His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that RTA had achieved the targeted energy efficiency performance indicators 2021 and reduced total energy consumption in all operations and projects by 18%, when compared with the average consumption from 2016 to 2019. It also managed to reduce the total emissions by 13% and energy costs by 10% during the same period.

“Sustainability is a key pillar of RTA’s strategic goals and objectives, and the concept of sustainability has become deeply rooted in RTA’s corporate performance. Protecting the environment, optimising the use of energy, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring assets sustainability have become priorities. RTA has a well-defined roadmap that aims to achieve zero-emission from public transport in Dubai by 2050. In the process, RTA is becoming the first government entity in the Middle East and North Africa to develop an integrated roadmap targeting public transport and its infrastructure,” said Al Tayer.

Indicators and Results

“As compared to the average in the years from 2016 to 2019, RTA Energy Analysis Report 2021 showed a decrease in the total energy consumption by 18%, and gasoline consumption by 36%. This drop is attributed to the increased use of hybrid and electric taxis by Dubai Taxi Corporation, along with a 15% decrease in diesel consumption, despite an increase in the public bus fleet.

“RTA has carried out a process to upgrade its old fleet of buses to replace them with modern buses equipped with eco-friendly Euro 6 engines compatible with the European specifications for carbon emissions. The report also indicated an increase in electricity consumption by 11%, as a result of the operation of the 15-kilometre Dubai Metro Route 2020, which includes seven stations,” explained Al Tayer.

Projects and Initiatives 

“RTA has implemented 36 energy and green economy initiatives in 2021, resulting in record savings of AED 85 million, 68 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 55 million gallons of water, 21 million litres of gasoline, 1.8 million litres of diesel, and a reduction of approximately 86 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. It also diverted about 450,000 tons of waste from landfill through effective waste management practices,” explained Al Tayer. 

“RTA has accomplished over 95% of green economy initiatives and projects, and future directions are guided by a range of factors, including soft and shared mobility, sustainable transport, circular economy, self-driving vehicles for passengers and goods, and developing services based on customer needs and future skills,” concluded Al Tayer.

The year 2021 saw the official operation of the Dubai Metro Route 2020 Project, which serves densely populated districts inhabited by 270 thousand inhabitants . The path of the route was based on several perimeters namely the anticipated number of riders in each station, commercial activities around, and the link with other public transit means at each station such as buses, which contributes to Dubai’s sustainable growth. 

The year also saw the completion of numerous road and bridge projects, highlighted by constructing roads spanning 138 lane-kilometres with 9 flyovers to serve Expo 2020 Dubai. It opened model public bus stations, pedestrian bridges, and cycling tracks to transform Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city, which entails the provision of suitable options to encourage people to practice cycling. 

Source: Press release

Committed to maintaining Swiss sustainable standards, Swissotel Al Ghurair has taken another big step forward by introducing an internal water filtration unit to provide guests with clean and fresh drinking water.

Since 2018, Swissotel Al Ghurair is connected to the iconic Al Ghurair Centre, one of Dubai’s first shopping malls, welcoming guests on a journey centered on guest well-being and a conscious effort to reduce its ecological footprint .

Proving to be a great place to work and support the local community, the hotel has been advancing its sustainability plans.

Filtering system

Filtration systems treat the freshwater discards through various chemical and microbiological processes, which are then carefully bottled and distributed across guest rooms and dining areas. The hotel has a small number of staff certified to manage the bottling and filtration room within the hotel, where hygiene and hygiene measures are strictly measured.

Approved by the Dubai Municipality Food Safety Authority and Observe Accor’s safety standards, the filtered water is completely safe and for hotel guests to consume.

General Manager Dominic Arel said of the programme: “At Swissotel Al Ghurair, we invite guests to discover and join our approach to sustainability. Through our The Vitality corner, we integrate sustainability and wellbeing, offering homemade jams and syrups; our à la carte menu includes homegrown vegetables, seasonal fruit and sustainably sourced fish.

Sustainable projects

“Meanwhile, at the heart of the hotel, we offer our colleagues sustainable programs, including free academic and physical exercise classes, the Adopt Plants initiative follows Accor’s 21 Planet guidelines, and has a plastic-free policy In addition, we believe in giving back to the local community through healthy collaborations with institutions such as Evolvin’ Women, Emirates Down Syndrome Academy, Al Jalila Foundation and Zulekha Hospital. Sustainability remains a focus for the Swissotel Al Ghurair team, both within the team’s talent and culture the key of.”

