An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is filled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) during a demonstration flight earlier this year. Reuters
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is filled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) during a demonstration flight earlier this year. Reuters
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is filled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) during a demonstration flight earlier this year. Reuters
An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER is filled with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) during a demonstration flight earlier this year. Reuters

Collective action needed now to decarbonise aviation sector, says UN agency


  • English
  • Arabic

The chief of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) called for urgently accelerating the development and deployment of sustainable lower-carbon clean fuels needed for the global aviation sector to reach its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The ICAO's third Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels (CAAF/3), taking place in Dubai this week, has a “massive task at hand” as officials deliberate on the global framework for the aviation industry's cleaner energy transition, Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the ICAO council, said during a keynote speech on Monday.

“We need to take collective action now and CAAF/3 can be instrumental to laying the building blocks in terms of policy and planning, regulatory framework adjustments, implementation support and financing,” he said.

“We have a great opportunity to show and communicate to the world with concrete and evident steps that aviation is seriously and strongly committed to decarbonise by 2050.”

In October last year, the Montreal-based ICAO's 193 member-states agreed to a long-term aspirational goal for net-zero aviation emissions by 2050, amid pressure to curb air pollution.

“It has only been a year since the decision was taken, but we can already see the transformative progress from this global sector in its transition to a cleaner energy future,” Mr Sciacchitano said.

The conference this week aims to reach an agreement on the steps needed to develop and roll out clean fuels for the aviation sector.

The idea is to advance an ICAO global framework for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), lower-carbon aviation fuels and other clean energy for adoption at the conference.

“We are looking forward to having a global framework by the end of this event that could shape the future of alternative aviation fuels,” Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, told The National.

Challenges facing some countries include financing and technical know-how.

“Now the issue is how to find common ground to make everyone happy and that would be a challenge because they have different capabilities and resources,” Mr Al Suwaidi said.

“For us as a host country, we're trying to facilitate reaching a conclusion during this conference but we don't have any control over the outcome.”

The UAE is taking a “rational approach” as it seeks to balance between the important economic contribution of aviation on one hand and protecting the environment on the other, he said.

Mr Sciacchitano urged conference participants to “recognise our different views and positions” and “to do so in the spirit of co-operation, goodwill and consensus-building”.

The third ICAO Conference on Aviation Alternative Fuels is being held in the UAE days before the country prepares to host the Cop28 UN summit on climate change.

The global aviation industry is grappling with pressure to urgently reduce its carbon emissions as passenger traffic moves closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Airlines are intensifying efforts to find adequate quantities of greener fuels that are economically viable, given the industry's thin profit margins.

Reducing aviation pollution is crucial for climate change efforts as the industry generates roughly 2 per cent of global emissions.

With advanced technologies like electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft years away from becoming a reality, SAF is widely considered to be critical for the industry to achieve its climate goals. However, the alternative fuel remains in short supply and is very costly.

Abdulla bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy, said the ICAO conference will 'constitute a turning point' in the future of the aviation and travel industry. Pawan Singh / The National
Abdulla bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy, said the ICAO conference will 'constitute a turning point' in the future of the aviation and travel industry. Pawan Singh / The National

The ICAO conference will “constitute a turning point” in the future of the aviation and travel industry, Abdulla bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy, said at the event.

The conference “will move us to a new stage in the production of aviation fuel, which is more sustainable and low in emissions, contributing significantly to achieving climate neutrality and achieving what we have committed to in the decision … of net zero by 2050,” Mr Bin Touq said.

“We look forward to emerging from this edition of the conference with a clearer path to support the transition towards a green system for aviation fuel production that serves the continued growth of this vital and important sector globally.”

Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, said in a recorded speech that aviation is a hard-to-abate sector but “with innovation and investment, everything can be achieved”.

“A zero-emissions sector means adopting clean energy sources on a global scale. It means economic policies and regulations that can support the just and equitable transition while attracting investors. And it means measures such as carbon pricing, low carbon fuel standards and subsidies for SAF,” he said.

Reaching a global framework on alternative fuels during this conference would be a “critical step towards a clean and prosperous future” for the aviation sector.

“Moving at jet speed, you can speed up the clean energy revolution our world needs. With the Cop28 meeting around the corner, now is the time to turn ambition into concrete action,” he said.

Globally, many countries are taking steps to support the sector's efforts to reduce emissions.

The UAE has created a SAF Road Map to accelerate the decarbonisation of the country's aviation sector and transform it into a regional hub for low-carbon aviation fuels.

It set a target of 700 million litres of SAF production on an annual basis by 2030, which will lead to an estimated reduction of 4.8 million tonnes of CO2.

Aviation is central to the UAE's economy, contributing about 13 per cent to the country's gross domestic product.

Airlines and oil majors in the UAE are taking proactive measures to support the industry's shift to greener operations.

Adnoc, BP, and Masdar plan to develop clean hydrogen and technology hubs to explore SAF production from municipal waste and green hydrogen.

Emirates has allocated $200 million to fund research and development projects focused on advanced fuel technology that can reduce the environmental effects of commercial aviation.

Earlier this month, Shell Aviation supplied more than 300,000 gallons of blended SAF to Emirates at Dubai International Airport.

Etihad and UK-based green aerospace company Satavia have signed a multiyear commercial agreement for contrail management and carbon credits within day-to-day operations.

Aircraft contrails, and vapour trails produced by the exhaust from jet engines, heighten the effect of global warming. Contrails cause up to 60 per cent of aviation’s total climate effects, the equivalent to 2 per cent of all human impact.

Masdar and Airbus have also signed an initial pact to develop sustainable aviation fuels, green hydrogen and direct air capture technology.

De De Pyaar De

Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Essentials

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.

The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEjari%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYazeed%20Al%20Shamsi%2C%20Fahad%20Albedah%2C%20Mohammed%20Alkhelewy%20and%20Khalid%20Almunif%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%241%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESanabil%20500%20Mena%2C%20Hambro%20Perks'%20Oryx%20Fund%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

The biog

First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974  
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work

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

Simran

Director Hansal Mehta

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey

Three stars

Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lewis Hamilton in 2018

Australia 2nd; Bahrain 3rd; China 4th; Azerbaijan 1st; Spain 1st; Monaco 3rd; Canada 5th; France 1st; Austria DNF; Britain 2nd; Germany 1st; Hungary 1st; Belgium 2nd; Italy 1st; Singapore 1st; Russia 1st; Japan 1st; United States 3rd; Mexico 4th

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Rain Management

Year started: 2017

Based: Bahrain

Employees: 100-120

Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
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
Price: From Dh801,800
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

Pots for the Asian Qualifiers

Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure' ​​​​
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

Biography

Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad

Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym

Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army

Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's

ZIMBABWE V UAE, ODI SERIES

All matches at the Harare Sports Club:

1st ODI, Wednesday - Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets

2nd ODI, Friday, April 12

3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14

4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Updated: November 22, 2023, 6:13 AM`