A heron searches for breakfast at the Eastern Mangrove area Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Social distancing is conciously adhered to during the tour at Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National
A section of Abu Dhabi coastline in the Western Region. There are about 215 islands and the warm Arabian Gulf waters support a diverse and rich marine environment
A record 876 flamingo chicks hatched at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Wetland Reserve this season. Victor Besa /The National
A record 876 flamingo chicks hatched at Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba Wetland Reserve this season. Victor Besa /The National
The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi, August 2017. The reserve is the second most successful breeding site, where 1,228 Greater Flamingos breed during the winter. Dr Salim Javed of EAD in one of the observation hutches. Antonie Robertson/The National
Flamingos at the Al Wathba Wetlands in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
Baby flamingos at the Al Wathba Wetlands in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
Waterbirds at the Al Wathba wetlands in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
October 5 marks World Habitat Day. Since it was established in 1985 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA), World Habitat Day has been commemorated every year with two main goals. The first is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the fundamental right of all to adequate shelter. The second is to remind the world that we have a collective responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
Globally, a significant part of the planet’s population lives under poor conditions without adequate access to the essentials of life, including clean water, electricity, sanitation and medical facilities.
Nearly a quarter of the global population lives in sub-par housing, including slums. The world needs housing for an estimated 3 billion more people by 2030 to accommodate rapidly growing cities.
Providing decent housing, especially for marginalised sections of our society, is an integral part of the 11th UN Sustainable Development Goal, which concerns ensuring sustainable cities and communities by 2030. The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day – “Housing for All: A better Urban Future” – encapsulates an idea that is also fundamental to achieving other SDGs, including the elimination of poverty and ensuring health and wellbeing. Part of this involves promoting affordable housing. Affordability, it is important to note, doesn’t just mean making it easier to purchase a home, but also to sustain and maintain it.
Housing for all is a wonderful mission. The UN and other institutions working tirelessly to realise it must be applauded for this ambitious project. However, the world must focus on more than just providing decent housing to those who are deprived of it at the moment.
Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi, September 23. Victor Besa/The National
We must ensure that we get the infrastructure in place to integrate sustainability into every aspect of housing for everyone. This means putting more effort into sourcing, how we choose materials and the development of green spaces. It also means paying attention to how we use and recycle water and energy. This is a huge task for governments, NGOs and donor agencies, as well as individuals.
Housing also goes a long way in nation building. It not only provides families with a roof over their heads, but more importantly a place where they can bond, interact and educate to their children. These are the fundamentals of building nations with stable and safe societies.
In the UAE, fortunately, access to housing is not a major issue. The government’s desire to attain world-class infrastructure under its “Vision 2021” initiative has propelled significant spending in housing, health care, telecommunications, transportation and other forms of infrastructure.
Last year, the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report ranked 12th globally in the area of infrastructure development. Infrastructure development includes residential land and housing, roads, bridges and other support services. The fact that the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is one of the federal bodies tasked with developing the country’s infrastructure highlights the importance the government places on environment and environmental sustainability.
This February, I had the opportunity to speak at the 10th World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. The emirate has been at the forefront of urban development and sustainability, with environment at the heart of such development. Its population has grown substantially, from nearly 500,000 in 1980 to almost 3.5 million in 2020. Scaling up the emirate’s infrastructure in line with this increase while meeting our commitments to the environment is challenging. But it is the chief mission of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, which I run.
Abu Dhabi goes to significant effort to connect the emirate's residents with their natural surroundings
We work very closely with the Department of Municipalities and Transport to develop urban and rural codes. By integrating them into master planning, as well as in the permitting processes to ensure better land-use planning, these codes ensure our natural heritage is protected.
As Abu Dhabi’s environment regulator, we also play an important role in regulating water and waste, as well as air and marine water quality. All of these are essential in reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of the emirate’s cities. EAD also plays a big role in helping DMT with Estidama – Abu Dhabi’s green building rating system.
Moreover, we have worked closely with the Department of Energy to roll out the “Tarsheed” programme, which helps to manage water and energy demand in the emirate’s existing stock of buildings. The programme aims to cut water and energy use by 20 per cent by 2030.
Park rangers taking the temperature of a San Cristobal island giant tortoise before been released, in Galapagos, Ecuador on September 28. Handout picture by Galapagos National Park / AFP
A group of park rangers release a San Cristobal island giant tortoise, in Galapagos, Ecuador on September 28, 2020. A group of 36 giant tortoises of an endangered species and born in captivity was repatriated to their habitat on San Cristobal Island, one of the main islands of the Ecuadorian archipelago of Galapagos. Handout picture by Galapagos National Park / AFP
A San Cristobal island giant tortoise before been released, in Galapagos, Ecuador on September 28. Handout picture by Galapagos National Park / AFP
San Cristobal island giant tortoises before been released, in Galapagos, Ecuador on September 28. Handout picture by Galapagos National Park / AFP
A hammerhead shark swims at Galapagos Marine Reserve, Ecuador, on August 19, 2013. Jorge Silva/ Reuters
Abu Dhabi takes pride in the emirate’s traditions and ensuring that cultural heritage, from falconry to camel racing and pearling, is preserved. In fact, EAD played a key role in falconry being recognised as “intangible cultural heritage” by Unesco in 2010.
The emirate also goes to significant effort to connect its residents with nature. Valuable spaces such as the Zayed Network of 19 terrestrial and marine protected areas, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Bul Syayeef, Mangrove National Park and Saadiyat National Park are all in line with the SDGs’ commitment to providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces by 2030.
Our mangroves, salt marshes, and tidal mud flats persevered within these protected areas provide important habitats to resident and migratory species. They are also vital in provisioning ecosystem services, providing defence against storms and diseases and mitigating climate change.
The importance of the environment and the delicate balance between environment, society and economy has been brought to the fore by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a matter of urgency that while we continue to build cities, we also make adequate provisions for nature.
If housing for 3 billion more people is to be provided effectively, nature must be at the very heart of the process. It is only then that we will have achieved the goal of creating sustainable cities and safer, more inclusive societies.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri is secretary-general of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
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
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
All matches in Bulawayo Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
