Latest news with #environmentalManagement
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Hamdan Smart University launches College of Sustainability and Green Economy
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has announced the launch of the College of Sustainability and Green Economy, following official accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation in the United Arab Emirates. This milestone reflects the University's ongoing commitment to supporting the nation's efforts to achieve sustainable development and build a green, knowledge-based economy. In its initial phase, the new college will offer a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and Green Economy and a Master's in Environmental Management and Sustainability. Both programs are designed in alignment with international best practices to equip learners with applied knowledge and specialized skills in environmental policy, resource management, and green technologies—leveraging HBMSU's advanced smart learning ecosystem. Commenting on the occasion, H.E. Professor Ahmed Ankit, Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, said: 'The launch of the College of Sustainability and Green Economy reflects HBMSU's forward-thinking vision to deliver specialized, high-quality education that addresses both national and global challenges. It empowers national talents to lead the transition toward a sustainable, knowledge-based economy. The new college reaffirms our commitment to providing academic programs that align with market needs and enhance the readiness of human capital in key areas such as sustainability, circular economy, and environmental innovation. It also supports the objectives of 'We the UAE 2031' and the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda by establishing a flexible academic model that creates positive impact across high-priority environmental and societal sectors.'
Irish Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
A New Zealander in Dublin: ‘It feels like people work to live here as opposed to living to work'
At 33, Virginia Loughnan decided to uproot her life in New Zealand and move to Dublin . Coming from a small town, Cheviot, about an hour-and-a-half from Christchurch, Loughnan grew up on a sheep and beef farm. 'I'm Ngai Tahu, so I'm Maori on my mum's side. I have a real connection with the land and farming.' After finishing high school where she boarded in Christchurch, she set off on a gap year in Australia. She then returned to Christchurch to attend Lincoln University and studied environmental management and planning. A rite of passage for many Kiwis is going on an overseas experience, traditionally after university. Loughnan spent two years in the UK with friends after completing her studies. She returned home to New Zealand and worked for 10 years in local and central government in areas of environmental management, agriculture and policy regulation. READ MORE Like many others, she expected she would settle down, buy a house and get married. 'I've got a house in Christchurch. I was pretty set to stay there.' But while working in an intense job with New Zealand's ministry for the environment, she says she realised how small her country can be, how far away it is from other things and how she wanted to meet new people. 'It's my favourite place in the world, but it was just not enough. So, I was like 'screw it' why don't I move overseas? And here I am.' Virginia Loughnan: "Lots of people said to me when I moved here, 'It might be quite hard to make deeper connections with Irish people or maybe it's cliquey.' I have not found that at all." Photograph: Nick Bradshaw When deciding on where to move to, Ireland came as an easy first choice: she had travelled to Ireland before; she is of Irish heritage; Irish history always fascinated her at school; the two countries have similar-sized economies and both are English-speaking regions. 'Being from New Zealand, a lot of us have Irish heritage and it [Ireland] is almost a bit romanticised.' She now works with PwC. 'It helps working for a big company, they helped with visas and got me on to the work permit.' [ A Palestinian in Ireland: 'I like Cork more than Dublin, to be brutally honest. It's a very lovely place' Opens in new window ] She enjoys her job as it's 'international'. 'Not only is it Irish people [working there] but I've been meeting different nationalities, which you don't get in New Zealand. It's so far away, you don't get the exposure.' In the 18 months that Loughnan has settled in Dublin, she is most proud of the network of friends she has built up of Irish and New Zealanders, considering that she moved here alone in September 2023. She says sport is a great way to meet people and build connections. 'It's the best way to integrate into proper Irish life.' In Dublin, Loughnan is involved with tag and touch rugby teams. 'Club stuff, they take it quite seriously, but in a good way. It's a lot of organisation, there's always competitions on and social things on.' Loughnan is a member of the New Zealand embassy's kapa haka group. When the embassy hosts delegates, she performs songs and the haka. She has also set up a 'Kiwis of Dublin' group as she wanted to unite fellow New Zealanders. 'It's a bit like the Irish, we stick together when we find each other.' While living in Ireland she has enjoyed learning about the GAA. 'I've been to a couple of GAA matches. To go to Croke Park when it's full, it's insane. We've never experienced something like that.' 'Lots of people said to me when I moved here, 'It might be quite hard to make deeper connections with Irish people or maybe it's cliquey.' I have not found that at all.' She has enjoyed learning more about Ireland culturally with weekend visits to theatres, museums and walking tours of the city. 'It's scary to go somewhere new. Definitely at times I'm like, why do I feel the need to put myself in these situations? Taking myself away from my family and friends, but I've met such cool people, everyone is just so nice, happy, welcoming and interested. It's actually been such a pleasing experience.' 'Kiwis, we move a bit like the Irish. I've lived overseas a couple of times now already, so it's not necessarily a big thing.' 'I like meeting new people, but it's also been really difficult being away from home. It's just that New Zealand is so far away and when things have been going on at home, you can't just pop over. Being away from all my friends and the people that know me is sometimes really hard.' 'One of our Irish friends said the other day, he has enjoyed seeing Dublin through our eyes because of the way we talk about it. It's actually given him a bit of perspective, which is cool. Everything is still such a novelty for us.' [ A Portuguese nurse in Ireland: 'Nurses are a lot more valued here' Opens in new window ] One of her favourite things about Ireland is the pubs: 'The pub culture and the history that comes with it, just sitting around and talking, it's a really good way to meet people. It's been really cool.' As her brother lives in London, Loughnan enjoys Ireland's proximity to Europe. She finds the pace of life in Ireland slower than in New Zealand. 'It's made a lot of us slow down a bit, I was definitely operating at a much faster pace at home. It feels like people work to live here as opposed to living to work.' While she finds it expensive to live in Dublin, shesays New Zealand also has a cost-of-living crisis . 