Political and economic leaders will have to invest in carbon capture and storage if the technology is to help in significantly reducing greenhouse gases.
This was one of several themes at a meeting of international experts in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss methods of the technique, also known as CCS.
The talks focused on technology that can collect the emissions from burning fossil fuels and store them deep underground in geological formations.
Dr Wolf Heidug, a senior analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) and one of the speakers at the conference, said such technology had a role to play in reducing greenhouse emissions but that it was more important for some countries than others.
“We see that CCS has a potential role to play in actually mitigating carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere,” Dr Heidug said. “It is not the only option that can be used to abate carbon dioxide emissions but it has a role in the portfolio of other options.”
The technology is of particular interest to countries that rely significantly on coal, oil and gas to produce energy, he said.
“For some countries it makes a lot of sense, for other countries it may make less sense. The trick is to find out where it could be applied and also incorporate it into the energy policy of a country,” Dr Heidug said.
As an oil producer, the UAE has repeatedly shown an interest in the technology, supporting the inclusion of CCS projects in the Clean Development Mechanism, a United Nations scheme to find projects that reduce emissions in developing countries.
The green energy company Masdar and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have also announced plans for a project in Abu Dhabi, collecting and burying emissions from the Emirates Steel complex at Mussaffah.
The discussions coincided with an announcement by the World Meteorological Organisation that at 393.1 parts per million (ppm), carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere had reached a record high last year.
The atmospheric increase from 2011 to last year was higher than the average growth rate over the past decade, the organisation said.
To avoid catastrophic changes to the climate, politicians are negotiating a global treaty aiming to curb emissions at 450ppm.
While the UAE is firmly behind CCS, in other countries, particularly in Europe, some environmentalists question the technology.
Dr John Gale, general manager of the IEA greenhouse gas research and development programme, said carbon capture projects in Norway and the United States had been run without any known harmful effects.
But Dr Gale he said more study was needed into how much carbon could be stored underground and where.
“In a sense, we have the capturing technology, we know how to transport carbon dioxide. We do not really know globally where we are supposed to put it.”
Another challenge is the high cost of implementing CCS projects. Dr Gale said “a realistic market price” for carbon emissions was required.
Efforts are being made in several parts of the world to create such a price, including in the European Union where large emitters have to pay if they go above certain quotas.
But the recent prices of €3.8 (Dh18.73) a tonne are too low, according to Mr Gale.
Dr Mohammad Abu Zahra, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Masdar Institute, said: “If we want to deploy the carbon dioxide capture technology in the near future, that is feasible because the technology is known. People are running it in different applications.
“The only obstacle, really, is to have a major political and financial decision to invest in this technology. There is a future for it but it requires some push.
“That is happening but it is in my opinion slower than it should be,” he said, referring to the deployment of the technology around the world.
The meeting was organised by the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
vtodorova@thenational.ae
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
World Cup League Two
Results
Oman beat Nepal by 18 runs
Oman beat United States by six wickets
Nepal beat United States by 35 runs
Oman beat Nepal by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Oman v United States
Wednesday, Nepal v United States
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
THE%20SWIMMERS
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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)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