“One of my passion projects is a water filtration system in a hotel, I have been working on this project since last August and I am very pleased with the support of my engineering and housekeeping team in making this project a reality. Everyday We clean, fill and seal 1,800 bottles and provide fresh drinking water to our guests, drastically reducing single-use plastic and energy, as well as wasting water.

“Together we have joined the Dubai Government’s Dubai Can Initiative, and with the support of Accor, our stakeholders and employees, we make it our responsibility to protect and conserve water resources for a better tomorrow. Life is a journey , live a good life.”

Air conditioning usage represents 70% of the UAE’s electricity use during the summer and this has a huge impact on the environment

About half of UAE residents (47% of) aim to make their homes as environmentally friendly as possible, with more than half (55%) considering sustainability a key factor when purchasing electronic products, a study said.

The survey conducted by cooling experts Taqeef and AC manufacturer O General explores the role of sustainability in people’s lifestyles and purchasing habits.

A third (33%) of respondents consider sustainability to be as important as price in their product choices and 27% would switch to another electronic brand if the goods offered are better for the environment. 29% are aware that the more sustainable the electronic goods are, the more they save in utility bills. 30% would prefer if electronic brands focused more on explaining sustainability parameters such as energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, said the survey.

“This survey shows us that environmental credentials are increasingly driving the purchasing choices of UAE consumers as they look for new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In a region where cooling is considered an essential, it’s really encouraging to see that sustainability is becoming as important as brand and price for many when choosing a new AC,” said Tariq Al Ghussein, Chairman and CEO of Taqeef.

“Air conditioning usage represents 70% of the UAE’s electricity use during the summer and this has a huge impact on the environment, but we can mitigate this impact with cooling technology that’s high on energy efficiency. O General’s new inverter wall-mounted (AC) series has been specifically designed for the Middle East, and sets a new standard of innovative indoor cooling that’s both smart and sustainable,” he said.

Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Source: Zawya

Aldar becomes the first Middle East company to join SBTi’s Building Project Expert Advisory Group

Aldar to help define SBTi’s net zero standards, metrics and strategies

Aldar Properties (Aldar) has joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)’s Expert Advisory Group, making it the first Middle Eastern company to advise SBTi on science-based net-zero target-setting for real estate and construction companies around the world. SBTi is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

More than 3,000 companies across the world are working with SBTi to reduce emissions and support the Paris Agreement’s goals to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. SBTi seeks to help companies reduce emissions in the real economy by encouraging science-based targeting.

Senior Aldar executives will actively participate and share their expertise with SBTi’s Expert Advisory Group, aiding in the creation of consistent science-based target principles, definitions and metrics that will be used as a benchmark for real estate and construction companies around the world. The methodologies developed by the buildings project advisory group will be approved by CDP, UNGC, WRI and WWF before being made available to all SBTi stakeholders at no additional cost to support their alignment with the Paris Agreement goals. 

The Expert Advisory Group also contributes to the development of technical papers and engages in activities designed to promote the adoption of science-based targets. As well as institutions and companies, the advisory boards of SBTi are made up of a diverse group of academics, consultancies, non-profit and multi-national organisations.

Greg Fewer, Group Chief Financial and Sustainability Officer at Aldar, said: “We are delighted to have been invited to join SBTi’s Expert Advisory Group, a demonstration of Aldar’s commitment to sustainability and a recognition of the pioneering role we have played in setting ESG standards in the region. The need to put into place reliable and unified reporting standards and measures is becoming more urgent as investors, lenders and rating agencies request a higher degree of access to non-financial corporate metrics. Real estate and construction companies around the world have an opportunity to take a leading role in combatting climate change and the work we will do with partners at SBTi will support the world’s path to net zero.”  

