Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative can aid the economy while helping the planet. Antonie Robertson/ The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative can aid the economy while helping the planet. Antonie Robertson/ The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative can aid the economy while helping the planet. Antonie Robertson/ The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative can aid the economy while helping the planet. Antonie Robertson/ The National

New Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative to fast-track efforts to protect the planet


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A forward-thinking Abu Dhabi effort to fast-track the fight against climate change and create a "more sustainable future for all" has been launched.

The Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative - a collective campaign spearheaded by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in tandem with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Global Market and Hub71 - aims to draw on technology and talent to protect the planet and fuel economic growth.

The pioneering partnership pledged to accelerate research and development in water and climate technology to cement the UAE's position as a global leader in climate action.

The initiative was formally announced on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on Wednesday.

It is our shared responsibility to our planet and all its living creatures to focus on this opportunity

"Today, we have a prime opportunity to embark on a new era of economic growth through climate action," said Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment at the launch event.

"It is our shared responsibility to our planet and all its living creatures to focus on this opportunity, and work to ensure that climate action improves health and well-being while creating new jobs and industries.

"We truly believe that we can move the needle forward on sustainable climate action through new technologies and bring hope to the voices demanding a better future.

"Through this synergy, we seek to drive innovation with the aim of shaping a more sustainable future for all. The Abu Dhabi Climate Initiative is the first platform in the region dedicated to accelerating the research and development of climate and water technologies and to supporting the shift towards a climate-resilient economy."

The partnership will oversee the creation of the Climate Lab, the Sustain Think Tank and the UAE Development Aid and Technical Assistance body.

The Climate Lab incubator will assist climate and water tech entrepreneurs and startups in  number of ways.

One strategy will involve the foundation of Emerge 10, in which 10 entrepreneurs and startups with the highest potential for growth in emerging markets will be provided with customised incentive packages to bring their eco-friendly projects to fruition.

The Climate Lab will also set up the Global Incubator, the world’s first incubator for clean technology for emerging markets with a focus on climate and water tech. The lab will collaborate with UAE-based academic institutions and international decision makers to support home-grown innovative solutions and pilot business models.

The Sustain Think Tank, based at ADGM, aims to lead the conversation on pressing issues such as sustainable finance and climate change technology.

The UAE Development Aid and Technical Assistance will offer strategic advice and technical support for emerging markets across water and waste management, renewable energy and sustainability.

"We are pleased to be part of the ministry’s novel initiative that aims to accelerate research and development in areas that reinforce the UAE’s commitment to climate action and a greener future," said Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State and chairman of ADGM.

"As an international financial centre and business hub, ADGM has established an inclusive ecosystem that encourages innovation and technology adoption to assist the UAE’s key industries in addressing their funding needs and growth plans while achieving their sustainability goals.

"We will work closely with the Ministry and other partners to foster the development of new water- and climate-related technologies for a more sustainable economy and environment."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
OPTA'S PREDICTED TABLE

1. Liverpool 101 points

2. Manchester City 80 

3. Leicester 67

4. Chelsea 63

5. Manchester United 61

6. Tottenham 58

7. Wolves 56

8. Arsenal 56

9. Sheffield United 55

10. Everton 50

11. Burnley 49

12. Crystal Palace 49

13. Newcastle 46

14. Southampton 44

15. West Ham 39

16. Brighton 37

17. Watford 36

18. Bournemouth 36

19. Aston Villa 32

20. Norwich City 29

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tales of Yusuf Tadros

Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)

Hoopoe

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

ARSENAL IN 1977

Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland

Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal

Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal

Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham

Feb 26 Middlesbrough 4-1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

Mar 01 Everton 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 05  Arsenal 1-4 ipswich

March 08 Arsenal 1-2 West Brom

Mar 12 QPR 2-1 Arsenal

Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal

Apr 02  Arsenal 3-0 Leicester

It's up to you to go green

Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.

“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”

When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.

He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.

“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.

One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.  

The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.

Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.

But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”

The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%20%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMonday%2C%20June%2019%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESri%20Lanka%20v%20UAE%2C%20Queen%E2%80%99s%20Sports%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2021%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOman%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFriday%2C%20June%2023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScotland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETuesday%2C%20June%2027%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIreland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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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