The UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research to deepen its understanding of climate change. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research to deepen its understanding of climate change. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research to deepen its understanding of climate change. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research to deepen its understanding of climate change. Chris Whiteoak / The National


We are equipped to face the climate challenge thanks to our commitment to science


Amna Al Dahak
Amna Al Dahak
  • English
  • Arabic

September 30, 2024

I was drawn to study science because it represented a way of decoding and making sense of the world. It has always been about discovering the underlying reasons behind things.

Our cars, our homes, and our smartphones owe a debt to science. The energy that powers every aspect of our modern world, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat. All of these were developed and improved through, and because of, the contribution of science and scientists.

In fact, one of the aspects about my job as a scientist that I loved the most was that I spent my time expanding the bounds of human knowledge. But importantly, I have always thought of science as a verb, not a noun. It is something you do, not something you know. It is practical. One can improve the lives of people around the world through science.

That ethos is one I have sought to put at the heart of my leadership of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. At the ministry, we deliberately draw on scientific data to inform our national climate strategies. Collaboration with scientists has led to strategies and policies that not only align with the Paris Agreement but are unique to our country’s specific environmental opportunities, strengths and vulnerabilities. Our Nationally Determined Contribution and Net Zero 2050 Strategy, for example, are policies rooted in data and analysis.

Culturally, armed with evidence, information and expertise, I want our team to become active and curious problem solvers, challenging themselves to address issues across the breadth of our brief – including, but not limited to, food security, desertification, the health of oceans and species conservation.

At the ministry, we understand that science is our ally. Science is mankind’s response to societal needs and global challenges. And no challenge requires science more that the challenge of climate change.

The environmental programmes we promote and invest in internationally are rooted in science. Take the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, for example. Because we understand the science behind the natural world, we have been able discover that mangroves could be a secret weapon in helping to turn the tide on climate change.

Jubail Mangrove Park situated between Al Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Jubail Mangrove Park situated between Al Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Scientific research has helped us understand that mangrove trees act like a carbon bank – capturing four times more carbon than rainforests and locking it deep in their roots or vaults. What’s more, they then keep that harmful gas from entering the atmosphere for millennia. That discovery has led our ambition to plant huge swathes of new mangroves to guard our shores and waterways, but also to encourage other nations to follow and grow mangrove habitats throughout the world.

But my scientific education teaches me that innovation and investigation should never sleep. And that is why the UAE continues to fund and invest in scientific research that will deepen our understanding of mangroves.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of being in Bali to unveil the Mohamed bin Zayed-Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre, which will be built on 2.5 hectares of land in Bali's Ngurah Rai Forest Park.

The UAE achieved a significant milestone in climate action with the groundbreaking of the Mohamed bin Zayed-Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre on the island of Bali, in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia. This initiative, made possible with a USD $10m commitment from the UAE, will bolster international efforts in nurturing mangrove ecosystems, recognized as a critically important nature-based solution in combatting climate change and preserving coastal ecosystems.
The UAE achieved a significant milestone in climate action with the groundbreaking of the Mohamed bin Zayed-Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre on the island of Bali, in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia. This initiative, made possible with a USD $10m commitment from the UAE, will bolster international efforts in nurturing mangrove ecosystems, recognized as a critically important nature-based solution in combatting climate change and preserving coastal ecosystems.

Backed with $13 million of investment from the UAE, the centre will be an ideal platform for scientists and researchers to join forces and exchange knowledge to improve our ability to counter current and future environmental challenges. The work environmental scientists conduct there will help humanity understand more about how the process of carbon sequestration works to stem the tide of climate change and even reverse the seemingly inexorable journey to disaster.

The mangrove alliance is emblematic of our commitment to science. Science is the beating heart of all the global, regional and domestic programmes that the ministry supports. My exceptional colleagues across the ministry, who lead programmes such as our Extended Product Responsibility Initiative, Biological Risk Predictor, the National Animal Health Plan, Palm Pest Control Project, and the National Carbon Registry, will tell you how much their work is informed by scientific rigour.

My team is committed to achieving sustainable and effective solutions, and they know that we must continue to use evidence-based decision-making at a strategic level. To do this, we must empower the scientific community to drive transformative solutions for a sustainable future, because collaboration is critical in enabling science to govern our climate action.

The beneficiaries of science are all around us – every community in the UAE and beyond. The old, the young and the generations to come.

Before putting pen to paper on this piece, I turned to a member of the next generation. On the school run, I told my son that I wanted to explain to people why I was putting science at the heart of my vision for the ministry, and I asked him what he would say about science.

“That’s easy, Mum,” he replied. “It’s the foundation of everything.”

He is right.

And that is why scientific research deserves our steady commitment and support, and why science is the basis for the decisions we take and the investments we make at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

The Laughing Apple

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

(Verve Decca Crossover)

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOutsized%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2016%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAzeem%20Zainulbhai%2C%20Niclas%20Thelander%2C%20Anurag%20Bhalla%20and%20Johann%20van%20Niekerk%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndia%2C%20South%20Africa%2C%20South-East%20Asia%2C%20Mena%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Recruitment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20staff%20count%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2040%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeed%20and%20angel%20investors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

THURSDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 10am:

Lucrezia Stefanini v Elena Rybakina (6)

Aryna Sabalenka (4) v Polona Hercog

Sofia Kenin (1) v Zhaoxuan Yan

Kristina Mladenovic v Garbine Muguruza (5)

Sorana Cirstea v Karolina Pliskova (3)

Jessica Pegula v Elina Svitolina (2)

Court 1

Starting at 10am:

Sara Sorribes Tormo v Nadia Podoroska

Marketa Vondrousova v Su-Wei Hsieh

Elise Mertens (7) v Alize Cornet

Tamara Zidansek v Jennifer Brady (11)

Heather Watson v Jodie Burrage

Vera Zvonareva v Amandine Hesse

Court 2

Starting at 10am:

Arantxa Rus v Xiyu Wang

Maria Kostyuk v Lucie Hradecka

Karolina Muchova v Danka Kovinic

Cori Gauff v Ulrikke Eikeri

Mona Barthel v Anastasia Gasanova

Court 3

Starting at 10am:

Kateryna Bondarenko v Yafan Wang

Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Anna Bondar

Bianca Turati v Yaroslava Shvedova

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

Facebook | Our website | Instagram

 

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

All Black 39-12 British & Irish Lions

Lions tour fixtures

3 JuneProvincial BarbariansWon 13-7

7 JuneBluesLost 22-16

10 JuneCrusadersWon 12-3

13 JuneHighlandersLost 23-22

17 JuneMaori All BlacksWon 32-10

20 JuneChiefsWon 34-6

24 JuneNew ZealandLost 30-15

27 JuneHurricanes

1 JulyNew Zealand

8 JulyNew Zealand

Rooney's club record

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253

RESULT

Valencia 3

Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'

Ferran Torres 67'

Atlanta 4

Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)

Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

Updated: September 30, 2024, 9:52 AM