'Our food and groceries are very expensive, far more so than here. But then other things, like obviously housing and rent are more expensive here.' Culturally, she sees both countries as similar. 'We're both countries that have had a British influence. From a Māori and an indigenous culture perspective, I see a lot of similarities in terms of history and colonisation.' While she sometimes struggles with the different Irish accents, she has also found that people find hers hard to understand at times. 'I'll be on the phone and they can't understand what I'm saying. That's been interesting, I never had that before. 'I've learned that you can hold really opposing thoughts in your mind where you're having such a good time and you want to be here. But equally you're terribly homesick.' As her 'heart is in New Zealand', she does see herself returning home at some stage, but for the foreseeable she likes the busyness of city living and the fast-paced energy that Dublin offers. We would like to hear from people who have moved to Ireland in the past 10 years. To get involved, email newtotheparish@ or tweet @newtotheparish
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Warning over Japanese knotweed growth in Norfolk village
People are being urged to keep away from part of a community meadow as work progresses to stem the spread of an invasive plant. Families using Greg's Meadow in Spixworth are being advised to keep their distance from part of a picnic area. Greg's Meadow, Spixworth (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) It is after the discovery of Japanese knotweed, a plant native to East Asia which has spread out of control since being introduced to the UK in the 1800s. Japanese knotweed (Image: PA) An area of the picnic area on the meadow has been fenced off to try and keep people away. The area which has been fenced off in Greg's Meadow (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) A notice fixed to the fencing states Spixworth Parish Council is "currently undertaking a treatment programme to manage and control the spread of Japanese knotweed on Greg's Meadow picnic enclosure". A notice on the fenced off area at Greg's Meadow (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Matthew Field, vice chairman of the parish council, said: "Having recently been made aware of the presence of Japanese knotweed on a small area of parish amenity land, the council has sought professional advice and agreed a course of action to contain and manage the issue.' Japanese knotweed is identified by distinctive red stems and bamboo-like appearance. It can grow up to 8ft tall and its roots can reach as wide as 28ft. It can grow up to four inches a day and forms dense thickets which can kill native plant species, making it particularly harmful to the flora of the Norfolk Broads. Tackling its spread costs the UK nearly £250 million a year, according to invasive plant specialists Environet, with an estimated 5pc of homes affected across the UK. It can crack tarmac, block drains, undermine foundations and invade homes. Its presence can be enough to cut a property's value or prevent a mortgage lender approving a loan.
News24
29-05-2025
- Business
- News24
Development must happen — but not at the cost of irreplaceable biodiversity
Biodiversity offsets can support the expansion of protected areas, improve habitat connectivity, and secure ecosystem services essential for human survival, write s Nomfundo Tshabalala. South Africa is globally recognised as one of the world's megadiverse countries. Our landscapes, ecosystems, and species are a treasure trove of life and a cornerstone of our economy, health, and cultural identity. Yet, this natural wealth is under siege. As highlighted in the National Development Plan 2030, we are living in an era of ecological deficit. The path to sustainable development is fraught with difficult choices, and unchecked development often comes at the expense of our environment. But there is hope - and action. In June 2023, South Africa took a decisive step forward with the publication of the National Biodiversity Offset Guideline under the National Environmental Management Act. This guideline is not just a policy document; it is a vital tool in the arsenal of biodiversity conservation. It compels us to assess and mitigate the ecological cost of development projects. If damage to biodiversity cannot be avoided or fully restored, it must be offset — and the guideline ensures that this is done in a structured, transparent, and scientifically rigorous way. The philosophy behind biodiversity offsets is clear: Development can and must happen, but not at the cost of irreplaceable biodiversity! Following the mitigation hierarchy — avoid, minimise, rehabilitate, and only then offset — ensures that offsets are a last resort, not a shortcut. When implemented correctly, biodiversity offsets can halt, and even reverse, the loss of biodiversity. They can support the expansion of protected areas, improve habitat connectivity, and secure ecosystem services essential for human survival. Moreover, they are essential for South Africa to meet its obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and contribute meaningfully to the Sustainable Development Goals. International Biodiversity Day On 22 May 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the South African National Parks (SANParks) gathered in Midrand at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Gauteng, to mark not only the National Biodiversity Offset Conference, but also the International Day for Biological Diversity. It was a powerful convergence of minds — from government (national, provincial and local), academia, private sector, NGOs, and communities — united by one cause – to safeguard South Africa's extraordinary biodiversity. The DFFE, together with SANParks, SANBI, and the UNDP, is championing the Biodiversity Finance Initiative. This ambitious programme is to provide sustainable finance solution mechanisms to protect and finance biodiversity projects. Moreover, this partnership has developed a national offset register and web-based portal to track and monitor biodiversity offset projects. Transparency and accountability will be key to building public trust and ensuring offsets deliver real, measurable conservation outcomes. The theme for this year's International Day for Biological Diversity is 'Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.' This theme is a reminder that protecting nature is not an obstacle to progress — it is a prerequisite! Biodiversity is not a luxury — it is the foundation of our well-being, economy, and resilience against climate change. As we move forward, it is crucial that all sectors of society — government, business, academia, civil society, and communities — embrace the shared responsibility of biodiversity stewardship. We must champion ecological sustainability in every development decision, and we must hold each other accountable for actions that impact our natural heritage. The National Biodiversity Offset Guideline is not an end, but a beginning. It is a call to action, a blueprint for reconciling development with conservation, and a bold step toward a future where people and nature thrive together. Let us heed that call, not just today, but every day. The future of our biodiversity — and our planet — depends on it. Nomfundo Tshabalala is the director-general of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
