Sharjah International Airport became the only carbon-neutral airport in the Gulf.
The northern emirate hub achieved "Level 3+ Neutrality" accreditation, which is when net carbon dioxide emissions over a full year are zero, from the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, it said in a statement on Sunday. The programme is backed by the Airports Council International (ACI).
"Sharjah Airport's attainment of the highest level of carbon neutrality reflects the efforts made by the airport in the field of environmental practices," Ali Salim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said. "The airport has adopted many green initiatives and programmes, in line with the commitment of the UAE towards reducing carbon emissions."
The number of accredited airports around the world surpassed the 300 mark during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, which was first launched in 2009. The global total now stands at 312.
"Underpinning the sustainability ambitions of the airport sector, during the height of the Covid-19 crisis a number of airports joined Airport Carbon Accreditation for the first time, and several more progressed further through the accreditation levels," it said in a July 29 statement.
The airport industry's work towards sustainability goals comes as the coronavirus crisis severely affects the global aviation industry. A recovery to 2019 passenger traffic levels is unlikely before 2024, according to industry bodies and analysts.
Airports that have joined the accreditation programme for the first time since the pandemic was declared in March include South Africa's Bram Fischer International Airport, Nigeria's Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport and Mexico's Queretaro Airport.
Airports that have been upgraded since the pandemic include Tunisia's Enfidha-Hammamet Airport, China's Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Sharjah International Airport.
"Sharjah Airport has joined the highest rank of the global carbon management programme for airports," the ACA programme said in a separate statement. "At level 3+ 'Neutrality', the airport has reduced emissions from sources under its control to a maximum and compensated for residual emissions with the purchase of responsible carbon credits."
Sharjah Airport's accreditation brought the total number of carbon-neutral airports in the ACI's Asia-Pacific region to seven hubs, it said.
Sharjah Airport has implemented various environmental and sustainability projects, including energy conservation initiatives and clean energy projects. It also monitored electricity and water consumption in the airport and introduced an integrated waste management system targeted at sending zero waste to landfill.
“By reaching carbon-neutral status, the highest status currently, in the internationally-recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, Sharjah Airport is firmly positioning itself as an environmental leader in the region and beyond,” Stefano Baronci, director general of ACI Asia-Pacific, said.
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Uefa Champions League last 16 draw
Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur
Basel v Manchester City
Sevilla v Manchester United
Porto v Liverpool
Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain
Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma
Chelsea v Barcelona
Bayern Munich v Besiktas
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: SimpliFi
Started: August 2021
Founder: Ali Sattar
Based: UAE
Industry: Finance, technology
Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren
Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies
Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan
Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India
Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prestigious peace prize, held its final meeting on Monday, the Nobel Institute said on Thursday, a day ahead of the announcement of the 2025 laureate.
This means a decision was made about the laureate or laureates before the conclusion of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
President Donald Trump pushed for the ceasefire as part of a 20-point plan to resolve the Gaza war.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
