The Sustainability Side

In Episode 23 of The Sustainability Side , Dr. Sama sits down with Afryea Charles , founder of Ecolexica , to explore the emerging world of marine renewable energy, ocean energy, the Blue Economy and island energy sovereignty . Marine renewables remain far less visible than solar and wind, despite the potential of technologies that harness waves, tides and other ocean resources. Afryea believes th...

What if shade wasn’t just a nice-to-have, but essential city infrastructure? 🌳🏙️ As global temperatures rise and urban heat islands intensify, treating trees as simple street decoration is costing cities billions—especially when nearly 45% of newly planted urban trees fail within their first few years. In Episode 22 of Voices of Sustainability , we sit down with Maks Udov (Horticulture & Land...

Is "Net Zero" just another corporate buzzword, or a real pathway to climate action? In this episode of Voices of Sustainability , we break down what Net Zero actually means and how organizations can shift from vague climate promises to real, measurable impact. We sit down with guest Ms. Sriranjani Srinivasan —a sustainability professional, architect, educator, and climate action advocate...

Is the biggest obstacle to sustainability not climate change itself, but confusion? Across the globe, millions of small business owners hear terms like ESG, Net Zero, Scope 3 emissions, and carbon reporting and ask:  Where do we even begin? In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , in partnership with  Global Goals Connections (GGC) , host  Dr. Sama A welcomes back  Karen Formosa —Founder of ...

Most of society views single parents through a lens of stigma rather than celebrating their resilience—a misconception we need to shatter. In this episode of The Sustainability Side, peace ambassador and sustainability advocate Otu Wales Tabe joins us to dive into the untold stories, mental health struggles, and incredible strength of single parents carrying the weight of their families. Discover...

Welcome to The Sustainability Side, partnering with Global Goals Connections. In this episode, host Dr. Sama A and Coordinator Tamara Poostpasand sit down with Kora Hasan Evana, Chief Administrative Officer at Metaphor Engineers and Sports, to discuss real-world climate resilience in Bangladesh. While global summits focus on high-level policy, this episode shifts the lens to immediate, youth-led s...

Every day, we breathe air we cannot see and trust environmental data we do not fully understand. But what if that data is the exact key to saving lives, shaping public policy, and empowering millions? In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , host  Dr. Sama A  teams up with  Global Goals Connections (GGC) coordinator  Tamara Poostpasand  to welcome our special guest speaker,  Ovomugisha Julian...

Is it truly possible to eliminate single-use plastic from the beverage industry? 🛑 In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , we sit down with Jen Millard, CEO and co-founder of  mainelove™ , to discuss how they are disrupting the market with infinitely recyclable aluminum packaging. We dive deep into the reality of plastic recycling, the hurdles of changing consumer behavior, and how a purpos...

How do we turn complex environmental data into a message that actually drives global execution? Today on The Sustainability Side, we welcome Dr. Wesam Al Madhoun, the visionary behind GAOS. In this episode, titled  "The Power of Environmental Communication: Turning Ideas Into Impact,"  we explore why traditional climate movements have often isolated environmental protection from everyday...

The ocean covers over 70% of our planet, regulates our global climate, and sustains all life on Earth. Yet, it continues to face unprecedented challenges from plastic pollution, rising temperatures, and ecological strain. In this special World Oceans Day episode of  The Sustainability Side (TSS) , we are moving beyond simply identifying the problems. True sustainability requires scalable, concrete...

Are we focusing on the wrong future-of-work solutions? In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , host Dr. Sama sits down with expert strategist Karima Guerfali Lazzem to explore the critical intersection of modern leadership, digital evolution, and organizational health. As technology evolves faster than human adaptation, workplaces face unprecedented challenges like burnout, disengagement, an...

Are we focusing on the wrong climate solutions? In the grand finale of Episode 19, host Dr. Sama concludes his high-stakes conversation with Dusya Lyubovskaya—a global ambassador, strategist, and connector working across clean energy, advanced materials, and innovation ecosystems. While Part 1 introduced the massive potential of alternative systems, Part 2 gets down to the gritty industrial execut...

Are we focusing on the wrong climate solutions?  In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , host Dr. Sama speaks with  Dusya Lyubovskaya —a global connector bridging the gap between breakthrough science and practical implementation. In Part 1 of this deep-dive, Dusya shares her unique transition from medical research into the world of  Thorium nuclear energy . We discuss the public perception o...

