Fighting climate change, we are frequently told, is a race against time. It can be frustrating, therefore, when we learn that international benchmarks for tackling this evident global crisis are being missed, or that important action has been delayed. Images of extreme weather, droughts and wildfires taking place right now, coupled with scientific reports that show temperature records being broken, only underline the urgency required to change course.
In an effort to buck that trend, Adnoc, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is bringing forward its deadline to achieve net-zero emissions by five years to 2045. It also wants to eliminate methane emissions seven years from now. These are ambitious goals, but they are certainly achievable; the energy company has hit other challenging environmental targets in the past. In 2020, it was among the five lowest greenhouse gas emitters in the oil and gas industry.
A year later, Adnoc started commercial operations at its Al Reyadah carbon capture, utilisation and storage facility, and at the start of this year the company earmarked $15 billion for decarbonisation projects as well as enhanced investments in hydrogen and renewables. From 2016 to 2021, Adnoc Drilling operations cut overall carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 130,000 tonnes and diesel consumption by 12 million gallons. Since the business began, Adnoc has recorded a near-90 per cent reduction in natural gas flaring.
Commercially and technically, this demonstrates leadership in the sector. Given Adnoc’s range of international partnerships with fellow producers, setting and meeting environmental targets can present a template for reducing emissions across the board. The work to meet such goals speeds up the development of a more sustainable model for energy production, so setting bold environmental targets ensures relevance and profitability in a changing market. In short, racing to achieve zero emissions also makes good business sense.
In the meantime, oil and gas remain vital to the world’s economy. This week, for example, the UK government committed itself to granting hundreds of licences to look for fossil fuels in the North Sea. Nevertheless, to have a major energy producer like Adnoc not only invest billions in mitigating the effects of its business, but also commit significant resources to developing cleaner energy is a smart way to manage the transition that is already taking place.
This striving to achieve key targets like net zero as early as possible also provides a counterpoint to those who claim that energy producers’ involvement in climate action is inimical to progress. The considerable resources of companies like Adnoc, its technical know-how and international links are vital contributions in the fight to reduce global warming.
Government also has its role to play in this fight, and the Emirates has its own long-term plans in place, such as the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who approved Adnoc’s accelerated decarbonisation plan, noted that these ambitious targets marked a new chapter in the company’s transformational journey to a lower carbon future. Speaking yesterday, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al Mazrouei, also welcomed what he called Adnoc’s “significant steps to make today's energy cleaner”.
"While charting our net-zero pathway, we focus on creating a balanced mix of traditional and clean energy sources,” he added. “We are proud to be at the global forefront of adopting and investing heavily in technologies to reduce energy-related emissions and increase energy efficiency.”
At an event earlier this month, Cop28 President-designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, urged the oil and gas industry to allocate capital at scale to develop clean energy solutions. With that call and yesterday’s announcement, it seems that the race to meet the UAE’s latest ambitious climate target is on.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 571bhp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh431,800
Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor
Transmission: 2-speed auto
Power: 455bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: from Dh431,800
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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.
SPECS
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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."
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km