Reverse logistics platform Cartlow has partnered with multi-brand electronics retail group, E-City to launch a new device subscription programme across 16 stores in the UAE.
The initiative, which aims to align with the UAE’s 2023 vision for sustainability, will provide customers with affordable and convenient options to prolong the life cycle of their devices and reduce electronic waste.
Customers will constantly have the latest device in the device subscription programme by securing its exchange value for future use.
Cartlow has simplified the process of recycling devices
This initiative simplifies the process of keeping up with the latest technology by eliminating the need to sell or trade-in the current device.
All old devices collected through the programme undergo data sanitisation following international standards for IT asset disposal services.
The programme adheres to circular economy principles, meaning that collected devices are either repaired, refurbished, or recycled to minimise waste and promote sustainability.
Cartlow has managed over two million products since its inception, resulting in a groundbreaking contribution to saving over six million kilogrammes of e-waste and 36 million kilogrammes of carbon emissions. The platform aims to further dominate the global reverse logistics market, which is projected to reach $958bn in 2028.
Mohammad Sleiman, founder and CEO of Cartlow, stated, “Our partnership with E-City is aligned with the UAE’s vision of sustainability for 2023, and we are delighted to contribute to this mission. As a leading advocate for reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste, we take pride in our efforts to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions to our customers.
“Together with E-City, we strive to make a positive impact on the environment and promote a more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Source: Gulf Business
Millennium Place Barsha Heights Hotel in Dubai has been awarded the ISO 14001:2015 certification in recognition of its commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives.
Regarded as the gold-standard for environmental management systems around the world, the certification provides a detailed framework to help organisations enhance their environmental performance and deliver measurable results.
In order to attain the ISO 14001:2015 certification, Millennium Place Barsha Heights Hotel implemented a range of best-practice environmental initiatives, including:
• Energy-saving measures, such as the installation of energy-efficient lighting systems and the optimization of HVAC systems, ensuring optimum temperature and air quality for guests, and resulting in electricity savings of 164,632 KWH (32%) since 2022
• Installation of 2 x charging stations for guests with Electric Vehicles
• Adoption of waste-management strategies, including the reduction of single-use plastics and recycling 39.5 tonnes of waste in 2022
• Implementation of water-conservation measures, such as the installation of low-flow fixtures and automatic sensor taps in public areas, reducing consumption from 9 to 6 litres per minute
• Sustainable procurement practices in the hotel’s restaurants, now sourcing 30% of fruits and vegetables from the GCC and MENA
• The construction of an onsite herb and vegetable garden, growing seasonal produce such as mint, rosemary, basil, coriander, chillies, tomatoes and eggplants
Additionally, Millennium Place Barsha Heights Hotel established an internal team of Environmental Champions, who led the organisation’s environmental and sustainability efforts. These champions played a pivotal role in educating, promoting and implementing eco-friendly, CSR and sustainable practices within their respective departments, fostering a culture of sustainability and accountability throughout the hotel.
The hotel also enlisted expert support from TMC Management and Safety Training, a Dubai-based consultancy specialising in environmental management and safety practices, which played a vital role in shaping and enhancing the environmental initiatives.
In announcing the certification, Glenn Nobbs, General Manager, said: “We take great pride in announcing the ISO 14001:2015 certification for Millennium Place Barsha Heights, which cements our commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment. This achievement not only recognizes our past efforts but also strengthens our undertaking towards the future.
“The credit goes to our passionate team, particularly our Environmental Champions, who have shown such great dedication, innovation, and drive in implementing these initiatives. We will persistently pursue new opportunities and innovative approaches to further enhance our sustainability practices and make a positive impact on our environment."
Community-minded initiatives were also at the core of the certification, including charity collections, blood donation drives, and wellness programs for staff. Ensuring the environment is in capable hands, the hotel introduced its ‘Hospitality Ninjas’ Kids Club last summer, providing educational workshops for little ones with insights into hospitality and the environment, including activities such as helping out in the on-site herb garden.
Source: Trade Arabia
A group of companies, including Abu Dhabi’s Masdar, have signed an agreement with Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority to secure land for a $10 billion wind farm.