Aldar’s sustainability strategy aims to enhance the company’s business practices and ensure that the company continues to play a positive role in developing the economy, protecting the environment and improving the lives of people and communities where it operates. The strategy is aligned to both national and international sustainability frameworks, including Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030, the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, Ghadan 21and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

For further information on Aldar’s ESG strategy and its sustainability report, please visit: aldar.com/en/sustainability

Source: Zawya

Intelligent control technology compensates capacitive and inductive losses

In certain constellations, photovoltaic systems also generate capacitive power dissipations through the night. To ensure that reactive power does not have to be purchased from the grid operator in such cases, Phoenix Contact has developed the Q@Night control function, which is already in use in a PV park in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

ASG Engineering GmbH, based in Köthen in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, specializes in the consulting, planning, implementation, and operational management of photovoltaic systems. Their range of services also includes integrating systems and storage systems into the existing infrastructure to ensure the optimized use of self-consumption. In addition, the company also specializes in peak load capping and storage solutions for micro-grid systems. However, building company-owned PV power stations is particularly important. Suitable areas are leased or bought for this purpose. So far, ASG Engineering has completed more than 100 projects related to roof and ground-mounted systems. One of the most recent projects is a 10-megawatt park in the Dessora Industrial Park in Oranienbaum-Wörlitz in eastern Saxony-Anhalt. “A photovoltaic system of this size is indeed something special,” says René Wollmerstädt, one of the two General Managers of ASG. “We have already installed 25 ground-mounted PV systems with a total output of more than 28 megawatts, but the power station in the Dessora Industrial Park is the largest one to date.”

The name “Dessora” is a tribute to the fact that the Industrial Park lies directly between Dessau and Oranienbaum-Wörlitz. Dessau is not only known to those interested in architecture due to the Bauhaus building designed by Walter Gropius in 1925/26. The city of Oranienbaum-Wörlitz is less well known. Its name is derived from an orangery that was first established in 1812 and that is still used today in its original function as one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The Dessora Industrial Park sits directly adjacent to the B107 road. Its proximity to the A9 motorway, the Leipzig airport 60 kilometers away, and an inland port in the vicinity provide good transportation connections. In addition to the photovoltaic park, food and waste disposal companies as well as a concrete and pellet plant have settled in the commercial and industrial park.

Controller ensures grid-compliant feed-in

The 80 PV platforms belonging to ASG Engineering are situated between a pretzel bakery and the concrete plant mentioned earlier. On the largest of these platforms, 360 panels from the Chinese manufacturer Longi are arranged in rows of six. Half-cut solar cells are installed in the panels. This half-cut technology separates the solar panel into two identically sized twin halves which are connected in parallel in the center. This also halves the current per panel, which correlates with a reduction in the power loss in the cell. This lower power loss in turn increases the fill factor and efficiency of the cells, meaning that the energy yield is higher, in particular with strong solar radiation. The DC power generated by the PV panels is fed into a total of 37 Sungrow inverters, which convert the 1,500 V DC electricity into 800 V AC electricity. This AC electricity is then converted from the 0.8 kV level to the 20 kV medium-voltage level by four transformer stations that are distributed throughout the PV park.

Before the electricity can be fed into the grid, owned by Mitnetz Strom mbH, it must first be transmitted to the grid connection point three kilometers away via underground cabling. The Mitnetz Strom electricity grid covers an area of 30,804 square kilometers throughout the regions of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, South Saxony, and West Saxony. This grid reliably supplies a total of around 2.3 million people.

The Phoenix Contact feed-in controller based on PLCnext Technology is installed at the grid connection point. This device, certified in accordance with the German Directive VDE-AR-N 4110/4120, ensures that decentral power generation plants that are connected to medium and high-voltage grids feed in electricity in accordance with the grid requirements.

Reactive power no longer has to be purchased

Because both the hardware and software of the feed-in controller can be tailored and adjusted to project-specific requirements at any time, it was easy for the ASG employees to extend the device with Q@Night control function. The term Q@night comes from the concept of reactive power (Q) control at night. But why is this necessary at night, of all times, when the photovoltaic system cannot produce any solar power at all? As already mentioned, the grid connection point is three kilometers from the photovoltaic park.

Due to the long cable length, capacitive power losses occur, in particular at night. The transformers in the park also generate losses, in this case inductive power dissipations. Normally, the park operator would have to purchase reactive power from the grid operator to compensate such power dissipations. The financial outlay for such purchases would add up to a mid-range five-digit amount over the course of a year.

In such a case, it goes without saying that ASG Engineering takes countermeasures to minimize these costs. The Q@Night controller function programmed by ASG Engineering and integrated into the power generation plant controller now ensures that the inverters in the photovoltaic park do not shut down during the night, as is normally the case. Instead, they continue to provide reactive power in order to achieve a phase shift of precisely cos hi = 1 at the grid connection point. In this way, the inductive and capacitive properties of the park equipment – i.e., cables and transformers – are balanced.

