Professor Steve Griffiths recognised for landmark study on industrial decarbonisation, highlighting UAE’s growing role in global climate science and innovation.

An American University of Sharjah (AUS) professor has been named the UAE National Champion in a prestigious global scientific competition recognising breakthrough research on planetary sustainability.

Professor Steve Griffiths, Vice Chancellor for Research at American University of Sharjah, has been awarded the UAE National Champion title in the fourth edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize (FPP). His selection marks the UAE’s debut in the internationally recognised competition, which highlights leading scientific work addressing planetary boundaries and climate challenges.

Professor Griffiths was selected as one of 25 national champions worldwide by the Jury of 100, an independent panel of leading sustainability and planetary health experts chaired by Professor Johan Rockström, architect of the planetary boundaries framework.

Speaking on the selection, Professor Rockström said: “The 25 national winners of the 2026 Frontiers Planet Prize exemplify the diversity of research that is so urgently needed… they share a defining quality: excellence in advancing our understanding of the Earth system and unlocking new frontiers in the solution space.”

The award recognises Professor Griffiths and his co-authors for a landmark study on carbon capture technologies published in Nature Reviews Chemistry, one of the world’s leading scientific journals. The research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Professor John M. Andresen, Dr. Jeannie Ziang Yie Tan (Heriot-Watt University), and João M. Uratani (University of Sussex).

The study examines the chemical innovations required to scale carbon capture technologies across industrial sectors, taking into account the varying characteristics of industrial emissions, including CO₂ concentration, temperature, and pressure.

“The emissions-intensive, or hard-to-abate, industries like cement, steel and chemicals directly account for roughly 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions,” said Professor Griffiths. “These emissions cannot be readily mitigated by energy efficiency and electrification alone. Our research evaluates five families of carbon capture technology at or beyond prototype stage to provide industry and policymakers with a clear, evidence-based picture of what works, where, and how close it is to deployment.”

He added that accelerating these technologies is essential if net-zero targets are to remain achievable.

Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer said the recognition reinforces the importance of collaborative, impact-driven research. “This acknowledgment affirms the importance of innovation and partnerships in accelerating industrial decarbonisation and delivering meaningful impact for planetary health,” she said.

The study is particularly significant in the context of global climate targets. According to the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global carbon capture capacity must increase more than 100-fold by 2050 to align with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Carbon capture is already deployed in the oil and gas sector but remains underutilised in other high-emission industries. The research highlights its potential role in bridging this gap.

In parallel with the award announcement, the research was also featured in a policy report developed with Frontiers Policy Labs, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The report outlines policy pathways to support science-led responses to the planetary crisis.

This marks the second major collaboration between AUS and Heriot-Watt University, following a 2024 study on sustainable aviation fuel and green flight paths. The research team is currently working on a new project focused on digital green shipping corridors.

“As a global energy leader, the UAE is taking a leading role in the practical deployment of carbon capture technologies,” said Professor Griffiths. “Our research has particular resonance for the region’s decarbonisation agenda while contributing to global sustainability efforts.”

He also noted that the recognition reflects the growing international profile of research at AUS, including the work of its Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center.

Dr. Griffiths’ selection was announced on Earth Day, 22 April 2026. As a National Champion, he will present his research at international forums and participate in the Frontiers Planet Prize Award Ceremony in Davos in January 2027, where the work will be considered for a share of the USD 1 million prize awarded to top global scientific contributions.