Masdar, Egypt's Infinity Power and Hassan Allam Utilities signed an agreement last year to develop the 10-gigawatt project, which is expected to save the North African country $5 billion in annual natural gas costs once operational.
The wind farm will produce 47,790 gigawatt hours of clean energy annually and offset 23.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
“This 10-gigawatt onshore wind project is set to be one of the largest wind farms in the world, and largest on the African continent,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc.
“It is a sign of the strong partnership between the UAE and Egypt, with great potential to create jobs, cut emissions and power homes with clean electricity at competitive economical costs.
“The world needs to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” the Cop28 President-designate, who is also chairman of Masdar, added.
Egypt, the Arab world’s third-largest economy, has brought forward its goal of sourcing 42 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035 to 2030. Its current renewable energy component is about 20 per cent.
The agreement “not only positions us as a leading provider of renewable energy but also strengthens the growing relationship between the Emirates and Egypt”, said Nayer Fouad, chief executive of Infinity Power.
“Apart from being a key source of renewable energy, the farm will also create employment opportunities for local communities.”
In March, Infinity Power, a joint venture between Masdar and Cairo-based Infinity, completed the acquisition of the entire shareholding of Africa’s wind power platform Lekela Power.
Lekela’s portfolio includes 1 gigawatt of operational wind power projects in South Africa, Egypt and Senegal, and a 1.8-gigawatt pipeline of projects in various stages of development across the continent.
Last year, Dubai-based AMEA Power said it secured funding to develop a solar plant and a wind farm in Egypt.
AMEA Power’s wind farm, which is expected to have a capacity of 500 megawatts, will be in the Red Sea region and is being developed in partnership with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, which will own 40 per cent equity in the project.
Source: John Benny, The National
The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) Board of Directors has approved, during its meeting chaired by Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, a proposal to exempt companies wishing to list their green or sustainability-linked bonds or sukuk in a local market from registration fees for the year 2023.
The decision aims to highlight the actions taken by the UAE in accordance with a clear agenda to achieve the objectives of sustainable development on more than one level, especially with regard to sustainable economic growth.
Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, said, “The SCA initiative for green and sustainability-linked bonds and sukuk is an excellent initiative that aligns perfectly with the broader COP28 agenda with regards to climate finance. The world as a whole needs to do more to advance sustainability in the financial space that in parallel also helps to contribute to sustainable long term economic growth.”
For his part, Al Shorafa stated, “The decision of Authority’s Board of Directors comes in line with the declaration of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, declaring 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’, and supports the SCA efforts to encourage companies to move towards issuing green and sustainability-related bonds and sukuk to finance sustainable projects related to the environment and climate, and encourages investors and companies to adopt environmentally friendly investment opportunities."
The registration fee for bonds and sukuk for the purpose of listing, which the Board agreed yesterday to waive temporarily, is determined by the Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors Decision No. (32 / R.M.) of 2018 regarding the due technical service fees at a rate of 0.01 percent of the value of the issue subject to a maximum of AED 30,000.
In February 2023, the SCA issued its Decision No. (21 / R.M.) of 2023 regarding the regulation of sustainability-linked green bonds and sukuk, as this decision allowed public shareholding companies to issue “green” bonds and sukuk whose entire subscription proceeds are used to finance or refinance eco-friendly sustainable projects (such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency projects, pollution prevention and control projects, environmentally sustainable management projects for natural resources and land use, projects for preserving terrestrial and aquatic environmental diversity, clean transport projects, and sustainable management of water and wastewater projects), as well as companies’ issuance of sustainability-related bonds and sukuk, through which the sustainability goals specified by the issuing company are achieved within a predetermined period to contribute to the achievement of key performance indicators, and to bear structural and/or financial features and characteristics depending on the issuing company’s achievement of sustainability goals.
Source: Amjad Saleh, Emirates News Agency
The UAE has launched a new campaign to highlight success stories in sustainability. This is in a bid to get more people to contribute to the country’s efforts in climate action.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Higher Committee Responsible for Overseeing Preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28 UAE), launched the National Sustainability Campaign to raise awareness about sustainability initiatives and projects in the country.