What if the "rubbish" in our landfills was actually the secret ingredient for the world’s strongest roads and buildings? In this episode of  The Sustainability Side , we sit down with  Dr. V. Murugesh , a pioneer in sustainable engineering, to discuss the literal foundation of our future. We’re moving past "recycling" and straight into a  Circular Economy  where industrial bypr...

Host Dr. Sama marks the  World Day for Safety and Health at Work  by redefining what "safety" actually means in the modern era. We’ve moved beyond physical protection; today’s biggest hazard is the invisible weight of constant notifications and unsustainable workloads. Join us as we explore the shift toward  Emotional Sustainability  and how Sasha Global Consortium is building a "to...

Welcome to a milestone moment for our community and the planet. This year for Earth Day 2026, we’re doing things a bit differently. Instead of just talking about the challenges, we’re celebrating under the theme "Our Power, Our Friend." It’s a reminder that we have the strength to change the narrative if we work alongside nature rather than against it. 🌿In this special merged episode, w...

Sustainability isn't just about individual efforts; it’s about how we scale those efforts through strategic partnership. In this episode, we move beyond the buzzwords to explore the "Sustainable Alliance in Action". Join host Dr. Sama as she sits down with Tamara Poostpasand, Program Coordinator at Global Goals Connections (GGC), to discuss how collaboration is the ultimate tool for...

What can one hour really do? In a world facing rising temperatures and environmental pressure, 60 minutes might seem small. But in this episode, we explore why Earth Hour 2026 is about much more than just turning off the lights—it’s a global signal, a shared pause, and a reminder that climate action belongs to everyone. In this episode, we dive into: The Symbolic Power: How a simple gesture create...

Can companies really buy their way to ‘net zero’ or is carbon removal becoming the next big greenwashing tool?  In this episode of The Sustainability Side, I break down how carbon removal works, why climate science says we still need it, and where it crosses the line into greenwashing.  We look at fresh case studies from Microsoft doubling its carbon removal deals to 45 million tonnes in 2025, to...

Can a high-consumption nation pivot to zero waste and low-carbon energy? In this episode, we explore the UAE’s radical transformation as it moves to close landfills and ban single-use plastics. Key Highlights: -The 2026 Plastic Ban: Starting January 1, 2026, a federal ban covers most single-use plastics, including cutlery, cups, and straws, with fines starting at 5,000 AED for non-compliance. -Lan...

Imagine waking up in a bustling modern city, only to find not a single drop of water in your tap. No water to brush your teeth, no water for your morning coffee, and certainly no water for the basic hygiene we often take for granted. This nightmare became a reality for millions in Chennai back in 2019, and it’s a warning sign for cities around the globe. In this episode, we dive deep into the glob...

Can we really build airports with bamboo and insulate walls with mushrooms? 🍄🏗️ In Episode 12 of  The Sustainability Side , Dr. Sama dives into the "Circular Construction" revolution. We explore how the industry is shifting from a wasteful linear model to a circular economy where "waste" becomes the foundation for new buildings. From the high-strength bamboo structures of tomo...

Is the future of our cities Grey or Green? 🏗️🌿 Welcome to  Episode 11  of  The Sustainability Side ! Today, hosts  Dr. Sama A  and  Fathima Salika  dive deep into the world of  Green Concrete . We challenge the status quo of the construction industry, one of the world's biggest polluters and explore the "Green Grapes" of innovation that are 10-15% cheaper at scale and 80% more eco-f...

Did you know that Nigeria generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste every year—and nearly half of that is food waste? Even more staggering is that less than 10% is currently recycled, leaving a massive opportunity for circular economy solutions to transform our food systems. We are kicking off 2026 with a deep dive into how we can turn this "waste" into value. In this episode, host...

Are you able to find and set your higher-order goals based on what you see?" Welcome to  Part 2  of our masterclass with  Mr. Manish Kothari  (CEO, Rhino Machines). In Part 1, we discussed the "Why" (Mentorship & Survival). Today, in Part 2, we dive into the "How" the strategic and technical blueprint for building a sustainable legacy. Manish introduces the "Three...