Khalifa University of Science and Technology has implemented 30 sustainability initiatives, including a global sustainable aviation forum, an international conference on energy transition, an exhibition of Khalifa University's sustainability-related projects and a COP28 model exhibition.
The initiatives align with the UAE's hosting of COP28 from 30th November until 12th December this year.
Khalifa University is also planning to organise an exhibition on climate change activities, a hackathon on food waste, stopping the use of plastic bottles on campus, a campaign to distribute plants to inspire the adoption of environment sustainability practices, and a waste-to-clothes conversion initiative to drive home the sustainability theme across all fronts through research, campus, media and communications, academic and student-related activities.
Other initiatives include a Sustainability Student Club logo design competition for students, a climate action pledge, podcasts on sustainability, and new initiatives from the Student's Sustainability Club.
Dr. Ebrahim Al Hajri, Senior Vice President of Support Services at Khalifa University, said, "Khalifa University has always remained adopted as a culture at Khalifa University. It shows in its academic offerings, research outcomes, and our operations. We are featuring this factor prominently just as the UAE is gearing up to host COP28.
"Reflecting our status as an academic institution of diverse research and academic strength, we also focus on collaborations in technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, as well as intellectual and human capital. This is in line with the directives of the UAE leadership on energy, water security and sustainability."
Khalifa University is driving innovation through its academic programmes, research centres and research facilities and obtaining patents. Khalifa University's research endeavours have so far obtained more than 280 patents, with more than 60 percent being discoveries or technologies related to sustainability.
Khalifa University has recently listed 54 patents in advanced materials and manufacturing, clean and renewable energy, environment, hydrocarbon exploration and production, robotics, intelligent systems and data science, sensors, and water and environment.
Khalifa University's campuses promote energy and water conservation and continuously engage with stakeholders to ensure the adoption of best practices to reduce its carbon footprint. These initiatives include improving energy efficiency on campus and cutting operational costs and carbon footprint, while supporting the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
The EHS and Facility Management Department at Khalifa University is implementing a total of 22 initiatives, including plans for reducing 70 per cent of plastic drinking water bottles and introducing self-service dispensers, increasing recycled waste from 4 per cent to 30 percent, and achieving 3 percent reduction in energy consumption for this year, compared to 2022.
Academic programmes contributing to sustainability include courses in urban design for sustainability, environmental geology, sustainable building construction, power electronics, analysis of power systems over-voltages and transients, photovoltaic technologies: materials, devices and systems, solar thermal analysis, design and testing, environmental remote sensing and satellite image processing and power system modelling and control.
Source: Rola AlGhoul/ Esraa Esmail - Emirates News Agency
Sharjah International Airport Authority has exerted efforts, and undertaken initiatives, events and activities towards comprehensive sustainable development, environmental preservation, energy sustainability, and others.
Sharjah International Airport is committed to preserving and protecting the environment, keeping carbon within the required level, and reducing the environmental impacts of operations. This commitment is achieved by reducing pollution levels, whereas the airport manages its activities through a well-established environmental management system that has been certified by “ISO 14001” since 2007.
Sharjah Airport has become the first carbon-neutral airport in GCC and the second in the Middle East to attain Neutrality accreditation, from the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, issued by Airports Council International (ACI), which grants accreditation certificates to airports, in recognition of their efforts in managing and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme was launched by ACI, in Europe, in 2009, then expanded to include the Asia-Pacific region, in November 2011, and is the only independent standard regarding the management and reduction of carbon emissions in airports. It is being applied at a consistent pace around the world.
Sharjah Airport determines the sources of carbon emissions resulting from operational activities, upon completion of measuring the airport’s carbon footprint, and plans are being developed for “carbon management,” which includes establishing indicators to reduce carbon emissions; developing a carbon management plan; working on vital projects to reduce energy use; and managing solid waste and treating water.
Sharjah International Airport Authority adopted electrically operated mechanisms in the field of ground handling, and equipped stations to supply the vehicles with electricity, as part of different environmental initiatives aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
The Authority approved a solid waste management system, in partnership with partners and service providers, and organises environmental awareness campaigns throughout the year.
In 2019, Sharjah International Airport Authority launched the sewage treatment plant expansion project, which has the capacity to treat wastewater with a capacity of 3000 cubic metres per day for reuse in irrigating green areas, as part of its efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and reduce depletion of natural water resources, in line with the UAE Vision 2021.