Inverters receive instructions via RS485 communication

The control signals for the Q@Night control function are forwarded via a fiber-optic cable to an Axioline F BK ETH bus coupler, which is installed in one of the four transformer stations in the PV park three kilometers away.

RS Uni modules are aligned with the bus coupler and allow I/O devices with a serial interface to be operated on the bus system. The inverters, which are connected in a star configuration in 16 strings, receive the instructions required for both feed-in control and reactive power control at night from the bus coupler via RS485 data communication. “The Q@Night control function requires that the inverters support a suitable mode of operation at night,” explains Christopher Werlitz, the project manager responsible for the grid connection and communication at ASG Engineering.

Today, renewable power generation plants are now defining the landscape of a region in which 100 million metric tons of lignite were still being mined until the beginning of the 1990s. Generating energy from the sun - without emissions and effectively - was the challenge that prompted the two General Managers Jan Wecke and René Wollmerstädt to found ASG Engineering in 2007. Alexander Henze joined this successful company as a further General Manager in 2014. This trio operates with Wollmerstädt and Henze contributing their technical expertise, while Wecke, as a qualified banker, provides the commercial expertise. This combination has won over a large number of users. Wollmerstädt also envisions that the trend in the future will be towards plants the size of Dessora being the standard. Every single photovoltaic system, however, is unique. The General Managers of ASG are therefore happy that the solar power specialists from Phoenix Contact are always on hand to provide advice and support in all aspects related to the planning, installation, and grid connection.

Technology paves the way for the All Electric Society

Just like ASG Engineering, Phoenix Contact is also convinced that climate change can only be countered by switching completely from fossil to renewable energy sources. Here, the All Electric Society concept describes a future in which electrical energy generated from renewable sources is available worldwide as the primary type of energy in sufficient quantities and in an entirely economical way. This concept is based on the comprehensive electrification, coupling, and automation of all sectors of the economy and industry. With its components, systems, and solutions, as well as its digitalization expertise, Phoenix Contact is empowering industry and society to forge ahead with this transformation as we move toward a sustainable world.

 

Source: Phoenix Contact

Retailers in Dubai have reported an overwhelming response from consumers in the wake of the imposition of tariffs on single-use bags, with some retailers reporting over a 40 per cent drop in consumption of such bags in the first month.

Interestingly, the trend among Dubai shoppers to bring along their eco-friendly and recycled bags when shopping has been picking up since July 1, when the Dubai Municipality imposed a minimum charge of 25 fils for single-use bags across all the retail platforms.

Dr Suhail Al Bastaki, director of happiness and marketing at Union Coop, said consumers had responded impressively and positively to limiting single-use plastic bags in the first month as they are increasingly using recyclable and environmentally friendly bags with a majority of them buying high-quality, environmentally friendly and multi-use bags.

“Consumers today are very smart as they realise the responsibility they have towards society in particular and the environment in general,” he said.

Dr Dhananjay Datar, chairman and managing director, Al Adil Trading, said since people were aware of this law before its implementation, they embraced this change very quickly and wholeheartedly.

“This was a very reasonable tariff. Therefore, Al Adil outlets recorded over a 20 per cent drop in single-use bags. People are aware of the damage to the environment from single-use plastic bags; hence they bring jute bags to buy goods to our outlets. In the future, we expect a further uptick in eco-friendly bags and reduction in single-use bags, which will greatly benefit the environment,” he added.

Kamal Vachani, group director and partner of Al Maya Group, said it’s been a fusion response from the customers towards the plastic ban as some carry eco-friendly bags with them for shopping and even purchase the eco-friendly bags from stores, while others continue to purchase the single-use bags for 25 fils.

“Trend towards purchasing single-use plastic is diminishing every passing day. We have seen a decline of approximately 40 per cent in plastic bags. Old Dubai areas such as Deira and Bur Dubai saw a higher drop in consumption compared to New Dubai areas such as JBR and Al Barsha,” added Vachani.

Sophie Corcut, Sustainability Lead at Spinneys, echoed her peers’ views, saying the customers’ response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We also reward customers who bring their bags to store with a 25 fils discount from their total bill each time they bring one or more bags to store. This has been very popular with our shoppers,” said Corcut.

