SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Rechsand, a prominent leader in sustainable technologies and nature-based solutions, has set an impressive standard for climate action and sustainable development through its Verra-listed program. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Chandra Dake's visionary approach to addressing the diverse facets of sustainability. As the CEO of Dake Rechsand, he offers invaluable insights into the company's groundbreaking initiatives, their impact on climate action, and the transformative potential of their interdisciplinary solutions.

Dake

How does a tech-driven approach to climate actions differ from conventional practices, and what are its hallmarks? A tech-driven approach induces accountability, transparency, and measurability into climate actions — something conventional practices have largely failed at. Without transparent climate actions, stakeholders are susceptible to “carbon tunnel vision”, a phenomenon where they solely strive for net-zero emissions while ignoring other sustainable development goals. Tech posits “systems thinking”, promoting comprehensive approaches that factor in how different constituents of the complex climate issue interact.

Dake Rechsand exemplifies this approach with its Verralisted carbon sequestration project, which uses the CDM methodology and other cutting-edge technologies to measure the impact and select plant species suited for UAE’s desert conditions. The project, part of the company's innovative 'Ghaba' afforestation initiative, aims to plant 11 million trees in arid regions, particularly the Middle East. The initiative hopes to overcome tree-planting challenges — high soil salinity, evaporation, seepage, and excessive irrigation requirements — in deserts using the patented Breathable Sand technology.

Furthermore, Dake Rechsand has aligned the ‘Ghaba’ initiative with, and voiced its support for, the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's (MOCCAE) Climate Responsible Companies Pledge aimed at mobilizing stakeholders across sectors towards the common cause of Net-zero 2050. MOCCAE’s initiative underscores the need for concerted and measurable efforts from all stakeholders in the public and private sectors and, by extension, promotes a tech-driven approach to climate actions.

What region-specific climate change effects need immediate attention during the upcoming COP28?

The region's climate has always been arid, with scarce water resources and less-than-favourable conditions for agriculture. Climate change has not only aggravated those challenges but also created new ones, including erratic precipitation and floods. As the MENA region has not historically experienced heavy rainfall, the existing stormwater drainage infrastructure is under-equipped to handle excessive runoff. This issue has become increasingly evident in recent years, with countries such as Egypt, Yemen, and Oman witnessing recurring floods.

These events underscore the pressing need for climate adaptation measures alongside mitigation efforts. Technologies serving both these objectives in a single application are particularly desirable. Such interdisciplinary, dual-purpose solutions must be prioritized, not just in MENA, but across the world. They will not only address immediate challenges but also build resilience for the future. At COP28, it is crucial to highlight the issues, stimulate discussions around them, and advocate for the development and deployment of solutions that hold utility in the context of both climate adaptation and mitigation.

Through use cases, explain how interdisciplinary technologies can measurably and positively contribute to UAE’s Net-zero 2050 and sustainability goals. Interdisciplinary technologies that integrate water, energy, and food (WEF) solutions play a pivotal role in achieving UAE's Net-zero 2050 and sustainability objectives. The agriculture sector, known for its high-water consumption and reliance on carbon-intensive processes like desalination, requires innovative interventions to transition towards sustainability. Breathable Sand, an interdisciplinary technology, offers an efficient solution for optimizing water usage in arid desert conditions.

Breathable Sand's unique properties, such as selective permeability and water retention, provide an ideal supply of air and water to support plant growth. Implementing this technology can reduce irrigation needs by up to 80%, significantly improving agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. Its environmental responsibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness make it a transformative interdisciplinary solution with the potential to reduce agricultural water footprints and support UAE's net-zero emissions goal.

The impact of Breathable Sand technology extends beyond agriculture. It serves as a foundation for "Sponge Cities," a carbon-friendly urban design approach that incorporates decentralized rainwater harvesting into public areas like roads, playgrounds, and parking lots. These Sponge Cities mitigate floods through rainwater capture, storage, and recycling, while also reducing the demand for carbon-intensive desalination. The combined adaptation and mitigation benefits of Sponge Cities align with UAE's water security and net-zero objectives, showcasing another successful interdisciplinary solution.

In conclusion, tech-driven climate actions hold distinct advantages over conventional practices, and Dake Rechsand's initiatives exemplify their hallmarks. The region-specific challenges of the MENA region demand immediate attention at COP28, with interdisciplinary solutions playing a pivotal role in achieving netzero and sustainability goals. Breathable Sand and Sponge Cities offer tangible use cases that measurably and positively contribute to UAE's net-zero journey, fostering environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, and climate resilience.

Can you provide any real-life examples and practical applications of the above-mentioned climate technologies and their positive impact in the context of GCC?

The adoption of Breathable Sand technology has yielded transformative results in GCC. For example, at Al Ajban Farms, mango, lemon, and orange orchards planted using the technology have shown impressive survival rates with significantly reduced irrigation. In a green drive in Ras Al-Khaimah, Ghaf trees — a species native to the arid regions of the UAE — were successfully transplanted using Breathable Sand. That was a remarkable feat because Ghaf is susceptible to “transplant shock”. As a testament to Breathable Sand’s revolutionary potential, it featured in FAO’s special report(1) on practical solutions for saltaffected soils and the 'Green Technology Book - 2022'(2) released on the back of COP27.

The abundance of desert areas in the GCC offers an immense opportunity for greening initiatives using Breathable Sand, just as sprawling urban centres do for Sponge Cities. By promoting regenerative woodland ecosystems such as food forests and agroforestry, stakeholders can restore biodiversity, enable biological carbon sequestration, and ramp up climate mitigation. At the same time, the solution offers sustainable pathways to food and water security — issues of great consequence in GCC.