As world leaders prepare for the climate summit Cop26 in Glasgow next month, there is an impetus for countries to act now to avoid a climate catastrophe. The race for countries and the global business community towards net zero is on, for the health of the planet as well as for the sake of future generations.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability, the UAE aims to deliver one of the most sustainable world fairs ever. Expo 2020 Dubai demonstrates how concern for the environment and the climate is at the centre of plans undertaken by the Emirates. For instance, at least half of the energy power of the Expo 2020 Dubai's site will be derived from renewable energy sources and water for irrigation, cooling and waste is to be recycled water.
These are just a few of the measures being carried out, contributing to the UAE's vision of what can be achieved through clean technologies.
Expo 2020 Dubai exemplifies the changes required to move towards a more sustainable future. With the global spotlight on the UAE, the expo can inspire better choices that would reduce the carbon footprint. It is also an opportunity to showcase real-life solutions. Combined with policy changes, such innovation will drive businesses and governments to be more responsible with resources.
As the world aims for net zero emissions, the transition to low carbon has become a defining force for business. For Irish companies, this means opportunities to compete and grow. But it also creates the need to comply with regulations and the demands of investors and customers for credible sustainability impact and reporting.
It is important that these disclosures are clear and accessible so that lay people can know the overall carbon footprint of a company and the responsible environmental actions these companies are taking in doing business.
Ireland is a fast-growing hub of innovation in the cleantech industry, with a large number of start-ups, small and medium enterprises and large companies that are helping countries become more energy efficient. This is done in a number of ways. These companies solve complex technical challenges, deliver sustainable and low carbon solutions to make renewable energy viable, reduce energy waste in our cities with smart technology, reduce agricultural waste and make construction cleaner.
Ireland and the UAE share an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy tremendous co-operation across sectors
The aim is to solve challenges and co-operate so the right solution is available at the right time. By acting together, we are stronger in what we can achieve. Our future, it is clear, will be built on greater collaboration.
The governments of Ireland and the UAE share an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy tremendous co-operation across sectors. One example of this is the partnership with the Road and Transport Authority in Dubai. Through an agreement between the RTA and Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s agency for trade and innovation, we aim to collaborate on several projects in the future rooted in sustainability, as well as sharing best practices from across the public and private sectors.
Ireland is already helping to realise the many goals of the government of Dubai. Irish innovation in the sustainability sector, such as the solar expertise of the Amarenco Group, will contribute to achieving the targets laid out in the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, an agenda which aims to increase the contribution of clean energy to UAE's total energy mix, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050.
By linking sustainability with business opportunity, we can drive substantial progress now for greener, more sustainable practices. We see this through the rise in ESG – environmental, social, and governance – green investment bonds, the ramping up of investments into alternative energy and cleantech.
With the global clean energy technologies market size and revenue share at an estimated $284 billion, it is expected to expand to over $420 billion by 2026. Recognising the business potential for those operating in these sectors is critical. Doing so will enable the green transition to occur.
Over the next six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, several planned visits to the UAE by Irish companies and ministers from the Irish government will forge even greater collaboration between the two nations. As we reconnect in person after the pandemic, there will be opportunities to meet with local partners in the UAE and introduce them to Irish companies and demonstrate Ireland’s heritage of ingenuity, imagination and innovation.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
Elvis
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Key findings
- Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
- Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase.
- People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”.
- Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better.
- But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