Spinneys has completely removed single-use plastic bags from the checkout.

“Based on the two-month of data available since the changes, we can see that the quantity of paper bags sold has increased but represent a fraction of the volume of plastic bags previously being consumed at checkouts. Paper bag quantities are not even 10 per cent of the previous average monthly plastic bag consumption, which tells us that shoppers are bringing their own bags to stores,” she added.

James Scott, CEO of Grandiose Supermarkets, said consumers are more than happy to accommodate the introduction of the new tariff.

“Given that Grandiose was one of the first retailers to let go of plastic bags back in 2017, most of our customer base is accustomed to purchasing our canvas tote bags and bringing in their own reusable bags for a shopping run. With rising awareness around the importance of sustainable alternatives, a growing number of consumers are turning to this movement with an open, environmentally conscious and adaptable mindset,” he said.

So far Grandiose Supermarket has saved more than 15 million plastic bags.

MORE PEOPLE BRINGING BAGS ALONG

Given how high up sustainability is on the UAE’s agenda, Scott expects more and more customers to reduce their usage of single-use bags. “While the initial block for customers is to remember to carry a reusable bag before a regular shopping run, we will soon witness the change turn into a habit as it becomes a part of their lifestyle,” he said.

While sharing feedback from customers, Scott said they want to see more designs and a variety of canvas bags offered by Grandiose, reflecting that eco-friendly bags are becoming common for shoppers during their everyday visits to supermarkets.

Sophie Corcut of Spinneys added that people bring their own environment-friendly multi-use bags when they come to shop.

“We are seeing all sorts of innovative new shopping behaviours from fold-away bags, rucksacks, trolley bags and even large storage boxes which can easily be loaded in the Spinneys trolley, packed at checkout and packed into car trunks! We are also seeing people just carrying food-to-go products to be consumed instantly, which is a great way of reducing unnecessary waste,” she added.

Al Maya Group’s Kamal Vachani added people do bring bags for shopping. “There are cases when the bags customers fetch from home falls short, so they don’t mind buying the extra eco-friendly bags from stores,” he said, adding that the reduction in consumption of single-use bags is visible with every passing day.

Union Coop’s Al Bastaki also sees a further reduction in the consumption of single-use bags.

“Through our communication channels, we have been educating the consumers about the importance of reducing the dependency on single-use plastic bags, and we’re glad to notice a decisive response,” he added.

Source: Zawya

House of Pops bolsters its ESG compliance with new unforms made of recycled materials

UAE-headquartered frozen treat sector disruptor offers healthy plant-based ice treats with a strong sustainability focus

Everyone’s favourite healthy treat-on-a-stick, House of Pops, is well known for being a company which puts people and planet first, with the slogan “to delight the world, with better choices, for a good life.”

Now, its bright and bold uniforms – aprons and t-shirts – are being replaced with more sustainable materials, made of recycled plastic bottles,produced by Dubai-based sustainable materials manufacturer DGRADE.

The stylish new uniforms are made from DGRADE’s proprietary ‘Greenspun’ material – each t-shirt is made from 10 500ml recycled plastic bottles – helping divert plastic from landfill.

Compared to conventional polyester yarn, the Greenspun material uses 50% less energy, 20% less water, produces 55% fewer carbon emission, and doesn’t use oil – a finite resource.

Marcela Sanchez, Company co-founder, says: “House of Pops’ instantly recognisable brightly-festooned carts, kiosks and bikes are staffed by equally colourful staff, and we wanted to ensure we go the extra mile to back our promise of being a company with values firmly rooted in sustainability. We already use state-of-the-art compostablepackaging and sticks on all our products, so it’s a natural progression to have found the right materials to help save the planet – while ensuring our people look and feel great.”

A recent survey revealed that more than three quarters of shoppers feel environmentalproblems are in the hands of businesses and manufacturers – news that House of Pops is well prepared to respond to with its ongoing positive action.

House of Pops is rooted in a sustainable approach to its range – from the wholly natural ingredients, to the biodegradable packaging. You’ll spot the brand by its bright, colourful image, and its funky approach to selling all-natural, healthy treats.

