Wind turbines stand near the hydrogen electrolysis plant stands at Energiepark Mainz, operated by Linde AG, in Mainz, Germany, on Friday, July 17, 2020. Europe is pinning its green hopes on hydrogen in a plan that sees hundreds of billions of euros in investment flowing into the clean technology and fueling a climate-friendly economic recovery. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Wind turbines stand near the hydrogen electrolysis plant stands at Energiepark Mainz, operated by Linde AG, in Mainz, Germany, on Friday, July 17, 2020. Europe is pinning its green hopes on hydrogen in a plan that sees hundreds of billions of euros in investment flowing into the clean technology and fueling a climate-friendly economic recovery. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Wind turbines stand near the hydrogen electrolysis plant stands at Energiepark Mainz, operated by Linde AG, in Mainz, Germany, on Friday, July 17, 2020. Europe is pinning its green hopes on hydrogen in a plan that sees hundreds of billions of euros in investment flowing into the clean technology and fueling a climate-friendly economic recovery. Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg
Wind turbines stand near the hydrogen electrolysis plant stands at Energiepark Mainz, operated by Linde AG, in Mainz, Germany, on Friday, July 17, 2020. Europe is pinning its green hopes on hydrogen i

'The great reset' to clean energy cannot be led by government players alone


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Covid-19 has demanded government action and intervention on a scale that we have never seen before. World leaders and intra-governmental agencies have directed mass shutdowns of industrial activity to steer the public towards safety. As a result greenhouse gas emissions have been slashed.

In many cases, however, this environmental reprieve has come at the expense of economic growth and stability. This has reignited a business case for sustainable development across the board – and not a moment too soon.

The forecast for 2020 is an 8 per cent reduction in global energy consumption, the lowest since the end of the Second World War, according to the International Energy Agency.

Consequently, carbon emissions could undergo a 3 to 13 per cent reduction compared to 2019, depending on when full lockdown measures are lifted across the globe, according to the Global Carbon Project, a group of international scientists.

While it is true that environment has been somewhat let off over the first half of 2020 due to the pandemic, a harder reality has taken root. Even if energy consumption remains on track for these record lows through the rest of the year, it will not make much of a difference to the extent of global warming our planet is likely to experience by 2050.

Hydropanels, produced by Zero Mass Water Inc., at the planned site of the IBV drinking water plant in Lehbab, Dubai, July 8. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg
Hydropanels, produced by Zero Mass Water Inc., at the planned site of the IBV drinking water plant in Lehbab, Dubai, July 8. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

We face the frightening fact that 92 per cent of the decarbonisation process still remains if we are to even come close to meeting the goal of the Paris Agreement, which was to keep the global temperature rise during this century well below 2°C and in fact to limit the increase to 1.5°C – as was the case before the Industrial Revolution.

To this end, we have been given a head start, nothing more. It should immediately dawn on anyone committed to protecting the planet that we cannot achieve our global energy transition and climate action goals in a piecemeal fashion.

Hydropanels at Lehbab, Dubai, July 8. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg
Hydropanels at Lehbab, Dubai, July 8. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg

It is not going to be enough to regulate and make cuts industry by industry, as we have seen during the pandemic, as this has only led to a fraction of the reduction needed.

The World Economic Forum recently announced their 2021 theme: “The Great Reset”. This gives us a push to build new foundations of our economic and social system for a more fair, sustainable and resilient future, with green and renewable energy practices at ground zero. But this cannot be led by governmental players alone. It requires every member, group and organisation of society. We must migrate towards a more sustainable economic ecosystem powered by all stakeholders, both private and public.

The cheapest sources of energy are the cleanest

As businesses and enterprises join forces to help the global economy off its knees, it is time to push for the creation of climate-friendly infrastructure. The benefit of such an infrastructure would be manifold: it would preserve our natural resources, achieve a balanced energy mix – to boost economies – and would ultimately create jobs. It is crucial that businesses now diversify away from traditional ventures and invest in the sector of renewables. There is a good reason for this.