Sharjah International Airport Authority activated the solar lighting system, installing 50 lighting poles and 61 individual lamps connected to 33 solar panels, as part of achieving the goals of the National Agenda and the Clean Energy Index.
In the same context, the Authority adopted environmentally friendly vehicles and replaced ground handling vehicles with green “electric” vehicles, which constitute 15% of the total number of vehicles.
Separate waste containers were placed by BEEAH Group, and a site was allocated for a landfill, at the airport, where wood, metals and paper are collected separately and recycled. Waste of hazardous materials, such as flammable chemicals, is disposed of by BEEAH Group and Sharjah municipality.
Sharjah International Airport Authority supervises the development of green areas at the airport, where the agricultural area extends over 54710 square meters, including a total of 9477 trees, more than 1950 square metres of seasonal plants, and 885 indoor plants.
Source: Sharjah 24
Alpha Dhabi Holding has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Metito Holdings Ltd., a global leader in the water and wastewater industry.
Pending regulatory approvals, this pivotal transaction marks Alpha Dhabi's strategic entry into the water and wastewater domain. The acquisition not only underscores the company's commitment to diversifying its portfolio but also bolsters Metito's mission to broaden smart water solutions across the MENA region and beyond, aligning with the UN sustainability goals.
The acquisition sees Alpha Dhabi purchasing the majority stake from selling shareholders Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Gulf Capital, showcasing Alpha Dhabi's unwavering confidence in Metito's expertise and future potential. The Ghandour family, Metito's founding shareholders, will retain their leadership roles, ensuring the company's foundational principles of impact, sustainability, and innovation remain intact.
Hamad Salem Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Alpha Dhabi, commented, "With nearly half the world's population projected to face water scarcity by 2025, the need for sustainable water solutions has never been more critical. Our partnership with Metito is a decisive step towards addressing this pressing challenge. Together, we are committed to pioneering solutions that not only cater to immediate needs but also ensure a sustainable future for generations to come."
This collaboration, he said, is more than a strategic business move; it's a testament to Alpha Dhabi's dedication to driving impactful change in the water sector and its broader vision of sustainable growth and global impact.
Talal Ghandour, co-CEO of Metito, said, "Together, we aim to address the pressing water challenges, especially in the MENA region, the most water-stressed region globally. With Metito's extensive experience across 50 countries and our dedication to innovation and technology, this partnership will bolster our capabilities, allowing us to further our mission and bring sustainable water solutions to regions that need it the most."
Rami Ghandour, co-CEO of Metito, stated, "This partnership is set to unlock vast synergies and to unleash boundless potential. We are poised to make significant contributions to sustainable solutions, especially as the UAE's Year of Sustainability and COP28 gain traction. Together, our combined expertise and resources position us to drive sustainable growth and shareholder value in the global water sector."
By 2025, an estimated 3.5 billion people could be living in water-scarce regions. The MENA region, home to 7% of the world's population but just 1% of its freshwater resources, is the most water-stressed globally. A staggering 83% of its population, approximately 500 million people across 25 countries, are using over 80% of their renewable water supply.
The World Bank projects that by 2050, water scarcity could cost the MENA region between 6% and 14% of its GDP. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions and impact investments in the water sector.
In line with the upcoming COP28 in the UAE, Alpha Dhabi has also established Alpha Dhabi Climate Capital, focusing on climate-conscious investments, with Metito as a cornerstone of this initiative.
With the UAE's Year of Sustainability and the imminent COP28, both Alpha Dhabi and Metito are geared to make substantial contributions to discussions and initiatives centred on sustainable, technology-driven solutions.
Source: Rola AlGhoul/ Esraa Esmail - Emirates News Agency
Air and travel services provider dnata has taken steps to reduce its environmental footprint across its operations in the UAE.
dnata’s group brands dnata Logistics, Arabian Adventures, Alpha Flight Services and City Sightseeing have switched their vehicles to operate using a biofuel blend.
dnata says that the move will save 80 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, equivalent to over 320,000km driven by an average petrol-powered car.
dnata Logistics has switched 31 of its trucks to run on a biofuel blend at its Dubai-based hub. Providing multimodal freight forwarding, logistics, supply chain and road transport services, its trucks cover up to a total 217,000km per month. The move saves almost 35 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the equivalent of eight petrol-powered cars driven for one whole year.
