Welcome to my first edition of The Climate Edit after taking over from Rachel Kelly, who provided such interesting coverage of issues related to the climate and the environment for The National.
The big piece of climate news over the past week has been the delaying of plans to approve a global deal to regulate emissions from shipping.
Whether we realise it or not, shipping is intrinsic to all of our lives. Most of us probably travel by plane more often than by boat, but shipping is used to bring in much of the food and the consumer goods that we rely on.
Indeed, one popular book on the shipping industry is called Ninety Percent of Everything in recognition of the reality that so many of the things that we buy have travelled by sea.
But as well as being a critical part of modern life – and an important industry in the UAE and across the Gulf region – shipping is a major contributor to climate change, accounting for around three per cent of global emissions.
Last week in London, the adoption of the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework, designed to bring in a carbon pricing system that would help the sector reach net zero by 2050,was put back by at least a year after Saudi Arabia tabled a motion in favour of a delay.
Another country pushing back was the US, which has argued that the standards will drive up costs for consumers.
UAE officials have previously highlighted their climate-related shipping initiatives, with Abu Dhabi Ports having talked of electrifying operations and using alternative fuels and renewable energy.
Whatever individual countries may or may not be doing, forging worldwide agreements on climate change is much more difficult, as events in London have highlighted.
That’s before you consider the enforcement of such deals once they’re given the green light, as the struggles to enact the Paris Agreement and to keep global temperature rises to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels demonstrate.
A new study has suggested what the perfectly constructed home for net-zero in the UAE would look like. Photo: Dr Tareq Abuimara
When compared to global averages, countries in the Gulf typically have high per capita carbon emissions, and a key reason is that the region’s hot climate leads to heavy energy use for air conditioning.
However, researchers have been looking at whether it is possible to create a villa that would actually contribute as much power to the national grid in the UAE as it takes.
Could traditional Emirati design features that promote airflow, coupled with the latest solar power panels and other innovations, craft homes that are net zero in their energy use?
A morning walk in the smog near the India Gate monument the day after the Diwali festival in New Delhi, India. AP
Residents of New Delhi often have to cope with high levels of pollution, but smog brought about by fireworks let off to celebrate Diwali earlier this week is acute even by the standards of the city.
The air quality index has spiked to “severe” levels and visibility has fallen dramatically, with reports indicating that the city has experienced some of the worst post-Diwali pollution levels for several years.
Rules to stop the use of the dirtiest fireworks are reported to be widely flouted and the Indian capital is a long way off from bringing in the stricter controls on vehicle and other emissions that environmentalists say are needed to clean up the city’s air year-round.
Pollutants released by ships cause around 250,000 deaths a year, researchers have found, with particulate matter and toxic gases to blame.
As well as causing deaths, shipping emissions are said to be responsible for six million cases of childhood asthma each year, the same study found.
Jargon buster
Carbon pricing A system that requires companies to pay for the emissions that they are responsible for. This aims to ensure that firms are liable for what are termed the negative externalities – the harmful impacts that affect others – of their activities, which traditional financial systems do not account for.
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE) Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
Park in shaded or covered areas
Add tint to windows
Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