The move aims to encourage members of the local community to engage with and support climate action-related strategies. UAE is hoping that the more people join in the initiative, it will generate a positive impact and create an environmentally aware community.
It was in October 2021 that the UAE announced its ambitious action of attempting to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, making the country the first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nation to do so. The UAE has committed to invest US $50 billion to scale up climate action in the next 10 years.
Welcome move
Meanwhile, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, welcomed the campaign and said the move highlights UAE’s commitment to galvanizing local and community efforts.
According to her, it will promote positive behaviour. "The National Sustainability Campaign will play a significant role in raising awareness in society and among different partners about the UAE’s efforts in local climate action,” she said.
She also added that the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will coordinate with different partners, including federal and local government entities, as well as the private sector companies, to achieve targets. “Our aim is to showcase the UAE’s efforts, projects, and initiatives that underline our country’s commitment to meet its climate obligations and achieve Net Zero by 2050," she said.
The UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative aligns with the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to prepare long-term strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels.
Campaign
The campaign website sustainableuae.ae highlights national initiatives and success stories in sustainability. It builds on decades of progress the UAE has made starting from the approach and legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the field of sustainability.
UAE is now taking collective action towards a sustainable future through a multitude of initiatives and achievements across a broad range of areas, from achieving net zero, to conservation efforts on land and at sea.
Source: Nasreen Abdulla, Khaleej Times
The UAE has signed an agreement with Shahin, a company being set up in Abu Dhabi by GCC-based NEV Enterprise, to develop, maintain and operate an electric vehicle charging station factory in the country to cater to the growing demand for EV infrastructure.
Shahin aims to meet 40 per cent of the UAE’s “direct current” charging demand by 2030 as the Arab world’s second-largest economy aims to become net zero by 2050, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology said on Thursday.
The factory will develop EV charging infrastructure through pre-negotiated offtake contracts.
“By actively contributing to the development of a robust EV ecosystem, this partnership will have a meaningful impact on our sustainability and decarbonisation agenda, while at the same time supporting local and advanced technology-driven economic growth,” said Tariq Al Hashimi, director of technology adoption and development at the ministry.
Demand for EVs in the UAE has continued to rise and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 30 per cent between 2022 and 2028, according to the global electric mobility readiness index published last year.
A report by consultancy Arthur D Little ranked the country eighth globally in terms of electric mobility readiness.
Electric vehicle sales are rapidly increasing in the UAE, with EVs making up more than 1 per cent of the overall car market in the country, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said this week.
“This is the tip of the iceberg. The options for those who are going to own an EV have increased significantly with aggressive competition from Europe, the US and also from … China, [South] Korea, Japan and others,” Suhail Al Mazrouei told delegates at the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi.
The Emirates has increased the number of charging stations in the country by about 60 per cent to 800 in the past three years, Mr Al Mazrouei added.
As part of MoIAT's initial agreement with Shahin, the company will also focus on research and development in partnership with local higher education institutions, which will contribute product and software localisation and create opportunities for young Emirati talent through apprenticeships and job opportunities.
“This collaboration represents a significant milestone in the UAE's journey towards a greener future, firmly establishing the country as a regional leader in the development and production of cutting-edge EV charging infrastructure,” said Ramzi Kuhail, chief executive of NEV Enterprise.
Globally, electric car sales are expected to surge by 35 per cent this year, helped by government subsidies and the tightening of carbon dioxide emissions standards, according to the International Energy Agency.
Electric car sales are projected to reach 14 million this year, from 10 million last year, the Paris-based agency said in its Global Electric Vehicle Outlook in April.
Source: The National
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out its 'Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050' strategy, which makes it the first Middle Eastern agency to develop a long-term strategy for migrating towards Net-Zero Emission Public Transport by 2050. With this strategy, RTA aims to contribute to mitigating climate change and minimise its carbon footprint across three areas: public transportation, buildings and related facilities, and waste management.
