Governments should avoid jettisoning efforts to cut carbon emissions as they restart their economies in the aftermath of coronavirus, a senior UAE minister has said.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, warned recent improvements to air quality could be lost to a haze of “revenge pollution” as industries returned to normal operations.
In a research paper published online, he argued that the Covid-19 pandemic should act as “a wake-up call” for “greater global collective action”.
The study also stressed the threat of climate change and biodiversity loss was all too real, with consequences potentially far more “devastating" than the virus.
“The change in human behaviour, supply chains and transport due to Covid-19 lockdowns has already resulted in positive effects on the climate,” the authors wrote.
“Companies transformed everyday operations by allowing employees to work from home, including giant international companies like Twitter, Google and Facebook, as well as major organisations in the Middle East like Majid Al Futtaim.
If governments decide to go back to the status quo after the end of the outbreak, and ignore the risks of climate change, transition to cleaner energy will slow down.
“If governments decide to go back to the status quo after the end of the outbreak, and ignore the risks of climate change, transition to cleaner energy will slow down.”
The new paper, called A New Baseline for Greater Collective Action: The Impact of Covid-19 on our Environment and Climate Change, was published on May 10.
It was co-authored by Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, chief sustainability officer at Majid Al Futtaim Holding, an Emirati multi-national that owns shopping malls and hotels.
The study cited World Health Organisation figures indicating that air pollution killed seven million people a year globally, many times more than the number of Covid-19 deaths.
Researchers warned climate change had the same “negative effect on human beings” as the pandemic, but that its implications were “harsher” and “possibly irreversible”, with hundreds of millions of people already affected.
They urged governments to ensure the benefits of recent reduced carbon emissions were not lost in the months ahead, and compared today’s scenario with a Chinese stimulus package designed to tackle the 2009 financial crisis that resulted in a spike in pollution.
Instead, the paper said, supply chains disrupted by the pandemic should be redesigned to increase “onshoring” or bringing business operations abroad back into the home country, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
“As governments are designing stimulus packages to tackle the economic downturn due to Covid-19, we should advocate for these to be green packages,” the researchers wrote.
Other recent studies have also concluded governments must focus on continuing to build a low-carbon future post Covid-19.
Dr Ajay Gambhir, of The Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London, co-authored a briefing paper for the UK government which encouraged a “net-zero emissions economic recovery” following the outbreak.
Initiatives should, he said, include investments in renewable energy. He also discussed energy storage strategies, the adoption of electric vehicles and programmes to help reduce commuting, which creates pollution.
“Clearly politicians are going to want to get economic activity going as quickly as possible,” said Dr Gambhir.
“There's a danger from an environmental perspective that they might be tempted in various parts of the world to support industries that are saying, 'We need to get up and running, don't worry about sustainability or climate change.'
“The key is that politicians and governments need to put their money where their mouth is and make this recovery as sustainable as possible.
“[Investments should be in] things like connectivity infrastructure, making sure people can get fast and reliable broadband so they can work from home more.”
A recent report on air pollution in China has already indicated that the country has bounced back from pollution lows recorded during its Covid-19 lockdown.
Government figures confirmed a significant spike in April, with monthly levels exceeding those recorded during the same period last year.
Experts from the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) warned the data suggested the beginning of a “dirty” economic rebound from the crisis, a strategy that ignores environmental concerns.
“Polls have shown people are still concerned about climate change,” said Asher Minns, executive director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia in Norwich in the United Kingdom.
"Economic growth is going to be a high priority following the Covid-19 and lessons can be learned from the 2008 financial crisis.
"Rather than, 'Here's a lot of money, give it out at low interest rates,' we should include stimulus packages for energy storage, clean industry and transport, and even greenhouse gas removal."
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The line up
Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego
Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh
Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The five pillars of Islam
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
