The mounting pressure of global climate change is causing governments, investors and companies to rethink their approach to mitigating climate risk.
This is being discussed at Cop26 in Glasgow as governments and energy companies are finding solutions to combat climate change.
It comes as no surprise that the public and private sectors will need to collaborate to increase clean energy adoption and reduce their environmental impact.
The UAE’s ambitious programme of initiatives to take climate action includes substantial investments to increase sources of clean energy. However, providing a reliable accreditation system for tracing the use of clean energy caters to the growing appetite among businesses, industrial players and households alike to contribute to the fight against climate change.
As the first Middle East and North Africa nation to adopt net-zero by 2050, the UAE is aligned with the most progressive global efforts to decarbonise, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit rising temperatures. Collectively, the nation’s efforts have the potential to shrink its carbon footprint by 70 per cent, saving Dh700 billion ($190.5bn) by 2050.
With Abu Dhabi’s largest portfolio of energy and utilities investments, ADQ's portfolio companies are national champions in this effort.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation represents all aspects of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. The Barakah Plant is one of the largest nuclear energy plants globally and is already the largest single source of clean electricity in the UAE and the Arab World. When fully operational, the plant will produce 5.6 gigawatts of carbon-free electricity for more than 60 years.
Additionally, the 2GW Al Dhafra Solar Photovolatic project, which is currently under construction, will have the capacity to power approximately 160,000 households across the UAE. The project is being developed with a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa), and in collaboration with Masdar, France’s EDF Renewables and China’s JinkoPower.
These are just a couple of large-scale, high-impact investments that provide essential infrastructure and help drive economic development for generations to come.
As more entities commit to and progress on sustainability goals, it becomes more essential for them to certify the sources of their renewable and clean energy.
Consequently, there is growing appetite for Clean Energy Certificates (CECs) that allow businesses, industrial players and households to track and certify their renewable and clean energy production from source to consumption.
CECs are issued when one megawatt-hour of electricity is generated and delivered to the national grid from a clean energy source.
Combining these benefits with advanced technology, most notably blockchain, presents a new way forward to ensure that any amount of electricity used has originated from renewable or clean energy sources. The secure and unchanging nature of blockchain can mean transparency, traceability and authenticity for companies procuring energy and trading CECs. The broader properties of distributed ledger technology keep transaction records secure, time-stamped and accessible for relevant energy market stakeholders.
With CECs, companies in industries across the energy, industrial, healthcare, commercial and retail sectors can quickly and clearly present the origins of power consumed, limiting the potential of companies greenwashing their operations ensuring reliable claims about their energy usage.
In addition to CECs’ benefits to the environment, they also promote a liquid market for a tradable commodity. Last month, our portfolio company, Emirates Water and Electricity Company successfully completed Abu Dhabi’s first auction of CECs, following the launch of the regulatory policy for CECs by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy earlier in the year. This was the first time anywhere in the world that CECs for power generated from nuclear energy were available for purchase.
Importantly, CECs will empower Abu Dhabi-based entities to compete globally with counterparts using internationally recognised certificates that confirm their green credentials. This is noteworthy as its applications for industrial companies is widespread – and aligned with the UAE’s commitment to more than double the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP to Dh300bn by 2031.
We have established a solid foundation of generating clean sources of energy and now must work in collaboration with policymakers, regulators, industrial leaders, and technology providers to accelerate the implementation of digital clean energy certificates. A strong collective effort will ease the journey to environmentally sustainable operations, elevating the UAE’s position as a leading green economy.
Hamad Al Hammadi is head of energy and utilities at ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies
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
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
Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA
Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods