Energy Adnoc and Occidental look into UAE direct air capture Adnoc and US petroleum giant Occidental are investigating the feasibility of building a direct air capture facility in the UAE. It would be the first such site outside the US, the companies said. The preliminary engineering study is the latest project under an agreement signed by the companies earlier this year to explore carbon capture, […]
Renewable Energy Renewables workforce nearly doubles in a decade Employment in the renewable energy sector has almost doubled over the past decade, the International Renewable Energy Agency and International Labour Organization have found. There were 13.7 million jobs in the global industry in 2022, up from 7.3 million in 2012, the agencies said in the report Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review. Employment growth […]
Opinion Renewable Energy The Gulf is on track to lead global climate tech We need to focus on mitigating the risks and adapting
Environment Hosting Cop29 ‘not on our radar’, says UAE The UAE has played down reports that it plans to host next year’s Cop climate change summit, saying it is focused on running a successful Cop28 in Dubai this year. A Cop28 spokesperson told AGBI that Cop29 “is not even on our radar”. The UK’s Financial Times reported on Monday that the UAE wants to […]
Environment Your guide to Cop28: news, views and analysis from AGBI At the end of November, the world’s biggest climate change conference – the United Nations’ annual Conference of the Parties, better known as Cop28 – will begin in the UAE. More than 80,000 delegates, 5,000 journalists and 140 heads of state are expected to attend the 14-day summit at Dubai’s Expo site. The host nation, […]
OpinionenvironmentWhat does net zero actually mean? Recent headlines provide a variety of answersJonathan Gorvett, Middle Eastern journalist
OpinionenvironmentThe legal industry has been slow to adopt newer practices. It’s time for it to encourage sustainabilityFatima Balfaqeeh, managing partner, Balfaqeeh Advocates & Legal Consultancy
OpinionconstructionBuilders in the UAE are placing greater emphasis on eco-friendly construction methodsDr Hassam Chaudhry, associate professor in building services engineering
Renewable Energy Al Jaber optimistic about world’s clean energy goal Cop28 president designate Sultan Al Jaber expects the Cop28 climate summit to reach conensus to treble clean energy sources to 11 terawatts by 2030, he told an assembly at the Climate Future Week in Dubai on Saturday. Speaking at the event, part of a countdown to Cop28, Al Jaber stresssed the need to keep global […]
People & Lifestyle Climate anxiety rises among Mena youth More than two-thirds of 18-to-24-year-olds in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) say they are “very concerned” about the potential impacts of climate change. More than half are ready to boycott brands that damage the environment, a survey shows. Previously unreleased findings from the 15th annual Asda’a BCW Arab Youth Survey, published earlier this […]
Trade UAE minister urges trade to reduce environmental impact Trade is the “lifeblood” of the global economy but it needs to urgently play a part in the fight against climate change, a UAE minister said on Wednesday. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of state for foreign trade, conceded that global trade “has one of the biggest contributions to make” to reducing […]
Analysis Environment Majority of Mena countries lack net zero target, IEA warns Just six out of 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) have set a target for reaching net zero carbon emissions, hampering global efforts to tackle climate change, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA has published a detailed update to its net zero roadmap of 2021. In the report, […]
Water Alpha Dhabi takes over water specialist Metito Investment company Alpha Dhabi announced on Monday the acquisition of a majority stake in Metito Holdings, a company involved in the water and wastewater industry worldwide. Pending regulatory approvals, the deal marks Abu Dhabi-based Alpha Dhabi’s entry into the water and wastewater sector, with its CEO saying the need for sustainable water solutions “has never […]
Opinion Environment Gulf could take on the UK’s climate change leadership The UK, on arguably the single biggest issue facing the planet, has quit while in the lead
Health Al Jaber: climate change health risks need more investment Cop28 participating nations must increase financing to identify and mitigate climate change’s risks to human health, the summit’s president designate Sultan Al Jaber has said. “The connection between health and climate change is evident, yet it has not been a specific focus of the Cop process – until now,” Al Jaber told the UN General […]
Environment Cop28 unveils first round of sponsors Mashreq, Emirates NBD, Investcorp and DP World have been announced as among the first round of official sponsors for the Cop28 climate change summit, to be held in Dubai later this year. Sponsors have been selected by the Cop28 Sponsorship Committee, which comprises seven internal Cop28 departments and an independent third party, professional services company […]
Oil & Gas Fossil fuel phase-down ‘inevitable’ says Al Jaber Cop28 president-designate Sultan Al Jaber this week implored world leaders to cut reliance on fossil fuels to meet carbon reduction targets. Addressing the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, Al Jaber – who is also group chief executive of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company – urged nations to fast track the transition to a […]
Opinion Oil & Gas Peak oil by 2030? It’s possible, but we won’t know until much later The International Energy Agency's forecast sparked a strong reaction, but oil, gas and coal are in very different places
Renewable Energy Next $1.5bn phase of Dubai’s solar park to be ready in 2024 Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Masdar have signed an agreement to build and operate the 1,800-megawatt sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The next phase of the world’s largest single-site solar park will cost AED5.5 billion ($1.49 billion). “This phase will power over half a million residences while reducing […]
Opinion Energy Gulf energy systems must be more climate resilient Intense heatwaves and flash floods challenge energy supplies in the region
Energy Adnoc approves project to triple its carbon capture capacity Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc) has approved a new carbon capture, utilisation and storage project that will triple its annual carbon capture capacity. The project at its Habshan gas processing plant will be able to permanently store 1.5 million tonnes a year (mpta) of CO2 in subterranean rock below the site. On completion in […]
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia has highest fuel subsidies per capita in G20 Saudi Arabia is by far the highest provider of fuel subsidies per capita among the G20 advanced economies, the IMF said this month as it called for fossil fuel price reforms to reduce carbon emissions. The IMF Fossil Fuel Subsidies Data: 2023 Update working paper said Saudi Arabia spent almost $7,000 per person in 2022. […]
Opinion Energy A new nuclear age dawns – against all the odds Despite its bad press, emissions-free nuclear power can bridge the gap between fossil fuels and renewables
Renewable Energy Bahrain signs deal for its biggest solar park Bahrain has signed deals to build a 72 megawatt solar power plant in what will be the largest of its kind in the kingdom. The project, located in the southern region of Sakhir, will form part of Bahrain’s push to cut its carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2035 and hit its net zero target […]
Tech Mena companies can tap $1bn HSBC climate tech fund HSBC has set aside $1 billion to help finance early-stage climate tech companies around the world, and “transformative investment opportunities” exist in the Middle East and Turkey, according to its regional chief. “The Middle East has a key role to play in the transition to a net zero global economy,” said Patricia Gomes, regional head […]
Environment IMF lends Morocco $1.3bn to fight climate change The International Monetary Fund is to lend Morocco $1.3 billion to help the country guard against climate-related risks. The staff-level agreement was confirmed by Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, who said the funding would be used to build resilience against future climate disasters. “Climate change is already dramatically affecting us,” Georgieva said in […]
Finance Taqa lists $1.5bn green bonds on Abu Dhabi exchange Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) has listed its dual-tranche $1.5 billion bonds on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). The order book was nearly 10 times oversubscribed, with regional and international investors placing total orders of over $15 billion, the energy major said in a statement. The five-year $500 million notes, maturing in 2029, […]
Banking & Finance UAE development bank in $27m SME solar energy drive State-run Emirates Development Bank has launched a solar energy finance programme to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE to overcome cost barriers. The initiative will allocate AED100 million ($27.22 million) to support the adoption of green energy solutions, focusing on solar energy initiatives, the UAE state-owned Wam news agency reported. The […]
Opinion Construction UAE construction becoming sustainable and inclusive Builders are creating homes that adapt over time to residents' changing needs
Infrastructure Saudi water agency seeking global partnerships A Saudi government body set up this week to address global water challenges hopes to collaborate with other organisations across the world to meet its goals, the kingdom’s environment minister said on Friday. “The vision for this initiative is not just about creating a research and policy platform,” said Abdul Rahman Al Fadhli, Saudi Arabia’s […]
Infrastructure UAE invests in battle against severe flooding UAE government bodies and residents are working proactively to combat the impact of severe flooding, as climate change leads to increased levels of rainfall. Dubai Municipality said it received more than 100 emergency calls at the weekend as a result of severe weather conditions, and the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has warned that heavy […]
Infrastructure Carbon targets deter Middle East power project developers Developers are becoming increasingly wary of bidding for long-term infrastructure deals in the Middle East because the terms go beyond their own carbon neutral targets. According to industry sources they are particularly struggling to be able to work on projects involving thermal power plants without carbon capture and storage (CCS) because the terms can stretch […]
Aviation Aviation offset rules face shake-up as doubts persist An imminent change to rules governing aviation carbon offsets ahead of the Cop28 climate conference may not be enough to convince airlines and others they have a meaningful effect, it has emerged. Aviation, like steel- and cement-making, is a hard-to-abate industry. It is difficult for companies within the sector to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide […]
Opinion Logistics Act now to protect your supply chain against severe weather It would be foolish not to give serious scrutiny to your business
Opinion Manufacturing Global EV manufacturers rev up for Gulf race There is a way to go before electric vehicles overtake fossil fuel cars
Analysis Logistics Call for shipping polluters to pay for their emissions UAE multinational logistics company DP World has called for a global taxation on polluters in the shipping industry to pay for their emissions. The maritime services giant says new targets revealed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in July do not go far enough. At the 80th meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee […]
Tech Mena companies can tap $1bn HSBC climate tech fund HSBC has set aside $1 billion to help finance early-stage climate tech companies around the world, and “transformative investment opportunities” exist in the Middle East and Turkey, according to its regional chief. “The Middle East has a key role to play in the transition to a net zero global economy,” said Patricia Gomes, regional head […]
Renewable Energy Qatar plans $5bn UK-Doha green tech centre The not-for-profit Qatar Foundation, which supports education, research and community development projects, is to invest in a £4 billion ($5 billion) green energy research and development centre spanning the UK and Qatar. The project has been dubbed the “MIT for UK energy transition” by organisers at management consultancy McKinsey & Co, The Sunday Times reported, […]
Tech Bahrain to use Israeli tech to achieve net zero goals Bahrain aims to collaborate more with Israel on technologies that help it manage water and cope with climate change, as part of a broader boost in relations between the two countries, its ambassador to Israel said on Thursday. Along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain in September 2020 signed an agreement to establish formal […]
Analysis Agriculture Inside the $100m plan to transform desert farming Total cropland in Mena countries decreased by 2.4 percent between 2003 and 2018 – the sharpest drop in the world – according to satellite imagery. In response, a Beirut-based multilateral is seeking $100 million for a new programme to enhance innovation to increase farming productivity in a region that already had the lowest cropland […]
Opinion Environment Gulf could take on the UK’s climate change leadership The UK, on arguably the single biggest issue facing the planet, has quit while in the lead
Opinion Energy Mena stands at a crossroads for energy security Overreliance on fossil fuels has prevented the region from reaching its potential
Opinion Oil & Gas Peak oil by 2030? It’s possible, but we won’t know until much later The International Energy Agency's forecast sparked a strong reaction, but oil, gas and coal are in very different places
Agriculture Resilient foxtail millet could aid Gulf food security Researchers in Abu Dhabi have identified what they claim is a highly climate-resilient cereal crop – never farmed at scale before in the Middle East – that could pose a solution to the region’s escalating food security problem. Michael Purugganan, professor of biology at NYU Abu Dhabi, and his team published a study this summer […]
Opinion Environment Biofuels have some growing to do. Global allies can help The UAE's biofuels industry needs standardisation and streamlining. It can learn a lot from a newly launching international group
Opinion Agriculture Why Arab countries must adopt FDI in agriculture Food security worldwide must come into governments' strategies
Opinion Energy Adnoc and Occidental team up to capture carbon dioxide The Gulf has ideal conditions for the vital new technology of direct air capture
Video length: 03:41 Environment Your guide to Cop28: news, views and analysis from AGBI At the end of November, the world’s biggest climate change conference – the United Nations’ annual Conference of the Parties, better known as Cop28 – will begin in the UAE. More than 80,000 delegates, 5,000 journalists and 140 heads of state are expected to attend the 14-day summit at Dubai’s Expo site. The host nation, […]
