Category: Industry

ABU DHABI: The Family Care Authority (FCA) and the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) have partnered to launch a community engagement programme that will promote climate action and environmental sustainability.

The initiative will encompass a variety of community outreach events in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi throughout 2024, including workshops, nature walks, informative talks, and other community activities.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of UICCA, and Dr. Bushra Al Mulla, Director-General of FCA, formalised the partnership agreement with a signing ceremony during COP28.

The collaboration will emphasise the important role that communities and the social sector play in fostering tangible climate action within the region and promote the inclusion and participation of FCA’s beneficiaries.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan said, ‘Through our history, the UAE’s society has been rooted in the values of living in harmony and balance with our land, preserving our natu
ral resources and ecosystems. At UICCA, we believe that every person can embody this legacy, contribute important ideas, and play an active role in shaping a more sustainable future. Educating, inspiring, and empowering our community is a vital aspect of the climate conversation. This collaborative initiative with the Family Care Authority will facilitate inclusive dialogue and awareness across all generations of society, encouraging Abu Dhabi’s communities to take action and care for our environment, our planet and each other.’

Dr. Bushra Al Mulla stated, ‘We are proud to sign this partnership during the most important conference on climate change action, COP28. This partnership signifies a paradigm shift in how we approach family care services, weaving the principles of sustainability into the framework of family care and therapeutic initiatives.’

She added, ‘FCA is committed to exploring innovative ways to ensure that our beneficiaries are at the forefront of climate conversations, included in environmen
tal practices, and are represented during and beyond COP28. Alongside UICCA, we aim to pioneer innovative approaches that leverage Abu Dhabi’s natural environment to create a unique and enriching experience for our beneficiaries. Our goal is to break away from conventional methods to best serve those under our care. Together we are sowing the seeds for a sustainable future, where the well-being of individuals, families, and the environment are interconnected.’

As the world tackles the challenges presented by climate change, this collaboration sets a powerful example of how organisations can work together to create meaningful and lasting change.
Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy at the World Bank, said that protecting nature could avert global economic losses by 2030 of US$2.7 trillion per year, or 2.3 percent annually.

She told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai that low-income countries could lose around 10 percent of their GDP annually by 2030 if select ecosystem services, such as forests, fisheries, and pollinators, collapse.

Hickey stressed that the unprecedented decline of nature is exceeding its ability to regenerate, jeopardising hard-won development gains and disproportionately impacting low-income countries.

She affirmed that nature loss is at the core of central development challenges, mainly health, livelihoods, inequality, climate change, food security, fragility and energy, adding that ‘If no action is taken, the impacts will be cataclysmic’.

She explained that the World Bank sees nature as a solution that can also help inform the design of bette
r economic production systems and better infrastructure, stressing that the bank develops and applies in its projects nature-based solutions (NBS) that protect nature, support development, and help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Nature is critically important for climate and NBSs offer benefits for climate mitigation and adaptation, Hickey noted. ‘The World Bank’s Climate Change Action Plan recognises that NBSs for terrestrial, coastal and marine areas will be critical for achieving the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement and helping countries adapt to and remain resilient to climate change and providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.’

Research shows that NBSs could provide around 37 percent of the cost-effective climate mitigation that is needed by 2030 to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement (IPBES), Hickey highlighted, adding that they are a cost-effective way of addressing climate change while also tackling biodiversity loss and land degradation.

The Global Director
for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy at the World Bank said that NBS can also effectively address key challenges including food and water security, disaster risk, human health, and climate change, she underscored.

Hickey affirmed that NBS, such as mangrove restoration or improving the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, are an integral part of the Blue Economy approach adopted by the World Bank to support client countries. ‘These solutions ensure that ocean resources are used in an integrated and sustainable way and preserve ocean health,’ she concluded.
Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with X-energy, a leading American developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel design engineering company, to collaborate on the advancement of nuclear energy technologies.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at COP28 and comes in line with ENEC’s recently announced ADVANCE Programme. It was signed by Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC and J. Clay Sell, Chief Executive Officer of X-energy.

The central aim of ENEC’s ADVANCE programme is to harness the latest advancements in nuclear energy technologies and to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading nation in delivering climate action by accelerating the global clean energy transition to Net Zero.

ENEC and X-energy will work together to assess the technical design and commercial viability of X-energy’s nuclear technologies for the UAE market to meet the growing demand for clean electricity generat
ion, along with generating steam, heat and hydrogen to decarbonise industries from manufacturing to petrochemicals and other energy-intensive sectors like data centres.

The companies will also evaluate potential project partnerships for developments in the UK and Europe and will develop a regional deployment framework for ENEC-led projects in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.

At COP28, ENEC is showcasing how nuclear energy through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is leading the largest decarbonisation effort in the UAE’s history. Barakah is the largest single source of clean electricity in the Arab World, with the 4th and final unit of the plant due to come online in 2024.

X-energy is a leading developer of advanced SMRs and fuel technology for clean energy generation. X-energy is advancing nuclear energy generation through its latest-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), the Xe-100, and its proprietary tri-structural isotropic (‘TRISO’) encapsulated particle fuel, TRIS
O-X, to deliver reliable, zero-carbon and affordable clean electricity to people around the world.

