Ibrahim Al Zubi is group chief sustainability and ESG officer at Adnoc Group
November 30, 2021
After two weeks of negotiations, debates, announcements and promises, Cop26 came to an end with a new deal to address climate change. The Glasgow Climate Pact became the first deal to include a pledge on reducing coal, which is the single-biggest contributor to climate change. The final draft also commits the 197 countries, which signed the Paris Agreement in 2015, to phase out inefficient fuel subsidies.After attending this historic event, I headed back to the UAE with five key takeaways that would give us a clear idea of the task at hand ahead of Cop27, to be held in Egypt next year.
First, more needs to be done. The Paris Agreement has set the target for all signatories to keep average global temperature change below 2°C and as close as possible to 1.5°C. Experts at the summit estimate that we are now on a path to between 1.8°C and 2.4°C of warming. Countries agreed that they will meet next year to pledge further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. This puts for pressure on Cop27.
Second, ensuring that nations are making progress in their targets needs more transparency in reporting. The technical negotiations on the Paris Agreement Rulebook, which fixes the transparency and reporting requirements for all parties to track progress against their emission reduction targets, have been finalised. Transparency goes beyond reporting to also include starting an open and honest dialogue between all relevant parties such local communities, businesses and government leaders.
Third, global co-operation can make or break the success of the Paris Agreement. The world is more interconnected and complex than ever before. There are no geographical borders for climate change, and it is unrealistic to think that the actions of one country, or even a few, can solve this global challenge. Coming together at Cop26 gave us a tiny glimpse of hope to greater international co-operation. An unexpected US-China declaration, at Cop26, was described as a substantial move; both countries agreed to co-operate on methane emissions, the transition to clean energy and decarbonisation. While governments need to work together to combat climate change, cross-sector co-operation is also imperative.
Cop26 President Alok Sharma during the summit in Glasgow earlier in the month. AP Photo
Fourth, rich countries need to chip in and support other countries. Developing countries suffer the greatest from the devastating impact of climate change, yet they contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions. More investments and financial support are needed to increase the resilience of these countries in various sectors from green infrastructure, agriculture, to education. Some developed countries have resisted taking responsibility for the damages that poor countries are facing and vetoed the creation of a new Glasgow Loss and Damage Facility to support these countries. Developing countries deserve more than empty promises; the $100 billion pledge that was made by rich countries during the Paris Agreement has never been fulfilled. The Glasgow Climate Pact includes a new pledge to double the support towards helping poorer countries by 2025 and encourage technology transfer and capacity building.
Fifth, the role of youth and the private sector is key. A just transition to a net-zero future needs to include all stakeholders starting with youth who are our future. The private sector will need to transform its role to shape innovative and sustainable solutions to build nations’ resilience. It will also need to adapt to more sustainable practices within its organisations, which could range from internal communications, transportation, infrastructure to supply chains.
As we look to Cop27, as well as Cop28 in the UAE in 2023, major carbon emitters need to make concrete steps towards more ambitious goals. This global platform should also ensure that indigenous communities, youth, women and the most vulnerable countries are heard and represented. Most importantly, all nations need to acknowledge that we are all in the same boat; a hole at one end will sink us all.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Australia World Cup squad
Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
