Abu Dhabi: Pavegen, the inventor of a technology that produces renewable energy from human footsteps, announced on the third day of the World Future Energy Summit, hosted by Masdar at ADNEC from 16–18 April 2024, that it has planted 279 mangrove plants, as part of its interactive installation at the summit to transform human movement into a tangible mechanism for mangrove tree planting.
To draw attention to the value of environmentally friendly development and preservation in the fight against climate change, Pavegen intends to plant 1000 mangrove trees around the United Arab Emirates.
This program is a component of Pavegen’s larger goal to combine environmental stewardship and technical innovation to provide sustainable solutions that strengthen communities. Through its emphasis on intelligent energy production and the preservation of ecosystems, Pavegen is leading the way toward a future with greater sustainability.
To attain climate neutrality, 100 million mangrove trees must be planted by 2030 as part of the UAE’s Climate Change Strategy. Numerous tropical and subtropical ecosystems depend heavily on mangroves for a variety of reasons, including habitat provision for thousands of species, coastal stabilization, erosion prevention, and storm and wave protection. They are an essential part of the fight against climate change because of their special capacity to absorb and capture carbon.
Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO of Pavegen, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that, “attendees walk over Pavegen’s tiles, their movements are converted into energy. The energy is used to illuminate LED lights, with a display providing real-time feedback on the real amount of energy generated. For this edition of the World Future Energy Summit, the footsteps and subsequent energy produced will be tied to an environmental cause – planting mangrove trees in the UAE. This will provide a tangible sense of the impact of each participant’s contribution.’’
‘’Our installation is more than a technological demonstration – it’s a call to action, inviting everyone to take a step towards improving our planet’s future,” Kemball-Cook added.