ENEC will work with X-energy to capitalise on the full value of the UAE’s investment in the nuclear energy sector, working closely to identify the right technology and meet the growing demand for clean electricity and molecules.

Al Hammadi said, ‘Nuclear energy has had a transformational impact on the UAE’s energy landscape. The clean electricity generated from Barakah is powering high tech industries whilst preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions each year. At COP28, we are demonstrating the essential value of nuclear and building our network by signing a series of global agreements as part of ENEC ADVANCE Programme.’

Sell, in turn, said, ‘Around the world, ENEC is recognised as one of the most successful and capable nuclear project developers and operators. Our partnership will explore how we can combine X-energy’s leading technology with ENEC’s delivery expertise to address a broad range of decarbo
nisation challenges in the region and worldwide. This announcement at COP 28 further demonstrates the incredible global opportunities and demand for nuclear in being a key driver in the expansion of clean, reliable energy.’

The agreement also helps advance the US-UAE Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which was launched in November 2022 and aims to help catalyse $100 billion in clean energy and decarbonisation projects by 2035.

The ENEC ADVANCE Programme offers a clear example of the action-oriented approach the UAE is taking to fast-track the clean energy transition through leveraging the latest technologies in the nuclear energy sector.
Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The COP28 Presidency congratulated Azerbaijan for being chosen to host COP29 next year.

‘We look forward to working together to continue building momentum on climate action, ensuring we keep 1.5°C within reach and leave no one behind,’ COP28 President Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said.

For his part, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, expressed his gratitude to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and the United Arab Emirates for their tireless efforts in organising this exceptional event, noting that the challenges being faced require collective work and dedication in achieving the goals and aspirations agreed upon jointly.

He said that Azerbaijan realises the critical importance of climate change mitigation efforts, the strong political will shown by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the support of the Parties, pointing out that the member states
of the Eastern European Group have been a decisive factor in Azerbaijan’s success in hosting the 29th Conference of the Parties. He in this regard affirmed that his country’s commitment to sustainability is not just a promise but a reality that is reflected in its national policies and actions.

He noted his country’s commitment to close cooperation with the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, the host country of the 30th Conference of the Parties, to ensure a smooth transition and to continue the joint efforts. ‘We recognise the importance of the global response to climate change, and through joint initiatives, we aim to accelerate progress towards a sustainable future.’

He expressed his gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and the COP28 President for the great efforts in driving climate action paths, pointing to the continuation of the momentum and building on the great successes achieved by COP28, and working together to ensure that COP29 in Azerbaijan becomes a symbol of hope and progress in the global eff
orts to combat climate change.
Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI: Among the delegations representing Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at COP28 in Dubai, a diverse region encompassing giants like Brazil and small island states, a clear message rings out: climate change adaptation plans must be bolstered.

The region boasts vast areas vulnerable to climate change, particularly indigenous and local communities who are already facing displacement and hardship due to the climate crisis and insufficient adaptation measures.

To implement effective policies, funding needs to reach these countries directly. LAC nations are leveraging COP28 to demand improved accessibility and availability of resources allocated to climate funds, enabling them to repair damages and adapt communities to increasingly severe challenges.

Furthermore, they are calling for climate justice, arguing that industrialised nations must fulfil their financial commitments. This ensures that the most vulnerable regions of the Global South, which contribute only 11 percent of global historical emission
s, do not continue to suffer disproportionately.

One of COP28’s key goals is tripling installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. The LAC region stands poised to play a significant role in this endeavour. Notably, out of the 20 countries worldwide with over 70 percent renewable energy in their energy mix, twelve are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. Paraguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Belize, Nicaragua, and Guatemala all harness hydro, wind, and solar resources to generate electricity.

However, the region remains firm in its commitment to protecting its abundant biodiversity and natural landscapes. These resources play a crucial role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

These countries have utilised their pavilions at COP28 to showcase successful renewable energy initiatives and foster dialogue and collaboration between nations in the regio
n and globally.

In this context, the Global Stocktake, to be unveiled on the summit’s closing day, holds immense value. It will provide a roadmap to embark on a prosperous path of green growth, creating job opportunities, fostering economic prosperity, and safeguarding the planet.
Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority signed a service level agreement to enhance cooperation between the two organisations across different areas, including digital connectivity and data exchange.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to elevate service excellence and improve the overall customer experience for Emiratis.

Within the framework of this agreement, the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange will conduct joint projects to strengthen digital connectivity. This will streamline the processes used for accessing data of Emirati investors on ADX who benefit from Abu Dhabi Housing programs with increased efficiency and adherence to the highest data security standards.

Abdulla Salem Alnuaimi, CEO of ADX, said, ‘Our collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority emphasises our commitment to enhancing connectivity among national entities in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. This agreement aims to enhance services for Emirati Na
tionals, facilitating efficient data sharing and maintaining common standards of openness and confidentiality. This collaboration extends beyond the agreement signing, fostering ongoing engagement with government entities and ultimately benefiting investors through strengthened cooperation.’

Ahmed Badr Al Qubaisi, Executive Director of the Housing Benefits Allocation Sector of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, added, ‘This agreement aligns with the mandate and core objectives of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority. It emphasises our commitment to collaborating with the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi and maintaining a centralised database that links these entities, ensuring the confidentiality and security of the information, ultimately providing the best customer experience for UAE nationals.’
Source: Emirates News Agency