A “smart paint” currently used in the Philippines will soon be used in public parks in Dubai to help reduce air pollution in the emirate.
Khawla Al Ali, principal landscape architect at the municipality’s Public Parks and Horticulture Department, said that one square metre of the smart paint is equivalent to one tree in absorbing carbon dioxide, reported Khaleej Times.
Currently, the paint has been used in 3,000 square metres in Al Mamzar Park in Dubai and will soon be used in other public parks in the emirate.
The ‘smart paint’ is imported from the Philippines where it helped reduce air pollution by 20 percent in the busiest streets in the country. The paint neutralizes the harmful smoke released by vehicles.
The Dubai government hopes to replicate the paint’s success in the Philippines by using the paint not only in public parks but in bridges and tunnels as well. The paint is also expected to beautify the city while promoting a healthier air in the emirate.
“As Dubai is becoming an international city, its population will grow, and therefore, more vehicles will be on the streets, which will contribute to air pollution,” Al Ali said.
Aside from the Philippines and Dubai, the smart paint is also used in other countries such as Mexico, Japan, and France.
NOTE: The photo of Al Mamzar Park in Dubai featured in the article was taken by @justrnaldz on Instagram.