The new strategy is aligned with UAE's preparations for COP28 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, and is a part of RTA's ongoing efforts to advance sustainability maturity levels in roads and transportation and achieve global leadership in sustainable mobility. It seeks to bolster the flexibility of public transport infrastructure and its impact on climate change in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, transitioning from pledges to tangible achievements.
Consistent with the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate the emirate’s status as one of the world’s top urban economies, RTA’s new strategy aims to achieve multiple objectives over the coming years. The primary objectives include the decarbonisation of all taxis, limousines, and public buses, designing buildings with near-zero energy consumption, sourcing energy from renewable sources, and eliminating municipal waste by sending zero waste to landfills. The strategy will result in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 10 million tonnes and realising financial savings worth AED3.3 billion in comparison to current operations.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, said, “The new strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to sustainability within RTA. Its primary objective is to enhance sustainability and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, it contributes to realising RTA’s mission of achieving global leadership in smooth and sustainable mobility through innovative roads and transport services that elevate the customer experience to world-class standards.
“The new strategy encompasses ten initiatives, covering various RTA sectors and agencies, in addition to partnerships with the private sector that contribute to implementing the strategy over five years. The strategy will review, adjust and align future goals with changing circumstances.
“Under the theme 'Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050', the strategy is aligned with the UAE’s commitments to environmental and sustainability goals at global, national and local levels such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is also consistent with national strategies such as the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, The UAE’s Green Agenda - 2030, National Climate Change Plan of the UAE 2050 and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
“The strategy is also linked to local initiatives, such as Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2030, the Clean Energy Strategy 2050, Dubai Demand Side Management Strategy 2030, the waste management plan in Dubai, Dubai Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and other relevant strategies, agreements and initiatives,” Al Tayer added.
RTA's Board of Executive Directors reflected on various aspects, opportunities, and challenges associated with the new strategy and its implementation. These include the costs of novel green technologies, the distribution of targets and their review over time, the importance of the availability of energy technology providers, particularly for electric buses and hydrogen fuel production stations, and other factors that contribute to the execution of the new strategy.
Taxis and buses
The new strategy specifies the target rates to be achieved over the upcoming years to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in the three categories, namely: green public transportation, buildings and facilities, and waste management. It entails converting 10 percent of public transport buses into electric and hydrogen buses by 2030, which will be expanded to 20 percent in 2035, 40 percent in 2040, 80 percent in 2045, and ultimately 100 percent by 2050. It also encompasses the conversion of 30 percent of taxis and limousines in the emirate to electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2030, which will be increased to 50 percent by 2035 and 100 percent by 2040.
The plan aims to convert 10 percent of DTC's school buses into electric and hydrogen buses by 2030, which will be raised to 30 percent in 2035, 50 percent in 2040, 80 percent in 2045, and 100 percent by 2050.
Buildings and facilities
The strategy entails retrofitting RTA's buildings and facilities with solar cell systems. A total of 24 buildings and facilities will see the installation of solar panels before 2025 and the scope of this will be extended to all other buildings and facilities according to feasibility studies. The goal is to retrofit and upgrade 74 percent of the buildings by 2030, expanding it to 83 percent by 2035, and finally achieving 100 percent by 2045.
New buildings will be near zero energy, starting in 2025.
Existing streetlights will also be retrofitted so that all of them are 100 percent energy efficient, provided the application continues on all new projects.
Waste management
Regarding waste management, programmes will be implemented to reuse and recycle 100 percent of municipal waste by 2030, thus achieving the goal of zero municipal waste to landfills, as well as increasing the use of recycled water in RTA’s buildings and facilities to 40 percent by 2050.
Exceptional achievements
RTA has recorded significant accomplishments in sustainability. From 2014 to 2022, its energy and green economy initiatives have contributed to saving electricity by approximately 360 gigawatt-hours, and water savings of 300 million gallons, as well as saving around 88 million litres of gasoline, and 10 million litres of diesel. This is equivalent to avoiding 416,000 tonnes of equivalent emissions, yielding savings of approximately AED420 million.
