Energy leaders must increase collaborative efforts with industrial players to develop a practical road map for rapid decarbonisation to achieve the sustainable development goals, experts at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS America) have said.
The event, held under the theme of "Advancing global industrialisation and net-zero", hosted discussions on the changing role of the industrial sector and highlighted how digital technology can accelerate the global energy transition.
Panellists stressed that the burden of reducing carbon emissions need not fall only on energy companies, but also on the global economy.
Industrialists are the fastest-growing carbon producers in the world, followed closely by power utilities, home-heating providers and transportation, says non-profit organisation, the World Resources Institute.
"Decoupling economic growth from finite resources will require fundamental changes to supply chains, export markets and production and manufacturing processes," panellists said.
Hard-to-abate industries that rely on traditional sources of energy should not be forgotten, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE special envoy for climate change and co-chairman of the GMIS, said in a video address.
Investment in technology such as carbon capture are crucial in mitigating environmental impacts, he said.
Dr Al Jaber also highlighted how the UAE — which is implementing a national industrial development programme known as Industry 4.0, as well as hosting Cop28 next year — has created a "dynamic ecosystem for hi-tech partnerships", including with numerous US organisations, that he hopes to strengthen and grow.
With 81 per cent of the global energy system still based on hydrocarbons — the same percentage as 30 years ago — panellists also discussed how Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technology can solve the challenges facing the energy sector including security, access and climate progress.
Advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, edge computing and nanotechnology are opening new pathways for industrial growth and ensuring that economic and climate progress go hand-in-hand, they said.
“Advanced technology is not simply for saving labour costs," said Gerd Muller, director general of the UN Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) and co-chairman of GMIS. "It can save our planet. It is vital that we work closely with private industry to decarbonise production.
“Social sustainability is also vital: innovation can contribute to fairer trade and investment. It can improve industrial safety and human well-being. It can make business more transparent. Governments, the private sector, the research community and civil society need to work together and complement each other."
Transformative advanced technology will help achieve a number of the UN’s sustainable development goals, he added.
Tariq Al Hashimi, director of technology adoption and development at the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), told attendees: “The 4IR technologies have a lot of potential but these are very risky investments and thus the private sector will be slow to invest."
He stressed the importance of having financing toolkits to enable the private sector to adopt such technology.
Experts at the event highlighted the importance of a circular economy and the role of innovation and technology in developing industrial processes.
“What’s changing is where the feedstock comes from," said John Thayer, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Nova Chemicals. "More and more, we will be looking for different feedstocks of recycled material — those that are traditionally recycled like PET and high-density polyethene, but it will also be more hard-to-recycle items like low-density polyethene — and integrate those products into the feedstock.”
The three-day GMIS America event aims to facilitate co-operation between American and Emirati companies to shape the future of the industrial sector.
"By reaching out to the industrial, technological and research ecosystem in the world’s largest economy, we seek to harness the innovations shaping the future of industry," said Omar Al Suwaidi, undersecretary of MoIAT.
"It also allows us to highlight the opportunities and incentives available in the UAE for international industrialists, manufacturers and investors, and our compelling platform for companies seeking to expand into Asia, Africa, the Middle East and beyond.”
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Squads
Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Babar Azam (vc), Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hasnain, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, Wahab Riaz
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
Maratha Arabians Leading player: Virender Sehwag; Top picks: Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim; UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan
Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:
- Former first lady Hillary Clinton
- Former US president Barack Obama
- Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
- Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
- California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
if you go
The flights
Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.
The hotel
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Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850
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Events and tours
There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com
For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art.
More information
For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