City Sightseeing Dubai, a joint venture with dnata Travel Group, operates three tour routes, aiding viewing of Dubai’s top attractions, through the use of 21 open-top, biofueled buses. These cover an average 76,000km per month, removing over 32 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year – the equivalent of the electricity use of four average homes for 12 months.
Alpha Flight Services (Alpha), dnata’s inflight catering joint venture, has already switched five landside vehicles to biofuel blend, and is also in the process of transitioning all of its Sharjah-based airside catering trucks. Alpha now sends its used cooking oil to the biofuel manufacturer and once recycled, it is then reused within its vehicles. One litre of oil recycled into biofuel avoids the emissions of 3kg of CO2, a reduction of 92 per cent compared to diesel fuel use. Alpha’s vehicles cover over 27,000km per month, supporting the company’s catering operations that create over 25,000 meals a day. As a result of the initiative, Alpha will save seven tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the equivalent of charging over 850,000 smartphones.
Arabian Adventures has also switched the generators at its desert safari camps to a biofuel mix. Arabian Adventures is saving almost five tonnes of CO2 emissions per year as a result of the initiative, equating to 1987 litres of diesel.
Steve Allen, CEO of dnata Group, said, “The introduction of biofuel to a diverse range of our UAE businesses is an important step in our ongoing journey. It offers a simple and effective method of cutting emissions throughout the fuel lifecycle, without requiring any changes to equipment. We will continue to invest in our operations, including large-scale infrastructure solutions, to further enhance our sustainability performance and achieve our green operations targets.”
Dnata’s latest biofuel initiative is part of its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and waste to landfill by 20 per cent by 2024 in line with its two-year green operations strategy.
In June 2022, dnata said that that it would invest US$100 million in green operations in two years to enhance its environmental efficiency globally.
The company offers ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services in over 30 countries across six continents. More than 15 per cent of the company’s global fleet is now electrified.
Source: Business Traveller
AstraZeneca inaugurated its new sustainable offices in Dubai Science Park, a member of the TECOM Group PJSC.
The offices mark a critical milestone along the company’s carbon footprint reduction journey in the UAE.
The offices are part of a raft of measures by AstraZeneca to accelerate the transition to sustainable healthcare in the UAE, aligned with the company’s global Ambition Zero Carbon programme.
Key plans include transitioning to electric vehicles (EV100) by 2025 and launching its first next-generation inhaler with a near-zero global warming potential propellant in the UAE market.
The inauguration brought together Dr Amin Al Amiri Assistant, Under-Secretary of the Health Regulation Sector at the Ministry of Health and Prevention, Dr Ahmed Alkhazraji, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ramadan Al Blooshi, Director of Public Health and Protection Department at Dubai Health authority alongside Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, and other senior health leaders in the UAE to highlight the need to accelerate the transition to net zero sustainable healthcare.
Spanning an area of 20,000 square feet, the new premises aim to achieve platinum standards in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a globally recognised symbol of sustainability achievement, as defined by the United States Green Building Council.
Sameh El Fangary, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cluster President of AstraZeneca, said, “Climate change is the biggest threat to human health, which is why, as a healthcare company, we have a duty to act. AstraZeneca shares the UAE’s vision of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C. Our sustainable offices will contribute to AstraZeneca’s drive to cut emissions and be science-based net zero by 2045.
“What is particularly special about this event is witnessing the UAE’s healthcare ecosystem come together and recognise the interconnectedness between health equity, health resilience, and climate action. Clearly, this is a mission to be led by all, for all.”
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Science Park, said, “As stewards of health and progress, science companies have a profound impact on society and the environment. Embracing sustainable practices ensures that our actions today do not compromise the well-being of future generations.
“Nurturing eco-friendly innovation can create a harmonious balance between scientific advancements and environmental preservation, and by prioritising sustainability, AstraZeneca has set a sterling example for the science sector. Its efforts align with Dubai Science Park’s goals to contribute to the Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’ and Dubai R&D Strategy and reinforce our ambition to enable sustainable scientific advancement.”
The LEED platinum certification awards points based on applying sustainability principles during the new facility's design, construction, and material selection. It allows AstraZeneca’s offices at the Park to serve as a benchmark for efficiency and sustainability in the science sector.