Marcela continues: “The natural product market is growing exponentially as consumers become far more savvy regarding food additives, sugars, flavourings and fillers – to name a few. Market surveys also show a noticeable spike in the number of regional consumers who are extremely concerned for the environment. As are we.So, we endeavour to go the extra mile in every aspect of our operations. We ensure our organic ingredients come from the best sources, and our mindful approach to business now extends to our promoter’s uniforms.”

CEO and Co-founder Mazen Kanaan adds: “We ensure we act with transparency, honesty and integrity – values ingrained in our culture. House of Pops is a company that will not compromise on its values, and we hope that in serving healthier, more sustainable treats, we are doing our bit towards ensuring better health for our consumers – and for our planet.”

Heralding an exciting new era in snacking with itsall-natural ingredients, hand-crafted recipes, sustainability and happiness all wrapped up in an irresistible treat, House of Pops’ mission from the outset was to ensure minimal impact upon the environment.

The House of Pops range is free from artificial colourings, flavourings, refined sugars, and rich in fibre. They are a fun, delicious way to get closer to your ‘Five A Day’ – and with an ever-growing selection of lovingly-crafted ice pop flavours in its Happiness, Keto, Dipped and Royal range, you’re spoilt for choice, too.

The taste of nature on a stick

House of Pops’ fruit-forward ice pops are vegan and feature just five or six natural ingredients. Its winning recipes are the secret behind its hand-crafted ice pops.

The Happiness range is essentially super tasty, super healthy frozen fruit on a stick. While there’s a ‘Fancy Choco’ (cocoa and coconut) one in the range, the rest are fruit and natural sweeteners – but in awesome flavour combos like Passion Fruit, Galactic Lime, Crazy Coconut, Mango Passion, Dragon Colada, Watermelon and Blackberry Lemonade.

If Keto (high fat, low carb) is your thing, grab one of House of Pop’s keto range, which is more akin to ice cream – but unlike any ice cream you’ve ever tasted before. Featuring organic coconut milk and cream, natural fruits and natural sweeteners, these guilt-free treats also feature vegetable fibre for extra health benefits. You can choose from Strawberry, Coffee, Vanilla or Chocolate flavours.

The Dipped range includes Choco Chocolate, Choco Coconut, Choco Passion and Choco Strawberry -which are among the best-selling products – and dipped in 72% single origin Madagascar chocolate.

Royal Pops are larger – and dare we say, even more indulgent, ice cream bars, studded with real fruit pieces, making them the perfect healthy snack. The funky flavour catwalk includes indulgent Chocolate Banana, Chocolate Strawberry, Coconut Strawberry and Mango Strawberry.

Happiness and Dipped Pops and Keto ice creams come in 80ml servings, while the Royal Pops clock in at 123ml.

For more information, please visit houseofpops

Source: UAE News 24/7

As the world’s climate changes, experts have said that mangroves have an increasingly important role to play as carbon sinks and as protection against changes to sea levels.

While mangroves are threatened by human activity — Unesco said that they are disappearing up to five times as fast as forests — there are examples from around the world and closer to home that show how they can be protected in the face of development.

The importance of mangroves was highlighted recently by the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, a Unesco event that included a warning about the threats they face.

"Development has been one of the most significant challenges and balancing how development takes place with mangrove conservation"

Prof Nidal Hilal, NYU Abu Dhabi

Audrey Azoulay, Unesco’s director-general, said in a statement that mangroves were “in danger”, with more than three-quarters threatened. And that comes after about half of them were lost over the past four decades.

Nidal Hilal, founding director and principal investigator of New York University Abu Dhabi’s Water Research Centre, described mangroves as “crucial contributors to the well-being of coastal communities”.

The UAE is home to more than a dozen mangrove sites and has plans to expand and develop their presence across the Emirates.

In November, Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, announced at Cop26 in Glasgow that the UAE will plant 100 million mangroves by 2030.

Abu Dhabi also announced plans to establish the emirate as a global hub for research and innovation in support of the conservation of mangroves during Prince William's landmark visit to the UAE.

Growing importance

Mangrove peat absorbs excess water during heavy rain, he said, making flooding less likely, and mangroves reduce coastal erosion, with research showing that mangrove loss has made coasts more vulnerable.

“Waves initially go through mangrove forests before reaching the coast and they carry with them layers of mud and decaying plant matter,” Prof Hilal said.

“Mangroves act somewhat as a filter and trap some of these substances upon waves entering, reducing sedimentary erosion, which would damage the structure of shorelines.”

