Two distinctive installations Arabic flower Meez Garden palm tree trash pavilion, draws attention at COP28

In the Expo City's Green Zone, two unique installations made from palm tree trash and recycled plastic bottles are guaranteed to draw attention as COP 28 gets ready to open to the public.

Among these are a "Arabic flower" Meez Garden composed of countless recycled plastic bottles and a visually striking kiosk created from three tonnes of plastic garbage that showcases an arresting image of the UAE's founding father.

The Koklyko project, which was started in 2013 by French artist Jerome Toq'r, has flourished into the Meez Garden. This project combines creative expression with environmental care, drawing inspiration from the local "Al Meez" flower found in the highlands of Ras Al Khaimah. Working together with RAK Academy students, the artist transforms 500 throwaway bottles into colourful flower designs that bring the artwork to life. Every flower represents a group effort and demonstrates a dedication to protecting the environment. 

This art piece, which is supported by the His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, will also be shown in 2024 at the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. The piece of art reflects a real garden and fits in with its surroundings with ease. The elaborate flowers are made from waste plastic, although this is only apparent upon closer inspection only.

Similar to this, a large pavilion at the Climate Finance Stage that hosts a number of fireside conversations focused on climate action is notable for its unique exhibit made from three tonnes of dead palm trees. Date palms, which are important trees in the Middle East, produce a large quantity of annual waste. This debris consists of fibres, dried fruits, and seeds. This waste is an important source of quickly degradable biomass with great promise for a variety of uses, including the creation of nanostructured sheets, natural fibre composites, and active carbon precursors.

At COP 28, the Mashreq Pavilion is a shining example of inventiveness and environmental awareness. Within the exquisite design of the pavilion, one portion was dominated by a massive picture that paid homage to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's heritage through a tribute made from the magnificent date palm tree. But the pavilion is more than simply an artistic display—it also serves as a call to action. It's calling for environmentalists and eco-advocates to collaborate on the project. Their goal is to start a massive cleaning effort that will focus on 14 of the highest mountains on Earth.