Imagine a world where summers are relentlessly hot, droughts are commonplace and coastal cities face rising sea levels. This is not a distant future, but a reality based on recent climate data.
Statistics from Nasa show 2023 was the hottest year on record, with temperatures around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than the 19th-century average.
The world energy consumption curve is trending upwards, and we expect to see more people using more electricity. If, like most experts estimate, the world will need to triple the amount of electricity people consume by 2050, it will need to innovate regarding how to cleanly generate this electricity, and how to move and store it efficiently and affordably.
Building a robust clean energy network will not happen overnight but global gatherings can open opportunities
Today, fossil fuels continue to play a prominent role in the planet’s energy systems, producing more than 60 per cent of global electricity in 2023. With hydrocarbon use contributing to air pollution and climate change, experts see accelerating the energy transition – the shift from carbon to renewables – as a crucial factor to securing a sustainable future.
At last year’s climate summit Cop28 in Dubai, the UAE Consensus was a major breakthrough in which 198 countries agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner”. Additionally, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has called for governments to commit to tripling global renewable capacity by 2030. This mandate was about securing a sustainable and liveable future for generations to come.
According to a report last month in the Global Electricity Review, the impact of tripling renewable energy could almost halve power sector emissions in the next six years, with a 37 per cent reduction in fossil power generation while renewables would help meet the electricity demand growth with a 32 per cent increase, compared to 2022.
Furthermore, an agreement was made at Cop28 with more than 100 governments – including the UAE – signing the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge in line with the IEA’s call for action.
To achieve this goal, it is imperative to recognise that increasing renewable energy capacity will help diversify the energy mix away from fossil fuels. By relying more on renewable sources such as hydrogen, solar, wind, hydro and geothermal, countries can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Additionally, some renewable energy sources are more affordable. According to the IEA, solar power is between 20 to 50 per cent cheaper today than last year, depending on the region.
In 2023, $1.7 trillion was invested in global clean energy, including nuclear, grids and low-emission fuels. The size of these financial funds – the equivalent of Amazon’s market value – can enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imports.
The expansion of renewable energy capacity also opens several job opportunities. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, 40 million jobs could be created by 2050 with more than half (55 per cent) based in Asia, while Europe would account for 14 per cent. Additionally, research shows the demand for qualified energy engineers and wind turbine technicians is expected to continue rising.
The UAE is already embarking on its own journey, having recognised the importance of transitioning to a more sustainable energy system with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 fundamental to tripling the contribution of renewable energy. Over the next six years, the government is set to invest up to Dh200 million, with the target of producing 44 per cent clean energy by 2050.
To help achieve the target, the UAE has implemented various projects and initiatives, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the world’s largest. The development will have a total capacity of 5,000 MW or five million kilowatts, and will reduce carbon emissions by 6.5 million tonnes every year when completed in 2030. This is just one slice of the Dh147 billion earmarked for investment into clean energy sources over the last 15 years.
Hydrogen will be crucial to building a sustainable future. The global hydrogen market is expected to be worth $410 billion by 2030, while an average of $136 billion per year is required across the hydrogen value chain until 2050.
During my time at the National Experts Programme, I had the privilege of being mentored by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Under his guidance, I worked on a phase-by-phase capstone project to develop an integrated approach to the UAE’s hydrogen strategy. It aims to maximise value creation and boost the country’s global positioning in the hydrogen sector by combining all key national players' institutional strengths.
The strategy’s first phase has already been implemented, with key national energy players such as Adnoc, Mubadala and Taqa joining forces to lead the green hydrogen projects at Masdar. Produced through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, green hydrogen can be used for commercial, domestic, mobility or industrial purposes. Furthermore, green hydrogen is also a promising solution for decarbonising hard-to-electrify industry sectors such as marine shipping or aviation, all of which would require cost-effective zero-carbon fuels.
By funding renewable energy initiatives at home and in emerging markets, the UAE can achieve transformative outcomes, fostering economic growth and development, and alleviating energy poverty. It will improve living standards and empower communities while enhancing the UAE's diplomatic and soft power influence on the global stage.
Reflective of this, the UAE has invested almost Dh165.6 billion in renewable energy projects around the world – at a time when the UN Trade and Development World Investment Report revealed that developing nations require $1.7 trillion a year to fund their clean energy sectors. However, only $544 billion worth of foreign investment was secured in 2022.
It is a momentous challenge, but to ensure countries have access to clean energy requires a collective effort from several governments and follow the UAE’s example of financial contribution.
The foundations have already been laid to drive further progress in 2024. September will see the UN General Assembly and Cop29 in Baku in November will provide another opportunity for high-level government ministers and experts to evaluate and develop strategic frameworks to help accelerate the renewable energy transition.
Building a robust clean energy network will not happen overnight but vital global gatherings can open opportunities for more funding and agreements, leading to a greener economy and sustainable future for all.
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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Mobile phone packages comparison
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The biog
Name: Marie Byrne
Nationality: Irish
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption
Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston
Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
The years Ramadan fell in May
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
The five pillars of Islam
The years Ramadan fell in May
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
Honeymoonish
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All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