RTA is the world's first roads and public transportation entity to release a sustainability report adhering to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and the international standard: ISAE3000 in 2018. In 2020, RTA also signed the United Nations Global Charter for Sustainable Development. This was achieved after aligning the data in the sustainability reports issued with the UN's goals that address global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, peace, justice, human rights, and combating corruption.
Amjad Saleh, Emirates News Agency (WAM)
DP World cut direct carbon emissions from its global operations by 5 percent last year, according to its latest Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) report, reflecting progress towards its 2040 carbon neutral target.
The ESG report, published today, demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices, has been developed in accordance with the latest Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
Over the course of 2022, DP World has tightened its ESG Governance and Risk Management framework, launched an Executive Sustainability Council to provide strategic guidance on the Group’s sustainability strategy and ESG metrics, integrated ESG as a risk into our corporate enterprise risk register, and published its first stand-alone ESG Report c 2021 – a significant milestone for the business.
Maha Al Qattan, Group Chief People and Sustainability Officer, DP World, said, “At DP World, we believe in enabling resilience, and building a smart and sustainable future that generates long-term societal impact. In 2022 we saw continued global headwinds but that challenged us to push new frontiers of collaboration. I’m proud that we have cut our direct carbon emissions by 5 percent, and significantly increased our community contributions. We recognise our impact and are continuing to look at how we use our resources responsibly, on issues from education to WASH infrastructure, in line with our clear roadmap for the future.”
DP World has deepened its ties with partners to advance two of its key legacy pillars of Women and Water. Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem was announced as the Middle East’s first HeForShe champion by UN Women on International Women’s Day last year and the company entered a 3-year global partnership with WaterAid to deliver water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, starting in Mozambique.
DP World also participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) signalling its commitment to ESG progress and expanding its network of partners and advocates.
Decarbonisation is a core focus for DP World and the business has already committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and net zero carbon by 2050 in line with the UAE’s 2050 net zero.
In November at COP 27, the chairman announced that DP World had joined the Green Shipping Challenge and committed to investing up to US$500 million to cut CO2 emissions by nearly 700,000 tonnes over the next five years. DP World has also entered a strategic partnership with the Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and joined the UN Global Compact’s Think Lab on Just Transition.
The report also highlighted DP World’s total community contributions with a 34 percent increase from 2021, including several new strategic projects including UN Women, the Earth Shot Prize and in response to emergencies in 2022.
These have helped support more than 255,000 women and girls through community projects such as our partnership with Barefoot College International (BCI) to graduate solar engineers from rural Senegal. We also invested US$8.7 million in global education projects.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed in the supply chain industry. DP World has been recognised as the top ESG risk performer by Sustainalytics - a global leader in ESG and Corporate Governance research and ratings - winning the Sustainalytics 2022 Industry and Regional Top-Rated Badge, and achieved an A – (Leadership) rating in the CDP Climate Change submission.
Source: Tariq Al Fahaam / Amjad Saleh, Emirates News Agency (WAM)
The UAE is taking a leaf out of the Netherlands' book in attempting to persuade young Emiratis to take up farming by using advanced technology – including artificial intelligence – to drum up interest in the agricultural sector.
UAE professors and government officials from the environment and education ministries recently met diplomats, private companies, farmers and academics in the Netherlands to discuss food security before Cop28, which will be held in Dubai this November.
The meetings were part of a series of dialogues to gain knowledge of how the Netherlands has retained its role as the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural produce after the US.
During field visits, experts from the Netherlands explained how AI, using real-time analysis of data, can monitor crop health round-the-clock.
AI systems can also help improve the quality of a harvest and detect disease in plants, with sensors providing detailed information to increase efficiency, forecast temperatures and predict the yield.
Agriculture no longer ‘old fashioned’
Leo Marcelis, professor horticulture and product physiology at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, said it was a struggle to capture the attention of young people.
“Students and young people are traditionally not so interested in agriculture because they think it’s old-fashioned,” he said.
“But when they see new technology, they say, ‘Wow, this is innovation.’
“The young take sustainability really seriously and it attracts them to come here to study.
“With international collaboration we can ensure food is produced for people in the whole world in a sustainable way.”
