reinforcing the importance of continued public awareness and education efforts.

This need is further reinforced by research conducted by BSG and Healthy Living, which assessed the impact of calorie labelling and food promotion on consumer choices in a simulated food environment involving 5,002 UAE residents. The study found that calorie labels, when combined with additional nutritional information, can significantly reduce the number of calories ordered. On average, participants selected approximately 114 fewer calories per meal, and 94 per cent supported the implementation of calorie labelling on menus.

Healthy Living, in partnership with the BSG, will continue to apply behavioral science to inform policy, strengthen research, and deliver targeted interventions that drive system-level change, shaping environments, expanding access, and making healthier choices easier and more natural in everyday life, while generating insights to support and inform similar initiatives across the UAE.

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 22 October 2025: Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD), in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (National University of Singapore) (APCEL), successfully concluded the international symposium ‘Ocean Futures: Advancing Decarbonisation and Innovation in Shipping and Marine Biodiversity through Law, Policy, and AI’, held last week at its campus on Al Reem Island.

The event gathered policymakers, academics, international organisations, NGOs, and industry leaders from across the UAE and beyond to explore how legal, technological, and policy frameworks can accelerate a more sustainable future for the world’s oceans. Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the MENA Oceans Initiative by Goumbook, the symposium formed part of SUAD’s Year of Ocean – an ongoing commitment dedicated to advancing marine science, innovation, and governance through SUAD’s Ocean Institute, launched at COP28.

Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, commented: “It was inspiring to see leaders from across disciplines and regions come together with a shared purpose – to safeguard our oceans through knowledge, policy, and innovation. The symposium’s success lies not only in the quality of dialogue but in the genuine commitment expressed by all participants to turn ideas into collective action. As we move forward, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi will continue to channel these learnings into impactful research and partnerships that advance sustainable ocean governance locally and globally.”

Strengthening Global Collaboration

One of the most significant outcomes of the event was the strengthened partnership between SUAD and APCEL, marking a deepened commitment to joint research and publications in environmental law, policy, and ocean governance. The symposium’s interdisciplinary approach drew engagement from key representatives of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the UN Ocean Decade (IOC-UNESCO), CMA CGM, Al Aidarous Law Firm, the Blue AI project, and regional universities including Zayed University, reflecting the growing importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing ocean challenges.

Towards Fair and Coordinated Maritime Decarbonisation

Speakers underscored that decarbonising the maritime sector requires a coordinated global effort that links international law, national implementation, and private-sector innovation. Discussions emphasised that the International Maritime Organisation’s strategies must remain equitable, considering the capacities and needs of developing nations to ensure a fair transition towards net-zero shipping.

Integrating Biodiversity into Maritime Governance

Participants also highlighted the urgent need to embed biodiversity protection into maritime decision-making. With the shipping industry contributing to underwater noise, invasive species transfer, and pollution, experts called for stronger legal and policy mechanisms to balance economic activity with the safeguarding of marine ecosystems. Collaborative approaches involving governments, academia, and industry were recognised as essential to achieving resilient ocean governance.

Data, Technology, and the Future of Ocean Monitoring

The symposium further spotlighted the role of technology and data in enabling informed policymaking. Delegates stressed the importance of strengthening research capacity and data sharing among institutions to ensure transparency and accountability in ocean management. Emerging technologies such as AI and robotics can further enhance marine monitoring, enabling better data generation, sharing, and analysis to protect ocean ecosystems in the Gulf and beyond. The potential of new technologies was showcased through projects such as Blue AI – an innovative citizen-science platform designed to tackle plastic pollution in Gulf waters.

Future Impact

Building on the momentum of the discussions, SUAD and APCEL will jointly produce a policy brief and an academic paper for publication in a peer-reviewed environmental law journal. These outputs will be disseminated to policymakers, research institutions, and industry partners to support evidence-based decision-making and future collaboration. The recommendations and insights generated from the symposium will also be shared with relevant government agencies in the UAE to inform research priorities and inspire new partnerships focused on decarbonisation and marine conservation.