Renewables fared relatively well during the pandemic, despite some disruption to global supply chains. When the pandemic took hold, energy operators needed to meet reduced demand with the most cost effective sources of energy to keep control over their cashflow.

As it happens, the cheapest sources of energy are the cleanest: renewables. Indeed, as per a report last month by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019, renewables have become the cheapest source of energy, with the cost of solar energy falling by 82 per cent over the past 10 years.

And with conversion efficiencies of solar, wind and thermal farms improving all the time – and given the industry’s propensity towards innovation – renewables, over time, are going to only grow better at supplying the major grids with the energy they need.

Solar panels installed at the Indian Environment Ministry in New Delhi, July 17. Money Sharma/AFP
Solar panels installed at the Indian Environment Ministry in New Delhi, July 17. Money Sharma/AFP

It is also telling that in fewer than 10 weeks, during the peak of the pandemic, the US, Germany, Italy and Spain significantly increased their renewable energy consumption – by up to 40 per cent in some instances. India’s renewables usage shot by 45 per cent. In the UK, renewables accounted for nearly 30 per cent of power generation between March and May, according to data from Drax Electric Insights.

And in the UAE, which is already aggressively pursuing major solar capabilities, there has been a notable increase in the number of waste-to-energy projects that are commissioned and constructed. These not only help with zero-waste ambitions but further diversify the nation’s cleaner energy sources.

Solar panels being set up on the roof of a home in Colmenar Viejo, Spain, June 19. Sergio Perez/Reuters
Solar panels being set up on the roof of a home in Colmenar Viejo, Spain, June 19. Sergio Perez/Reuters

By all measures, this is a global trend and there is no reason why it should not continue. Especially when we consider that renewable energy capacities have grown steadily and impressively for almost the past two decades, to the point where it is now preferred by investors. In April Irena’s annual Renewable Capacity Statistics report stated that 72 per cent of all new power capacity comes from a renewables plant.

Consider the possibilities that lie before traditional markets that have been affected by the pandemic, such as real estate, manufacturing and hospitality, among others.

Given the global need for more affordable housing, there is the potential for real estate developers to integrate renewable technologies into new constructions to power homes – including integrated photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops, which could add more energy into the mix at a higher yield than yet more income from rent or sales.

Transportation hubs could build on-site renewables plants to lower energy costs, such as we have seen at Dubai International Airport. Manufacturing units can integrate PV panels into their infrastructure to power their operations, as we have seen in Nestle Middle East's Al Maha factory in Dubai.

Educational institutions too could build on-site renewables plots that could power their buildings. They could then be used as practical examples to educate students and prepare them to join the future workforce.

To reach this point, we need a convergence of the triumvirate: government incentives, private sector investments and the public sector’s future planning.

The business case for increasing the presence of renewables in our economies is not new. But the pandemic has accelerated this into an even more compelling case and it can no longer be ignored. It is time we turned talk and possibilities into realities.

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany is a permanent representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
TCL INFO

Teams:
Punjabi Legends 
Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan

Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
ENGLAND SQUAD

For first two Test in India Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson , Dom Bess, Stuart Broad , Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. Reserves James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
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Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Company profile

Name: Thndr

Started: October 2020

Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: FinTech

Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000

Funding stage: series A; $20 million

Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC,  Rabacap and MSA Capital

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)

Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)

Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)

Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)

Sunday

VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen  (5.30pm)

Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)

While you're here
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Pari

Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment

Director: Prosit Roy

Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani

Three stars

WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
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COMPANY PROFILE

Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2014

Number of employees: 36

Sector: Logistics

Raised: $2.5 million

Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Company%C2%A0profile
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The biog

Name: Mohammed Imtiaz

From: Gujranwala, Pakistan

Arrived in the UAE: 1976

Favourite clothes to make: Suit

Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550

 

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers