Analysis Sustainability $50bn climate change pledge critical to UAE’s oil reduction The UAE’s big-ticket promise to pledge a further $50 billion to abate global climate change must be wisely planned to deliver a meaningful path towards a sustainable economy, according to experts. “[Such investments] are likely to generate the most efficiency if allocated to reduce the reliance of productive sectors on hydrocarbons which will further diversify […] June 28, 2022
Sustainability Wildfire in southwest Turkey enters third day Firefighters sought to contain a wildfire in southwestern Turkey from land and air on Friday as the blaze raged on for a third day, with windy conditions fanning the flames and spreading them through a forested area. Scenes of burning woodland near the Aegean coastal resort of Marmaris sparked fears of a repeat of last […] June 24, 2022
Sustainability Sweltering heatwave adds to power cuts misery Iraq’s problems are piling up and threatening protests: Price increases, a faltering power grid and a summer heatwave made all the more unbearable by electricity outages limiting air conditioning and the use of fridges for many. While the southern city of Basra is used to scorching summers, this year it has started sooner than expected, […] June 23, 2022
Energy Abu Dhabi deal aims to build global clean energy powerhouse Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed binding agreements to buy stakes in Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, better known as Masdar, from Mubadala Investment Company. The partnership aims to create a global clean energy powerhouse that consolidates the renewable energy and green hydrogen efforts of TAQA, […] June 21, 2022
Moody’s to shut Moscow office, relocate some staff to Dubai Credit rating firm Moody’s will formally shut its office in Russia’s capital Moscow at the end of the month, sources told Reuters, with staff either being cut or relocated elsewhere. Western sanctions mean the main US and European-based rating agencies Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch have all suspended their operations in Russia and withdrawn their […] June 21, 2022
Sustainability Nottingham aims to become Britain’s first net zero city The smoking towers of Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal power station loom outside the English city of Nottingham, a fitting beacon for an area long known as a hub of a once-thriving coal industry. Now local leaders are betting on a green industrial revolution, pledging to go carbon neutral by 2028 and so become the country’s first city […] June 10, 2022
Energy Oil price fall dents Gulf stock markets Most Gulf markets ended lower on Thursday on growing concerns over inflation and recession and as oil prices slumped following speculation that Saudi Arabia would boost production. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index finished 1.3 percent lower, hurt by a 2.1 percent fall in oil giant Saudi Aramco and a 1.2 percent decline in country’s biggest Islamic […] June 2, 2022
Banking and Finance After a slow start, Gulf firms are winning at ESG As the world’s largest producer of hydrocarbons, the Middle East region has been slow to adopt environmental social governance (ESG) practices. But momentum is picking up, according to industry experts. “It’s fair to say that the Middle East is considered somewhat behind the curve on ESG,” said Jessica Robinson, senior advisor for ESG and sustainability […] June 1, 2022
Business of Sport FIFA: ‘We have not lied about Qatar emissions’ FIFA has rejected a report that claims Qatar 2022 will rely on “flimsy” offsets to meet its pledge to host the first carbon-neutral World Cup. The report, compiled by climate advocacy group Carbon Market Watch, alleges that Qatar, the world’s largest producer of natural gas, is omitting some greenhouse gas emissions from its calculations and […] May 31, 2022
Climate change top of the agenda at Davos The Gulf’s two largest economies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are sending top-level delegations to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, which begins today. The UAE’s delegation, led by Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy prime minister and minister of finance, will also include Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, […] May 23, 2022
Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 The Red Sea Project: Showcasing natural abundance One of the most ambitious and environmentally responsible tourism developments in the world is beginning to take shape on the north-west coast of Saudi Arabia. Spread across 28,000 square kilometres and including an archipelago of more than 90 islands, The Red Sea Project will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and is committed to […] May 18, 2022
Analysis Sustainability Oman: the next hydrogen energy superpower With lengthy daytime sun, strong overnight winds and an accessible coastline, H2 investors and developers have long admired Oman, dubbed a “future renewable superpower,” by green energy titans. The government has noticed their admiration, and is looking to hydrogen to help power the oil-rich country’s energy grid and recharge its fossil fuel-reliant economy. Since announcing […] May 17, 2022
Opinion Sustainability The heat is on but a green Gulf is worth the cost The benefits of a net-zero economy include job creation and healthier living, even though it would require hundreds of billions of dollars May 9, 2022
Sustainability Heavy rain and floods in Afghanistan kill 22 Heavy rain and flooding has killed 22 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged crops in Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis, a disaster management official said today. The Taliban government, struggling to cope with the disaster that has affected more than a third of its provinces, will approach international relief organisations for […] May 5, 2022
Analysis Energy Saudi Arabia leads OPEC move to drop energy watchdog’s data A decision driven by Saudi Arabia that OPEC+ should stop using oil data from the West’s energy watchdog reflected concern about US influence on the figures, said sources, adding to strain on ties between Riyadh and Washington. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, a group referred to as OPEC+, has […] May 3, 2022
Sustainability Regulators call for external checks on bank climate data Regulators could force banks and other financial firms to hire external auditors to check on the accuracy of their climate data, the Financial Stability Board said in a report on Friday. Financial firms are being required to spell out how climate change is affecting their business as part of government efforts to meet net-zero economy […] April 29, 2022
Sustainability Humanity on ‘spiral of self-destruction’ as disasters rise The world is set to face 1.5 disasters a day – 560 a year – by 2030, as humans put themselves on a “spiral of self-destruction” by heating up the climate and ignoring risk, pushing millions more people into poverty, the United Nations warned on Tuesday. In the past two decades, between 350 and 500 medium-sized to major disasters were […] April 26, 2022
