At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, photos across the world of empty supermarket shelves were an early sign of the crisis ahead. As food and many commodity prices soar around the world, a trend that began even before the pandemic, such scenes may become more common in the future.
The rush to return to normal is testing supply chains globally. One product in short supply is carbon dioxide, crucial in the food and drink industry. Depleting reserves would strain production severely for manufacturers in sectors from poultry to baking.
In Britain, the situation is so serious that the government is planning for a "Black Swan event", an unexpected, severe disruption. The UK's food infrastructure is an early victim of the shortage of carbon dioxide because of other issues in the supply chain, notably a shortage of lorry drivers as a result of Brexit.
But rising natural gas prices are at the heart of the issue, and when one stage of a supply chain goes awry, the knock-on effects compound. Natural gas is a key ingredient in making ammonia, an important ingredient in fertiliser manufacturing, which is vital for crop supplies. Producing fertiliser creates carbon dioxide.
Natural gas prices were climbing even before the pandemic. Environmental targets to reduce carbon levels and get rising global temperatures under control have led to the decreasing favour in some countries of traditional means of generating power, such as coal. This increases demand for cleaner sources, such as natural gas and renewable energy. The latter are still in early stages of development and capacity is limited, pushing up the price of more reliable natural gas.
If the situation continues, the case for a return to traditional, more polluting methods will be harder to resist. Some commentators in the UK are already lamenting the decision to decommission coal power stations, particularly given the country has vast natural reserves. This year, China is planning to build 43 new coal-fired stations, although the country's President Xi Jinping has said that the country plans to reduce its use of coal starting 2026.
Last week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that climate disruption is already worse than previous assessments, after a key report, United in Science 2021, revealed that the international community is "nowhere close" to meeting carbon targets set in the Paris Agreement.
The flip side of this complex chain of factors is plenty of opportunity for innovation. One came last week. BP, Masdar and Adnoc have announced they will develop low carbon hydrogen hubs, as well as decarbonised air travel corridors between the two countries. Sustainable fuel is key if the aviation sector is to support the transition to a low carbon economy. Increased hydrogen production capacity in the UK and the UAE also presents a solution to supply chain issues and helps relieve any pressure to revert back to fossil fuels. This is happening on a wider scale. The Hydrogen Council's 92 global energy, transport, industry and investment companies are working towards a common goal of developing hydrogen for real-world use.
If we are to accelerate our climate change action without causing disruption to vital trade and industry, this is the path governments and businesses will have to take. Innovation - along with co-operation and understanding - will feed and rescue our planet.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000Â cleaning requests a month
Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.Â
SUZUME
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FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