Ranked among the world’s top agricultural research institutes, the university is known for cutting-edge studies and works with companies using greenhouses to employ technology to reduce water consumption and control the environment so crops can thrive.
Students have the option to study in applied agricultural science colleges or vocational schools that teach agricultural skills. Training and education is also available for farmers.
“We need to make farming attractive for young people. No farmers, no food,” said one poster at an education institute.
Change the perception of young people
Oscar Niezen, senior adviser for international projects with the Lentiz Education Group, said it was important that UAE students understand the quality of life farmers could have.
The group organises training programmes for international students in the Netherlands that run from a week to nine months.
Students visit farms for internships and work in greenhouses growing vegetables and flowers.
“They see the life of the grower is comfortable, cool even,” Mr Niezen said.'
“They understand it’s not dirty. It’s good for young people to actually see this because for students all over the world, agriculture has a bad name.
“Young people don’t want to be farmers any more.
“But then they see how profitable it can be, that the grower has a nice car and house. Yes, he works hard but it’s a good job.
“The technology used in modern greenhouses can help change the perception of young people.
“When they see all this, it comes alive.”
Tech for the UAE
The UAE is aiming to become self-sufficient and produce fresh food locally.
Charbel Tarraf, chief of operations and development at the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, said that, to achieve this, a strategy was required to build vocational agricultural schools in the UAE to train young people.
The ICBA, based in Dubai, works with more than 50 countries, conducting crucial studies to improve the resilience of trees, irrigation efficiency and crop genome research.
“The UAE is at the start of its agricultural journey, the Netherlands is advanced and so we need to see how to learn from them,” he said.
“To have successful agriculture, you need manpower, human capital.”
He said sometimes in the Arab world, farmers are not as valued as they should be.
“But when you talk about entrepreneurship, technology that requires skill and bringing this to farms – that will definitely be an incentive for the young.”
Elke Neumann, a professor of plant nutrition in United Arab Emirates University's College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, said exchange programmes would build knowledge on both sides.
The UAEU in Al Ain is the only institute in the country that offers higher education programmes in horticulture, food sciences and agribusiness.
UAE citizens make up the majority of about 160 students in specialised agriculture programmes at the university.
“Most students join not because they don’t find anything else to study but because they are really truly interested in agriculture,” she said.
“More and more students are finding jobs in new private companies.”
Over the past few years, the UAE has used technology to produce locally farmed salmon, berries and quinoa.
Vertical farms use a hydroponics system in which plants are grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
Ms Neumann said the task before researchers was to develop unique systems to tackle harsh climate conditions.
“This requires confidence that we can find solutions specifically tailored to UAE requirements,” she said.
“We need intrinsically to do something for our country and not always modify a solution that is imported.
“We require a massive expansion of our agri-research capacity and it absolutely can be achieved.”
Disease detection
UAEU has joined forces with Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi to develop robotic technology for agriculture.
Irfan Hussain, assistant professor in Khalifa University’s mechanical department, is keen to use AI to guard against the spread of diseases in plants.
“This is the future and is much needed for the UAE,” he said.
“I do believe we can get the next generation excited because of the tech element and the promise of innovation.”
UAE government officials said changing the mindset of local farmers to embrace technology and training was the way forward.
“We are looking to further develop our agricultural sector in terms of local production,” said Ahlam Al Mannaei, an agricultural engineer with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
“We will need more education and to develop strong communication with local farmers to shift from traditional farming to modern farms.”
Source: Ramola Talwar Badam, The National
As the climate heats up, so does action to move to a cleaner energy future.
The UAE faces intense scrutiny and a towering diplomatic task to run the Cop28 conference in November. The Climate Tech event in Abu Dhabi earlier this month was a step forward in assembling the next suite of environment-friendly technologies.
The gathering saw the launch of the Decarbonisation Technology Challenge, offering a prize of up to $1 million for winners selected from 10 finalists in December.
Many exciting and innovative companies appeared — from known companies to start-ups. Without prejudice to any that aren’t mentioned or others that may enter the competition later, some hitherto lesser-known companies span solutions to four of the critical climate challenges.
First, reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector itself — with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) one of the event’s organisers, highlighting efforts to address the challenge. Fossil fuels still yield 83 per cent of global primary energy and will remain important even to 2050 and beyond, in a world on track for net-zero carbon. The surviving producers will be those that can keep their costs and carbon footprints low.
Companies such as the military and technology group Edge, G42 and AIQ, all based in Abu Dhabi, offer advanced digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Saildrone provides autonomous, solar-powered floating vehicles that collect maritime data, with obvious applications in keeping offshore oil and gas platforms safe and secure.
Second, to find solutions for what are called “hard-to-abate” sectors. The path to decarbonising electricity and ground transport is well understood — solar, wind, nuclear power and battery cars. Of course, these solutions have plenty of room for improvement. But heavy industry, long-distance shipping and air travel, and long-term energy storage need work. They are probably not so much “hard-to-abate”, as “feasible to abate with the right technologies”.
UK-based Carbon Clean raised $150 million last May, a record round for a point-source carbon capture company. Its modular system is intended to be more efficient and lower-cost, and able to be retrofitted to existing industrial or power plants, trapping their carbon dioxide for reuse or safe disposal.
Dubai-headquartered Enerwhere provides modular, mobile solar power and energy use optimisation for temporary or remote sites such as drilling rigs, tourist resort islands and construction. Commonwealth Fusion Systems secured a remarkable $1.8 billion in funding in November 2021 to advance the limitless energy source that fuels the Sun and the other stars.
Hydrogen is attracting avid attention across the Mena region. Its many advantages come with practical challenges on making and transporting it cost-effectively. Baker Hughes is well-known as an oil services major, but at the event it agreed with Adnoc to work on innovations in this light, clean energy carrier.
US-headquartered Ohmium makes proton exchange membrane electrolysers, which use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Efficient, low-cost and long-life electrolysers are essential to bringing versatile hydrogen into the mainstream — as a way of storing electricity over long periods, providing heat and feedstock for heavy industries and a base for synthetic fuels.
Hydrogen is key to decarbonising four sectors — air travel, shipping, steel and fertilisers — which together account for more than 14 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Third, to build the future clean-energy economy. Here’s where the event’s other backer, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, comes in. The US, EU, China and India are pouring hundreds of billions – if not trillions — of dollars into manufacturing future energy materials and equipment. Other countries have to find where they can contribute and compete.
The humble building material cement produces as much as 8 per cent of global emissions and is an important industry in the UAE. Khalifa University showcased cement enhanced with the 2D material graphene, as well as one made from sulphur, a by-product from the petroleum industry.
Several other graphene innovators, such as Levidian and the University of Manchester’s Graphene Innovation Engineering Centre, represented the circular carbon economy, which aims to reuse carbon indefinitely rather than releasing it into the air.
On a different track, LanzaTech uses bacteria to make synthetic fuels, chemicals and plastics from captured carbon dioxide.
And fourth, to reverse decades of past pollution. All credible pathways to keeping warming below 1.5°C or even 2°C by 2100 involve sucking huge amounts of carbon dioxide back out of the atmosphere.
1PointFive might one day rival its parent, the US-based Occidental, a leading oil and gas operator in the GCC and elsewhere. The subsidiary is working on a series of direct air capture facilities that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it underground, starting with a $1 billion, 1 million tonne per year plant in Texas.
Vesta adds sand made from the mineral olivine to coastlines. This both protects against marine erosion and captures carbon dioxide as the ground-up mineral reacts. This mimics the natural weathering that forms Earth’s long-term thermostat, but much faster.
44.01, led by Omani entrepreneur Talal Hasan, has a different twist on the same idea. It injects carbon dioxide and water into olivine-rich rocks, such as those found in the mountains of the UAE and Oman, and some other locations around the world. In January, the company agreed with Adnoc to start a pilot in Fujairah.
Many more technologies and companies were represented at Climate Tech and there is no doubt that others will compete for the prize.
It is essential to be bold and take some chances to get the best ideas operating in the real world on a massive scale.
The far bigger prize is global decarbonisation, which will make winners of the nations and corporations that lead it.
Source: Robin Mills, The National
