Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and ne’ma Steering Committee Secretary General shares the details of her address at the recently concluded World Government Summit.
I was a panelist at the recent World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, where I participated in a panel discussion on “Designing Public Policy to Shift Behaviours Around the Globe: Adopting, Adapting, or Rethinking Behavioral Solutions.” The opportunity to engage in a conversation about the power of behavioural science in shaping sustainable, impactful public policy was deeply thought-provoking. As the WGS continues to grow and attract a diverse range of global voices, the urgency of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges has never been more apparent.
I was particularly impressed by the growing momentum around behavioural science. What was once a theoretical field has now become a key element in policy design, evolving into practical, real-world strategies. This year, discussions were rooted in a deeper understanding of how we can harness human behaviour insights to improve societal outcomes. From tackling health issues to addressing climate change, it is clear that governments, businesses and organisations are increasingly leaning on the powerful tools of behavioural science to solve complex problems.
This shift aligns closely with the work we are doing at ne’ma, the UAE National Food Loss and Waste Initiative. We have always understood that tackling food loss and waste is not only about creating more efficient systems, but also about shifting how individuals and businesses think about food and consumption. Our work has shown that human behaviour plays a pivotal role in reducing waste. By engaging stakeholders locally and globally, we have learned that the key to reducing food waste is not just in enhancing infrastructure, but also in helping people rethink their daily habits. Behavioural science is central to our approach, and the WGS panel discussion reinforced how fundamentally strategic it is to incorporate these insights into policy design.
One area where behavioural science has shown remarkable promise is in changing how people perceive food waste. Simple interventions, like adjusting portion sizes, altering how food is served, and raising awareness about the environmental and financial costs of food waste have made sustainable actions feel accessible and intuitive. At ne’ma, we’ve applied these principles with great success, especially in the hospitality sector. For example, in collaboration with key partners, we have helped hotels reduce food waste by more than 40 percent. During Ramadan, a time of traditionally high consumption, we implemented similar strategies that led to significant reductions in food waste. These are not just numbers; they represent a shift in mindset, where sustainability becomes part of the cultural fabric.
An essential point raised at the WGS panel was the importance of cultural context when designing behavioural interventions. We are acutely aware of the deep-rooted hospitality traditions in the UAE, which often lead to over-preparation and food waste. Increasing people’s awareness of the negative impact of food waste and demonstrating the simple nudges or changes that can be made have allowed us to reduce the waste while setting new norms of more conscious consumption. Additionally, we encourage donations of untouched food instead of waste, providing an alternative that respects tradition while promoting actions that have tangible social and environmental impacts. This approach recognises that successful behavioural change must be culturally sensitive and resonate with people’s values and making it easy for them to adapt to change a point that was emphasised at WGS.
Looking ahead, ne’ma is committed to expanding our impact through scalable solutions, strategic partnerships, and sustained community engagement. Our ambitious goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030 is within reach. But to achieve this, we must continue to innovate and collaborate, drawing on the insights of behavioural science and data-driven strategies to inform our policies and actions. The work we do at ne’ma is part of a global movement toward sustainability, and I am confident that by bringing more sectors together, we can create lasting, meaningful change.
The World Government Summit was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a data-driven approach with the support technologies and innovations as key enablers in addressing global challenges. Behavioural science is no longer a niche topic, it has become an essential tool for developing effective policies. The conversations and discussions at the summit demonstrated how far we’ve come, and I am excited to see more governments and organisations apply these insights as we work toward an equitable, food-secure future.
