Efforts to boost energy efficiency have picked up pace this year across the globe as governments and consumers responded to elevated energy prices and fuel supply disruption, but they fell short of the required level needed to meet climate change targets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.
Global investment in energy efficiency — such as building renovations, public transport and electric car infrastructure — rose to $560 billion in 2022, a 16 per cent rise on an annual basis, according to the IEA’s latest market report.
"The oil shocks of the 1970s led to a massive push by governments on energy efficiency, resulting in substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of cars, appliances and buildings,” said Fatih Birol, IEA's executive director.
“Amid today’s energy crisis, we are seeing signs that energy efficiency is once again being prioritised," he said. "Energy efficiency is essential for dealing with today’s crisis, with its huge potential to help tackle the challenges of energy affordability, energy security and climate change.”
The global energy crisis, made worse by Russia’s war in the Ukraine, has trigged concerns over energy security and the inflationary effect of elevated energy prices on economies and livelihoods around the world.
Preliminary data by the IEA indicates that this year the global economy has used energy 2 per cent more efficiently than it did in 2021, a rate of improvement almost four times that of the past two years and almost double the rate of the past five.
However, this falls below the energy efficiency rates needed to meet climate change goals.
Efficiency improvements need to average about 4 per cent a year this decade to align with the IEA's scenario for net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Paris-based agency has called on governments to prioritise efforts to improve energy efficiency in buildings and transport, as goals to reduce carbon emissions and curb rising temperatures cannot be met by focusing only on investment in renewable energy.
There are encouraging signs of progress, the IEA said.
The electrification of transport and heating has picked up pace, with one in every eight cars sold globally now electric, and almost 3 million heat pumps sold this year in Europe alone — up from 1.5 million in 2019 — as they become an increasingly cost-effective heating source, according to the agency.
Existing building codes are also being strengthened and new rules are being introduced in emerging and developing economies, while a rising wave of energy-saving awareness campaigns is helping millions of citizens better manage their use of domestic power, it said.
All governments in South-east Asia, for example, are now developing policies for efficient cooling, vital for a region with one of the fastest rates of growth in electricity demand, it added.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
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