BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, will invest up to $400 million in Dubai-based decarbonisation company Positive Zero through a diversified infrastructure fund.
The investment will support Positive Zero’s goal to grow sustainable energy adoption across the GCC, in line with efforts to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming, the company said on Monday.
The company was set up by Creek Capital last year through a merger of solar company SirajPower, energy efficiency services business Taka Solutions and on-demand battery company HYPR Energy.
“This investment not only endorses the region's potential and our innovative business model but also aligns with our mutual aspiration to cultivate a new era in the energy economy,” said Mohammed Hussain, co-founder and chairman of Positive Zero.
“We are set on a journey to achieve the ambitious Cop28 targets of tripling renewables and doubling efficiency by 2030.”
At the UN climate summit that ended last week, countries agreed to work together to triple the world’s current renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, considering different starting points and national circumstances.
They will also aim to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to 4 per cent, from 2 per cent currently, amid efforts to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the key Paris Agreement goal.
“We are very excited about our investment in Positive Zero on behalf of our clients,” said Ed Winter, BlackRock's Asia Pacific and Middle East head for diversified infrastructure.
“Positive Zero is well-positioned to capitalise on tailwinds driven by ambitious economic growth and energy transition objectives set by the UAE and other countries in the GCC region.”
BlackRock is among the institutional investors backing the UAE’s $30 billion climate fund called Alterra, which aims to raise $250 billion globally in the next six years.
“Decarbonisation and decentralisation are two key structural trends that we believe presents significant investment opportunities,” Mr Winter said.
By 2030, emerging markets and developing economies will require $2.4 trillion every year to address climate change, according to the Climate Policy Initiative.
Meanwhile, Deloitte has said investment of $5 trillion to $7 trillion a year is needed until 2050 in the energy sector to drive the transition but less than $2 trillion is currently spent each year.
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
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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