The Park is part of TECOM Group’s business district portfolio, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Design District (d3), and Dubai Industrial City.
Source: Zawya
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, on Wednesday witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Masdar to implement the sixth phase of the project to develop the world's largest single-site solar photovoltaic power plant.
The sixth phase of the project will use PV solar panels based on the Independent Power Producer model, and has an estimated cost of Dh5.51 billion ($1.4 billion).
It will “provide energy for more than half a million homes and reduce energy consumption”, Sheikh Mohammed said on X, formerly Twitter.
“Work on all phases of this huge project will be completed in 2030 with a total investment of Dh50 billion. Our goal is 100 per cent clean energy for Dubai by 2050,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote.
The sixth phase of the project is set to be operational in stages starting from the fourth quarter of 2024, Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
It is expected to power more than half a million residences while reducing carbon emissions by 2.36 million tonnes annually.
Being awarded the project is "testament to Masdar’s track record in pioneering clean energy projects as we continue to support the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative", said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, chairman of Masdar and Cop28 President-designate.
"Ahead of our nation hosting Cop28 later this year, it is vital that the world triples global renewable energy capacity by 2030 to keep the ambition of 1.5 degrees within reach. This landmark project demonstrates definitive action in our shared journey towards a cleaner, greener future."
Masdar was selected from 23 international bidders and offered a levelised cost of energy of $1.6215 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), the lowest of any of Dewa’s solar IPP model projects to date.
The 1,800 megawatt sixth phase of the solar park will increase total production capacity to 4,660MW.
"This underscores the UAE’s prominent status as one of the world’s largest investors in clean and renewable energy projects," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive of Dewa.
"It also affirms our support for the UAE’s hosting of the Cop28 at Expo City Dubai, aligning our strategies and policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in sustainability, innovation and future-making.”
Source: The National
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, today announced a UAE finance initiative that will provide US$4.5 billion to help unlock Africa's clean energy potential.
The announcement was made during a keynote address at the inaugural African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The landmark initiative brings together vital public, private, and development capital from UAE institutions, notably from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), Masdar, and AMEA Power. Africa50, which is an investment platform established by African governments and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), has also joined the UAE finance initiative. Africa50 was founded to help solve the continent’s critical infrastructure challenges and will help identify initial projects and connect to local implementing entities.
The COP28 President Designate has repeatedly called for the global tripling of renewable energy by 2030 and has pushed to make finance more available, accessible and affordable.
The announcement came with a clear call to action for African leaders to improve policy and regulatory frameworks to attract the long-term investments necessary to accelerate the deployment of clean and renewable energy.
In order to reduce barriers to investment, the President-Designate highlighted multiple action points that require the coordinated efforts of African leaders and the international community. These include restoring the financial sustainability of local utilities and modernising basic energy infrastructures, clarifying development processes and eliminating the red-tape delaying market lead-time, in addition to eliminating restrictions to capital flows and accessing adequate and affordable risk mitigation measures.
During his remarks, the COP President Designate said, “This initiative builds on the UAE’s track record of commercially driven, innovative blended finance solutions that can be deployed to promote the adoption of clean energy in emerging and developing nations. This multi-stakeholder partnership approach is designed to accelerate sustainable economic progress, address the challenge of climate change and stimulate low carbon growth.”
He added, “The initiative will prioritise investments in countries across Africa with clear transition strategies, enhanced regulatory frameworks and a master plan for developing grid infrastructure that integrates supply and demand. In short, this initiative is designed to work with Africa, for Africa. It aims to clearly demonstrate the commercial case for clean investment across this continent. And it will act as a scalable model that can be replicated to help put Africa on a superhighway to low carbon growth.”
Fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, lives and livelihoods, and underscoring these efforts with full inclusivity are the key pillars of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda.
In sub-Saharan Africa alone, 600 million people live without access to electricity. Delivering greater access to clean energy will drive social and economic development but currently investment in African renewables represents only 2 percent of the global total, and less than a quarter of the US$60 billion a year the continent needs by 2030.
The initiative announced today seeks to correct this imbalance by bringing key stakeholders together to accelerate development and delivery of infrastructure, generation and distribution solutions to close the gap in universal clean energy access.