The symposium reaffirmed the UAE’s growing role as a hub for dialogue and innovation in sustainability, aligning with the nation’s long-term vision to advance climate action, responsible industry, and ocean stewardship. The programme featured keynote addresses and panel discussions on maritime decarbonisation, biodiversity protection, and the use of AI and autonomous technologies to strengthen ocean governance across the Gulf region.

To learn more about the symposium and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Year of the Ocean initiatives, visit https://sorbonne.ae/

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates / Brasília, Brazil, October 14, 2025 – The world is falling behind on its renewable energy and efficiency goals despite record progress last year, confirms a new report released today by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the COP30 Brazilian Presidency, and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) during a pre-COP30 high-level event in Brasília.

In 2024, global renewable capacity additions reached an unprecedented 582 GW. Yet this is still not enough to stay on track for the COP28 UAE Consensus target of tripling renewables to 11.2 TW by 2030. Meeting that goal now demands a staggering 1 122 GW of added capacity every year from 2025 onward, requiring annual growth to accelerate to 16.6% through the decade, according to the second official tracking report on the landmark energy goals set by the UAE Consensus at COP28.

The progress report, Delivering on the UAE Consensus: Tracking progress toward tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 also highlights that energy efficiency is an equally great concern. Global energy intensity improved by just 1% in 2024, far below the 4% annual gains needed to meet the UAE Consensus goal and keep the 1.5°C target alive.

The report calls for urgent action to:

• integrate renewable targets into national climate plans (NDC 3.0) ahead of COP30 in Belém;
• double collective NDC ambition to align with the global renewables goal; and
• scale investment in renewables to at least USD 1.4 trillion per year in 2025–2030 –more than doubling the USD 624 billion invested in 2024.

In light of the report findings, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The clean energy revolution is unstoppable. Renewables are deployed faster and cheaper than fossil fuels – driving growth, jobs, and affordable power. But the window to keep the 1.5°C limit within reach is rapidly closing.  We must step up, scale up and speed up the just energy transition – for everyone, everywhere.”

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA added: “The world has broken renewable capacity records, but records alone will not keep 1.5°C alive. Renewables are not just the most cost-effective climate solution; they are the biggest economic opportunity of our time. This report shows the path: accelerate deployment, modernise grids, scale clean-tech and strengthen supply chains. Every dollar invested brings growth, jobs and energy security. As the custodian agency tracking progress toward the global renewables goal, we call for greater ambition. By raising targets, mobilising finance and deepening cooperation, major economies can lead the energy transition and make COP30 a milestone.”

Ben Backwell, Chair of the Global Renewables Alliance, said: “The private sector is driving the energy transition, providing three-quarters of global clean energy investment. Our industries, led by wind, solar and hydropower, are already delivering growth, jobs and security. What we need now are long-term government plans that match national ambitions; we need pipelines that deliver projects. Plans must deliver enabling action on grids and storage and help maximise the benefits of the energy transition. This report shows that the march to renewable energy abundance is underway – and it’s time for us to accelerate.”

The world’s major advanced and emerging economies must take the lead, according to the recommendations of the new report. G20 nations are projected to account for over 80% of global renewables by 2030, with the richest developed economies of the G7 expected to shoulder a leadership role by raising their share to around 20% of global capacity within this decade.

Major global economies must also deliver on climate finance, meeting the USD 300 billion annual floor of the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) and scaling up towards the aspirational USD 1.3 trillion confirmed at COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Beyond renewables, the report underlines the urgent need for investment in grids, supply chains, and clean-tech manufacturing for solar, wind, batteries and hydrogen.

While renewable energy investments grew by 7% in 2024, actual disbursements remain far below the levels required to build robust project pipelines and accelerate construction. As to supply chains, fair and transparent trade practices must be ensured for critical renewable energy technologies and international co-operation pursued to safeguard trade corridors for key materials and components.

Furthermore, strategic investment in modernising and expanding electricity grids is the essential foundation for integrating new capacity and strengthening energy security. Between now and 2030, an estimated USD 670 billion must be directed each year towards grids, with further investment required to rapidly scale up energy storage solutions, facilitate renewable integration and safeguard grid stability.

Read Delivering on the UAE Consensus: Tracking progress toward tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.