Agriculture UAE refreshes strategy to reduce food waste by 50% The UAE has launched an action plan to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2030, minister of climate change and environment Mariam Almheiri said. At Cop28, which will be hosted in Dubai later this month, the UAE is prioritising the transformation of food and agricultural systems. Earlier this year, the Emirate launched the Cop28 […] November 20, 2023
Renewable Energy UAE opens world’s largest single-site solar plant The UAE’s Al Dhafra project – described by its developers as the world’s largest single-site solar power plant – has been formally inaugurated, with an annual production capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW). The Al Dhafra solar PV (photovoltaic) plant is located 35 kilometres from Abu Dhabi’s capital city. It can generate enough electricity to power […] November 17, 2023
Finance Agtech in spotlight as Mena startup funding recovers Startup funding in the Mena region in October remained subdued on a year-on-year basis, but agtech is one of the areas set to shine. Mena startups raised $156 million in October, compared to $646 million raised in October 2022, but vastly up on the $36 million raised in September, according to data from Wamda, a […] November 17, 2023
Sustainability UAE may revise climate strategy after subpar ranking The UAE is keen to update its strategy on climate change after an independent research group ranked it “insufficient”, the Gulf state’s climate change and environment minister Mariam Almheiri has said. “Going from highly insufficient to insufficient was, let’s say, a step in the right direction, but we’re still striving for more,” Almheiri told reporters, […] November 16, 2023
Sustainability Dubai startup to create Africa carbon offset projects Dubai’s Blue Carbon will deliver environmental and societal benefits from its carbon offset projects in Africa, a senior executive has said, rejecting criticism from independent experts who question whether such schemes lead to real emissions reductions. In September Blue Carbon, whose chairman is Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum of Dubai’s ruling family, signed a memorandum […] November 16, 2023
Oil & Gas Hydrocarbon has role in ‘fair’ energy transition, says Adnoc Adnoc believes hydrocarbons will play a role in the energy transition despite their contribution to climate change, the Abu Dhabi state oil company has told AGBI. “All credible energy outlooks” show that “both renewable and conventional energy will continue to be needed to ensure a fair and responsible energy transition,” said a spokesperson. “We recognise […] November 15, 2023
DUBAI AIRSHOW Aviation Increase air fares to save planet, says Dubai Airports CEO Adding 20 percent to the price of an airline ticket to fuel the aviation industry’s sustainability charge will be money well spent in order to keep a “clear conscience” on the climate threat, according to the CEO of Dubai Airports Paul Griffiths. Giving a keynote address at Dubai Airshow on Tuesday morning, Griffiths said the […] November 15, 2023
Sustainability Think tank crowdsources ideas to battle climate change A UAE think tank has launched a crowdsourcing platform to find ideas to tackle climate change. Climate Call is an initiative of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), an organisation set up by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi ruling family. The platform invites users from around […] November 14, 2023
Sustainability UN calls for more in pre-Cop28 climate progress review More action is needed to make progress in the fight against climate change, the United Nations has said in the lead up to Cop28. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) analysed 195 commitments outlining the steps countries plan to take to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. By current […] November 14, 2023
Sustainability EU to kickstart ‘loss and damage’ fund at Cop28 The European Union and its member states are preparing to announce a “substantial financial contribution” to the long-awaited United Nations fund to help vulnerable countries recover from climate-caused damage. The EU’s contribution to the “loss and damage fund” is expected to be announced during the Cop28 climate change summit starting later this month. The handout […] November 13, 2023
Opinion Oil & Gas The tantalising prospect of a global decarbonisation alliance Cop28 has the chance to change perceptions of the hydrocarbon industry November 13, 2023
Energy Wasl installs 22,000 solar panels across its Dubai buildings Dubai state-owned real estate developer Wasl has installed more than 22,000 photovoltaic (PV) solar panels across its 44 buildings and facilities, adding 11 GWh annually to the emirate’s grid capacity. The developer says the solar energy will offset 4,500 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, driving sustainability across Wasl’s communities. It says the carbon offsets […] November 13, 2023
Sustainability Indian PM may attend Cop28 meeting in Dubai Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the two-day world climate action summit, beginning December 1, during Cop28 in Dubai, according to an Indian media report. Although the official announcement of Modi’s visit is awaited, the prime minister will most likely attend the summit, Times of India reported, citing sources. Environment minister Bhupender […] November 13, 2023
DUBAI AIRSHOW Aviation Aviation in struggle to reach net zero targets Gulf commercial airlines have committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 by switching to sustainable aviation fuels, adopting new technologies and buying carbon offsets, among other measures. But they face challenges in doing so. The aviation industry hopes measures such as these will enable it to realise two seemingly conflicting ambitions: doubling the volume […] November 12, 2023
Opinion Sustainability My time as Japanese finance minister will change the world A simulation of the Cop28 summit brings out the best – and worst – in the global community November 10, 2023
Opinion Sustainability The great green paralysis, and what to do about it Brilliant but boring strategies are often the solution rather than corporate pledges without substance November 9, 2023
Transport Neo seeks $30m to drive ambitious EV plans “Last-mile” logistics company Neo Mobility is launching in Dubai next month with a fleet of 100 electric two-wheeler vehicles. The company secured $10 million in pre-launch seed funding from investors including green asset financing platform Delta Corp Holding. It is now in talks to raise $30 million to finance growth plans which includes a vehicle […] November 9, 2023
Energy Oman to develop rules for carbon capture and green hydrogen The Omani government has signed a memorandum of cooperation with local energy companies to set up an expert committee to finalise a regulatory and strategic framework for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and blue hydrogen development. The signing of the cooperation pacts by the energy and minerals ministry with Petroleum Development Oman, Oman Shell, […] November 9, 2023
Finance ADIB raises $500m from its first-ever green sukuk Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has raised $500 million through a green sukuk offering, the first ever green USD-denominated sukuk issued by a financial institution. The lender priced the five-year senior sukuk at a profit rate of 5.695 percent annually, payable semi-annually. The sukuk will be listed and traded on London Stock Exchange’s international securities […] November 9, 2023
Analysis Sustainability What Big Oil says about climate change The role to be played by Big Oil in global efforts to tackle climate change will be central to the debate at the Cop28 summit that begins in Dubai in three weeks. Ending the world’s dependence on oil in its current form is seen as vital if the worst effects of rising temperatures are to […] November 9, 2023
EXCLUSIVE Renewable Energy Download our exclusive report on the Gulf’s path to net zero As the world shifts towards cleaner sources of energy, the GCC’s oil and gas-producing nations find themselves faced with the dual threat of environmental and economic crisis. What are they doing about it? In this special report published as the UAE prepares to stage the United Nations’ Cop28 climate change summit, AGBI examines the Gulf’s […] November 8, 2023
Energy Wind power boost for Neom’s green hydrogen site The first set of wind turbines that will power the world’s largest green hydrogen plant in Saudi Arabia have been delivered. Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) received its first delivery of wind turbines at the Port of Neom in the northwest of the kingdom last month, it was announced this week. The turbines are being […] November 8, 2023