The initiative will sit under the umbrella of Etihad 7, a development platform launched by the UAE at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in 2022, and championed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). Announced in 2022, Etihad 7 aims to provide 100 million people across the African continent with clean electricity by 2035.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) are kickstarting this initiative through funding the initial investment intended to catalyse private sector action. ADFD is supporting with US$1 billion of financial assistance to address basic infrastructure needs, offer innovative finance solutions and increase mobilization of private investments. The ECI is providing US$ 500 million of credit insurance to de-risk and unlock private capital – further demonstrating ECI's commitment towards global sustainable development.
Masdar, one of the world’s largest clean energy companies, active in 22 countries in Africa, is committing an additional US$2 billion of equity as part of the new initiative. Masdar will mobilize an additional US$8 billion in project finance and through its Infinity Power platform. Masdar will target the delivery of 10 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity in Africa by 2030.
AMEA Power is targeting 5GW of renewable energy capacity in the continent by 2030, mobilising US$5 billion, of which US$1 billion will come from equity commitment, and US$4 billion from project finance.
Additionally, the initiative seeks to create pathways for other multilateral development banks, governments, and philanthropies to catalyse additional private sector investment. The COP28 Presidency has called for others including international financial institutions (IFIs) and foundations to join the effort to convert words into actions.
The COP28 UAE Presidency also recognises that the Global South needs to be in the driver’s seat to ensure a fully inclusive approach.
The COP28 UAE Presidency continues to call for the doubling of adaptation finance and to operationalize funding arrangements for Loss and Damage to ensure that those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are protected. The COP28 Presidency is working to achieve broader reform of IFIs to unlock necessary mitigation as well as adaption financing to support the Global South.
Today’s announcement comes days before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is due to release the technical data around the first Global Stocktake of climate progress since the 2015 Paris Agreement. It is widely anticipated that the Stocktake will find that the world is off-track from meeting its objectives as outlined In 2015.
Source: WAM, Khoder Nashar/ Hazem Hussein
As part of its long-term commitment to sustainability, Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region, has launched its Sustainable Finance Framework. The new Framework allows for the issuance of green and sustainable debt instruments to finance projects which enable the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy. The Framework also allows for the issuance of social debt instruments leading to a positive societal impact.
The Framework will cover Emirates NBD Group entities such as Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, DenizBank and Emirates NBD Asset Management and will accelerate the Group’s efforts when it comes to innovative sustainable finance offerings. HSBC and ING acted as Sustainability structuring banks in developing the Framework which is in line with the Group’s ambition to promote further lending and investments into assets with a positive environmental and social impact. The Framework will assist Emirates NBD in reaching the UAE’s ambitious Sustainability Development Goals and targets set forth by the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN SDGs, while also ensuring the necessary due diligence and international best practice are in place to mitigate ESG risks.
The Framework comprehensively outlines the fundamental constituents of the Principles and Guidelines set forth by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and Loan Market Association, Green Bond Principles 2021, Social Bond Principles 2023, Sustainability Bond Guidelines 2021, Green Loan Principles 2023 and Social Loan Principles 2023. These core components encompass the Use of Proceeds, Process for Project Evaluation and Selection, the Management of Proceeds, Reporting and as well as the recommendations outlined for External Review, which collectively serve as the cornerstones of their established guidelines.
Commenting on the announcement, Shayne Nelson, Group CEO at Emirates NBD, said: “We are delighted to publish our Sustainable Finance Framework, reinforcing Emirates NBD’s commitment towards sustainability. As a leading banking group in the region, Emirates NBD is fully aligned with the UAE’s pro-climate, pro-growth philosophy. This Framework empowers Emirates NBD and our customers to help deliver the UAE’s journey to Net Zero emissions by 2050 and meet the ambitious interim reduction targets.”
“At Emirates NBD, we firmly believe that finance plays a key role in sustainability,” said Vijay Bains, Group Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD. “Our Framework will ease access to ESG labelled finance in alignment with COP28’s pledge to unleash finance for climate change. By issuing sustainable finance instruments including bonds, sukuk and other debt instruments, we will provide enhanced transparency around funded projects and assets that carry environmental and social benefits.”
Emirates NBD's sustainability strategy is aligned with prominent global and national frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UAE's Vision 2030, and the United Nations Environmental Programme Dubai Declaration for Sustainable Finance, which marks the Group’s commitment to transforming the UAE into a green, low-carbon economy in support of the UAE Centennial 2071’s sustainability agenda.
