#24-Sustainability Rooted in Identity with HH Princess Mashael AlShalan

The Power of Efficiency in a Fast-Growing Region with Renaud Capris

In this episode of Let's Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near & Middle East, we are in Dubai with Renaud Capri, CEO of Enova, a regional leader in energy and facilities management. Together with our host Nadine Zidani, they explore how energy efficiency, one of the fastest yet most underestimated levers for climate action, is being put to work across the Middle East to deliver the same performance with far less energy. At the center of the conversation is the Super ESCO model and Enova's partnerships with entities like Tarshid in Saudi Arabia, which are turning national net-zero ambitions into measurable results on the ground in airports, universities, hospitals, malls, and more.   In this episode, you'll learn about: * The hidden energy waste happening behind the scenes in everyday buildings * How GCC countries are cascading net-zero commitments down to every governmental and private organization * The Super ESCO model and how it finances large-scale energy efficiency projectsWhat's really driving private companies to invest in energy efficiency today * How AI and Enova's Hubgrade digital platform are unlocking energy savings with minimal investment * The Veolia × Majid Al Futtaim joint venture model and how it became a regional growth engine * 3 key steps every organization should follow to implement energy efficiency successfully * Why the region's biggest energy savings potential is still ahead of us   🎧 Listen to Let's Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near & Middle East on all major podcast platforms.

Namat School: Empowering Communities in Oman with Suaad Al Harthi and Huda Al Harthy

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we are in Muscat, Oman with Suaad Al Harthi, Executive Director of the Environment Society of Oman, and Huda Al Harthy, Marketing and Communications Manager at Veolia in Oman. Together with our host Nadine Zidani, they discuss how environmental education can help shape long-term sustainability in Oman and the role of partnerships in turning awareness into action. At the center of the conversation is the Namat School Program, a nationwide initiative engaging public schools across Oman to encourage sustainable practices among students, teachers, and communities. In this episode, you’ll learn about: * Oman’s environmental priorities and key sustainability challenges * How the Namat School Program empowers students to lead environmental initiatives * Why awareness and behavior change are essential for sustainability * How partnerships between NGOs, government, and the private sector drive long-term impact * Real examples of student-led projects and their impact * How youth can become ambassadors for sustainability within their communities

#24-Sustainability Rooted in Identity with HH Princess Mashael AlShalan

In this episode of Let’s Turn the Tide by Veolia in the Near Middle East, we are in Riyadh with HH Princess Mashael AlShalan — a leading voice in sustainability in the Kingdom and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aeon Collective, a cross-disciplinary Waqf (non-profit endowment) advancing sustainable practices for inclusive, equitable, and resilient development. Princess Mashael brings over 15 years of professional experience spanning sustainable development, climate action, environmental conservation, and economic development. She also serves as Chairwoman of Women Energy, the first Saudi non-governmental organization dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the energy sector. In this episode, you’ll learn about: * Why sustainability narratives must reflect local identity and lived experience * How to build truly inclusive dialogue for climate action * How national pride can become a positive force for sustainability * The Tree Library concept and how hyper-local action can connect to a global network * The challenges of protecting biodiversity and the Red Sea’s marine ecosystems * How women are reshaping the energy sector — and what “leveling the playing field” really means

#23-AI & the Future of Desalination with Dr. Giulia De Masi & Adrien De Saint Germain

In this fourth and final episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Giulia De Masi, Associate Professor and Principal Researcher at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Adrien de Saint-Germain, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies Desalination. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the future of seawater desalination — making it smarter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. From predictive analytics that optimize plant operations to AI models protecting marine biodiversity, the discussion highlights how technology is driving innovation while safeguarding the environment.   In this episode, you’ll learn about: -How AI reduces energy consumption in desalination plants -The role of predictive maintenance and digital twins in improving efficiency -How sensors, data, and AI models protect marine ecosystems near desalination sites -Why combining renewable energy with desalination is critical for the future -What the next decade of AI-powered water solutions could look like

#22-How can AI help us sort our waste? With Dr. Clio Chaveneau & Rafik Sid

In this third episode of our special AI series — a collaboration between Veolia Near Middle East and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi — Nadine Zidani is joined by Dr. Clio Chaveneau, Associate Professor of Sociology at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Rafiq Sid, Program Manager at Veolia Near Middle East. Together, they unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we sort, manage, and recycle waste — from AI-powered cameras on trucks to robotic arms that can identify up to 60 types of materials. But the conversation doesn’t stop at innovation. They also explore the social, legal, and environmental risks AI introduces, from data privacy to e-waste and energy use. In this episode, you’ll learn about: * How AI is being used to optimize recycling operations. * The role of data and computer vision in improving sorting accuracy. * Why collaboration across governments, businesses, and citizens is essential. * The ethical and ecological concerns raised by smart waste technologies. * What responsible innovation in waste management really looks like. 🎧 You can also listen to "Let’s Turn the Tide podcast" on Podeo, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. في الحلقة الثالثة من سلسلتنا الخاصة حول الذكاء الاصطناعي — والتي تأتي بالتعاون بين شركة Veolia Near Middle East وجامعة السوربون – أبوظبي — تستضيف نادين زداني كلاً من الدكتورة كليو شافونو، أستاذة مساعدة في علم الاجتماع بجامعة السوربون – أبوظبي، ورفيق سيد، مدير البرامج في Veolia Near Middle East. معًا، يناقشون كيف يُعيد الذكاء الاصطناعي تشكيل طرق فرز النفايات وإدارتها وإعادة تدويرها — بدءًا من الكاميرات الذكية المثبّتة على الشاحنات وصولاً إلى الأذرع الروبوتية القادرة على التعرّف على ما يصل إلى 60 نوعًا من المواد. لكن الحوار لا يقتصر على الابتكار؛ بل يتناول أيضًا المخاطر الاجتماعية والقانونية والبيئية التي يطرحها الذكاء الاصطناعي، بدءًا من خصوصية البيانات ووصولاً إلى النفايات الإلكترونية واستهلاك الطاقة. في هذه الحلقة، ستتعرفون على: * كيف يُستخدم الذكاء الاصطناعي لتحسين عمليات إعادة التدوير. * دور البيانات وتقنيات الرؤية الحاسوبية في رفع دقة الفرز. * لماذا يُعدّ التعاون بين الحكومات والشركات والمواطنين أمرًا أساسيًا. * المخاوف الأخلاقية والبيئية المرتبطة بتقنيات النفايات الذكية. * وما الذي تعنيه الابتكارات المسؤولة فعلًا في مجال إدارة النفايات.