So, with global warming leading to higher sea levels, greater attention should, he said, be paid to their conservation.

Inside Abu Dhabi's Jubail Mangrove Park

Prof Hilal said mangroves were also important for bacteria and other decomposers, for invertebrates such as oysters and worms, for the fish and shrimp they are consumed by, and for the birds, reptiles and others that, in turn, eat them.

Their actions in filtering water and providing a nutrient-rich habitat are particularly important for fish, whose spawn can be protected by mangroves.

Alongside seagrass beds and saltwater marshes, mangroves make up what is sometimes known as blue forests, a maritime equivalent to land-based green forests.

“These blue forests, like the green forests that we all love and know, have a very important role in terms of carbon sequestration and storage,” said Niko Howai, a researcher at Reading University in the UK who is completing a PhD on mangroves on the Caribbean island of Tobago.

“Unlike their terrestrial counterparts, they don’t just take the carbon out of the atmosphere, but they also sink it into their roots and underground and they store it there. That in itself is a very important global benefit for mangroves, for why we should keep mangroves.”

Counteracting threats

Development of coastal areas, whether for ports, housing, tourism or other uses, can damage or lead to the removal of mangroves, and has been a big factor behind the losses of recent decades.

“Development has been one of the most significant challenges and balancing how development takes place with mangrove conservation,” Mr Howai said.

“The major problem comes from development and the associated things that can come from human activity, such as pollution.”

As coastlines become developed, there may be problems caused by sewage treatment plants discharging material, even if it has already been treated, because an excess of nutrients can prove harmful. Farming may also result in discharges that are damaging to mangroves.

Mr Howai said there were instances, however, of development apparently going hand-in-hand with the conservation of mangroves, such as the PIK Mangrove Nature Park in Jakarta, Indonesia, where huts and boardwalks have been built but the mangroves remain.

Another example of mangrove conservation that has attracted plaudits centres on Gazi Bay in Kenya. There, in a scheme organised through a British charity, the planting of mangrove seedlings is financed by the sale of carbon credits.

Alongside development, mangroves face significant threats from sea-level rises caused by climate change. This is an issue, Mr Howai said, in all areas where mangroves are found, from the tropics to the subtropics and warm temperate regions.

“Mangroves in the Caribbean and small island developing states are at much higher risk of negative impacts because being on a small island, the sea-level rise is likely to have a major impact on the availability of the coastal environment to house mangroves and for them to grow,” Mr Howai said.

Increasing temperatures, changes in rainfall and increases in the frequency of extreme weather events such as hurricanes and cyclones also have negative effects.

Although mangroves thrive in humid conditions and the heat, extreme temperatures, extreme weather and the climate affect how they develop and grow.

Climate change-induced damage to coral reefs, which act as a protective barrier for mangroves, can also harm mangroves.

In 2018, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi estimated that one-fifth of the emirate’s mangroves were deteriorating or in moderate health.

Prof Hilal said that while urban expansion, pollution, physical damage and other factors continued to threaten mangroves, Abu Dhabi had made “substantial efforts” to minimise habitat losses and restore damaged areas.

“In response to historic losses of mangroves due to coastal developments, large-scale afforestation programmes and establishment of protected areas have increased mangrove cover in the UAE,” he said.

“An example of this is the opening of the Jubail Mangrove Park that helps protect biodiversity and raise awareness on Abu Dhabi’s rich mangrove ecosystem. The mangroves in the UAE are now the largest on the coast of the Arabian Gulf.”

So, as mangroves continue to face threats, case studies show that they can be protected if efforts are made.

(Source: Daniel Bardsley, The National)

Dolphin Energy Limited (DEL), one of the largest trans-border energy projects ever undertaken in the Middle East, has achieved a 3% decrease in total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG), a 25% drop in flaring volumes.

Besides, the company clocked a 15% decrease in NOx emissions and a 32% decrease in SO2 emissions, DEL’s 13th sustainability report, covering the company’s operations and activities for 2021, said. 

Furthermore, the company recorded a 21% decrease in water consumption while 28% of all waste was recycled. In 2021, Dolphin Energy spent $8.8 million on environmental projects while $2.2 million was spent on community investments.