Emirates NBD stands as a pioneer in sustainability reporting, having initiated formal reporting on its sustainability endeavours in 2016 with the release of its inaugural Sustainability Report. As part of the Group’s efforts to achieving net-zero goals, Emirates NBD recently signed the UAE Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge initiated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment aligned with the Group’s commitment to supporting the UAE’s decarbonization efforts. Furthermore, the Group continues to forge meaningful sustainability and innovation focused collaborations with other private sector companies and government entities in its effort to mitigate climate change. Emirates NBD has also obtained a Second Party Opinion (SPO) on the Framework from ISS Corporate Solutions (ISS).
Azizi Developments, a leading private developer in the UAE, has signed an MoU with Siemens, the German technology company, to further the energy efficiency of its smart buildings and to thereby work towards a more sustainable, net-zero future. As part of this newly-formed collaboration, Siemens will strengthen Azizi’s pursuit of – and emphasis on – sustainability in its communities, spanning across digital transformation, energy efficiency, sustainable architecture, smart communities, and cutting-edge water-treatment technologies, among others.
The MoU, which was celebrated at Azizi Developments’ offices on the 13th floor of the Conrad Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, was signed by Mr. Franco Atassi, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the Middle East, and Mr. Farhad Azizi, Chief Executive Officer of Azizi Developments, under the presence of senior management figures of both parties, the media, and other stakeholders, on Monday, the 4th of September 2023.
Siemens is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. Its Smart Infrastructure business is shaping the market for intelligent, adaptive infrastructure for today and the future. The company addresses the pressing challenges of urbanization and climate change by connecting energy systems, buildings and industries. Siemens provides a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio from a single source – with products, systems, solutions and services from the point of power generation all the way to consumption, enabling customers to thrive and communities to progress while contributing toward protecting the planet.
Mr. Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, said: “Embarking on this important journey with Siemens is a major stride towards a horizon of innovation and sustainability. This MoU is a testament to our commitment to shaping skylines that embrace a greener future. As the UAE takes center stage at COP28, we are joining forces with Siemens to compose a symphony of sustainable buildings and communities. This partnership echoes our vision for urban landscapes that harmonize with the environment and resonate with global sustainability goals.”
“This partnership with Azizi Development marks a significant step toward advancing smart, sustainable and safe communities in the UAE,” said Mr. Franco Atassi, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the Middle East. “Siemens’ technology will increase operational and energy efficiency and provide real-time, actionable data that fosters a healthier and more comfortable living environment for residents.”
The timing of this partnership coincides with the UAE’s hosting of COP28, a crucial global conference addressing climate change challenges, highlighting the nation’s dedication to leading international sustainability initiatives. Taking place in Expo City Dubai from November 30th to December 12th, the forum will be attended by heads of state, government officials, global industrial sector leaders, private-sector representatives, and climate experts. Azizi Developments and Siemens’ partnership aligns with the UAE’s vision of creating low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure and communities, and ultimately achieving global sustainability targets.
Source: Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) said on Wednesday it had reached a final investment decision to develop the Habshan carbon capture project.
The carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) project will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, ADNOC said in a statement.
ADNOC brought forward its net zero carbon emissions target by five years to 2045 in July as the United Arab Emirates prepares to host a major U.N. climate conference in December.
The Habshan project will triple the state oil giant's carbon capture capacity to 2.3 million metric tons per year.
The project will be built, operated and maintained by ADNOC Gas on behalf of ADNOC, the statement said.
"This landmark project, is one of many tangible initiatives that ADNOC is delivering as we accelerate our decarbonisation plan to meet our Net Zero by 2045 ambition," Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth, said.
It will include carbon capture units at the Habshan gas processing plant, pipeline infrastructure and a network of wells for carbon dioxide injection.
The UAE is hosting the United Nations COP28 climate summit, whose incoming president is ADNOC Chief Executive Sultan al-Jaber, at the end of the year.
The OPEC producer supplies nearly 3% of global oil, which is a major source of greenhouse gases.
ADNOC said in January it would allocate $15 billion to decarbonisation projects by 2030.
Source: Zawya (Reporting by Maha El Dahan and Clauda Tanios, Editing by Louise Heavens)