Exceptional safety

Commenting on the report, Dolphin Energy’s CEO, Obaid Abdulla Al Dhaheri, said: “Despite the challenge of Covid-19, we sustained our exceptional safety and operational performance, achieving our production target and maintaining an excellent relationship with our customers. We continued our pursuit of process improvement, as well as the implementation of our digitisation efforts. 

“Our performance also reflects our diligent approach to managing our operations safely and efficiently in a way that has helped us reduce our environmental footprint.”

The company surpassed 10 trillion cubic feet of gas produced and 485 million barrels of condensate production since first gas in 2007. In addition, the company’s offshore operations registered 14 years without a Lost Time Incident (LTI). 

Nationalisation

In the area of nationalisation, the company met its Emiratisation target of 71% and achieved 30% Qatarisation, an achievement reflected by receiving a certificate in the ‘Support & Liaison with the Education Sector’ category at the energy sector’s 21st Annual Qatarisation review meeting. Today, all executive positions in the company are held by Nationals. Meanwhile, procurement by local suppliers has grown to 95%.

Dolphin Energy’s sustainability report won for the fourth time the Best Sustainability Report award from the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum, a Certificate of Recognition from the ADSG for promoting sustainability management and best practices and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) for supporting and strengthening the partnership framework and teamwork to protect and preserve the environment and enhance sustainability.

Adding his comments about the importance of promoting sustainability management and promoting best practices, Dolphin Energy’s General Manager – Qatar, Ali Alrahbi, said: “At the heart of this commitment is disclosure and it is critical that we report our performance in this way. Our stakeholders can see where our strengths lie and how we are acting responsibly.”

The report was developed using the GRI Standards, Oil and Gas Sector Disclosures, and the IPIECA oil and gas industry guidance on voluntary sustainability reporting. In addition, the company’s performance has been aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to contribute to a more sustainable future for all.

Source: TradeArabia News Service

The Newtrl app will support organisations across the region to measure and achieve their climate action goals while rewarding employees for creating a carbon-neutral world

Dubai-based Olive Gaea, the provider of Net Zero solutions to private and government entities, has officially launched the Newtrl app. The company aims to engage and reward employees for their sustainable behaviours and drive corporate success via measurable and fun climate action. 

Officially the first corporate app to bring employees and organisations together on the common sustainability agenda across the MENATI region, the Newtrl mission is to turn single daily behaviours into powerful, collective, and positive climate action to achieve Net Zero emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C. 

Vivek Tripathi, the CEO and Founder of Olive Gaea, said, "The global climate crisis cannot be solved by governments and businesses alone. The good news is that post COVID-19, there's been increased research for purpose and climate action: people want to live a more sustainable life. They also expect organisations to take responsibility for their environmental impact."

"That's why today, businesses have the unprecedented opportunity to turn this desire for sustainability into powerful, collective action. As the world approaches 7 billion people, almost half of them are employed; employees have therefore an immense potential to fight against climate change."

According to research by Mastercard, 74% of UAE consumers say companies behaving sustainably is more important than before COVID-19. Furthermore, according to global measurement and data analytics company, NielsenIQ, globally, 81% of consumers feel strongly that companies should help improve the environment.

Adding to this, a recent study of 1,000 employees at large U.S. companies found that 72% of millennials, approximately 75% of the global workforce four years from now, are willing to cut their salary to work for a sustainable company.

From a corporate perspective, an engaged workforce is critical, as it increases productivity and retention rates, reduces absenteeism, helps attract talent, and improves customer happiness.

"While there are many ways to increase engagement, we know that the most effective one is through sustainability initiatives," added Tripathi.

Newtrl enables organisations to improve their sustainability performance and employee engagement for a carbon-neutral world. Employees can choose to take pledges and tangible actions to make their lifestyle more sustainable and help their organisation achieve measurable carbon reduction targets.

The app provides an easy and fun platform for managing CSR activities, data collection for Scope 3 emissions, and sustainability reporting. It also helps educate employees about sustainability contributing to a positive ripple effect.

"We look forward to working with organisations across the region, helping them to align with the Net Zero targets set at both corporate and country levels, and to engage their workforce in a meaningful, purposeful, and effective way," concluded Tripathi.

Newtrl is available for download on Apple and Google Play Stores. Organisations can contact Olive Gaea to subscribe to the service. 

To know more about Newtrl, visit www.olivegaea.com/newtrl or email info@olivegaea.com.

Source: Zawya