• Climate change undermines global security, says NATO chief

    Baku, Azerbaijan--NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Sunday stressed the need to fight global warming, and called climate change a "crisis multiplier" with implications for global security. He made the remarks during a press conference in Baku along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose energy-rich country is set to host the...
  • Use of DEWA’s electric-vehicle green chargers up 59% in 2023

    Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s EV Green Charger initiative witnessed a 59 percent increase in the usage of its Green Charger services for electric vehicles throughout 2023. By 31 Dec 2023, DEWA’s EV Green Charger initiative, aimed at promoting green mobility, recorded 1.14 million charging sessions...
  • Pfizer reports loss in Q4

    The drugmaker's revenues fell 41 percent to $14.2 billion.
  • France flooded with applications for electric car leasing scheme

    Paris, France - The French government has been flooded with applications from low-income households to lease a subsidized electric car from 100 euros ($109) a month, Environment Minister Christophe Bechu said on Friday. President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the plan on social media in December as part of efforts to reduce carbon...
  • WHO urges Israel to allow aid delivery in ‘indescribable’ Gaza

    "Delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza continues to face nearly insurmountable challenges," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference. "Intense bombardment, restrictions on movement, fuel shortages, and interrupted communications make it impossible for WHO and our partners to reach those in need."
  • UAE and Azerbaijan presidents pledge to boost ties

    Baku, Azerbaijan-- The UAE and Azerbaijan have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in renewable energy, environmental protection, culture, education, and other areas that contribute to sustainable development. The discussion on the deepening of ties took place in a meeting between Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United...
  • Saudi Arabia releases 132 animals in NEOM Nature Reserve

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA  - The National Center for Wildlife, in collaboration with NEOM, has released a total of 132 animals into the NEOM Nature Reserve. This initiative aims to rehabilitate and ensure the adaptation of these animals to their new environment before releasing them into the wild. The released species...
  • Sheikh Hamdan issues resolution regulating single-use products in Dubai

    DUBAI, UAE -  Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued Executive Council Resolution No. 124 of 2023 on single-use products. The aim of the resolution is to protect the environment, encourage people to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle,...
  • UAE looks to support farmers to boost sustainability of food sector

    Dubai, UAE--The UAE leadership places utmost importance on supporting farmers to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural and food sector, ensure national food security and address climate change, according to Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment. She was speaking at the ninth meeting of the...
  • Saudi ministry explores investment with Chinese groups in aquaculture

    Shenzhen, China - Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture discussed ways to enhance investments between the Kingdom and China in the aquaculture sector with representatives of more than 60 specialized Chinese companies. The National Fisheries Development Program, a delegation of Saudi ministry, participated in the Global Investment Promotion Conference,...
  • Protecting nature may avert $2.7trn global economic losses: World Bank

    Dubai, UAE-- Protecting nature could avert global economic losses by 2030 of US$2.7 trillion per year, or 2.3 percent annually, according to Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy at the World Bank. Speaking to media at COP28, she said that low-income countries could lose around...
  • Climate chaos impact on millions frames discussions at COP28

    With the countless repercussions of extreme weather conditions, the planet is witnessing increasing political unrest, deaths and diseases.
  • Dubai COP28: Record attendance marks largest ever UN climate summit

    Among the host country's guests are Bill Gates and Antoine Arnault, the son of LVMH boss Bernard Arnault, the second richest man in the world after Elon Musk, according to Forbes magazine.
  • China announces 25 measures to aid private businesses

    Beijing, China - China's central bank and several government agencies unveiled 25 new measures Monday to support private economy. These initiatives aim to diversify financial avenues for private businesses, marking a continued effort to bolster the sector crucial for the country's economic progress. According to Global Times, these measures represent...
  • Abha Valley has potential to be a tourist destination

    ABHA, SAUDI ARABIA - Extending over 34 kilometers, the Abha Valley Basin enjoys a variety of wildlife aspects, civilizational features and variety of terrain that makes it ideal for tourism. Situated at an altitude of 2,983 meters and having steep slopes, the basin, with a dense vegetation cover, is terraced...
  • COP28 host UAE braces for rising heat risk, targets carbon neutrality

    As global temperatures tick higher, with this year on course to be the hottest on record, the UAE is changing its building designs and urban planning to create cooler living environments, even outdoors, Almheiri said.
  • 250,000 people died in Europe due to air pollution, says agency

    Stockholm, Sweden - Fine particle pollution caused the deaths of over 250,000 people in the European Union in 2021, according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) published on Friday. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is a term for fine particulates that are typically the by-product of car exhausts...
  • Israel-Hamas truce begins, hostages to be released

    An Egyptian security source told AFP that Israeli security officials, International Red Cross-Red Crescent staff and an Egyptian team would deploy to Rafah, on the Egypt-Gaza border, to receive the hostages, who will then be flown to Israel. AFP has confirmed the identities of 210 of the roughly 240 people...
  • Indonesia unveils plan to bring $20bn energy investment from West

    Jakarta, Indonesia - Indonesia on Tuesday launched an investment plan to attract $20 billion pledged by Western nations in a renewable energy transition pact agreed last year for the archipelago to slash emissions and wean itself off coal. The roadmap, which comes less than two weeks before the COP28 summit in...
  • UAE holds 19% of global sustainable bonds, says Fitch Ratings

    DUBAI, UAE - Fitch Ratings has affirmed the critical role that COP28 will play in raising awareness of sustainability issues in the region and steering investment and financial requirements towards a more environmentally responsible approach. Bashar Al-Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance and Managing Director at Fitch Ratings, expressed optimism...
  • Nations start negotiations over global plastics treaty at Nairobi meet

    Nairobi, Kenya -- Nations grappling with the plastic "suffocating" nature and leaching into food and the human body began fresh negotiations on Monday toward a UN treaty to tackle the growing problem. Some 175 countries agreed last year to conclude by 2024 a binding agreement to combat the plastic pollution...
  • Insect farming ‘revolutionizes’ Gulf agriculture

    Across the arid region, in which conventional agriculture is beset by many challenges, insect farming for livestock feed is perceived as a sustainable path for a secure food supply.
  • Sustainably yours: Redefining travel for green future

    The future of travel is expected to see greater use of renewable energy in transportation and advancements in technology, driving sustainable practices. The voluntary carbon offset market, meanwhile, is projected to grow significantly, reflecting the industry's commitment to sustainability.
  • Britain grants 27 new oil and gas exploration licenses in North Sea

    London, United Kingdom - Britain on Monday awarded 27 new licenses for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea as it seeks to quickly boost energy security, but the announcement angered environmentalists. The Conservative government has argued that drilling for new oil and gas is necessary to bolster Britain's energy...
  • World ‘failing’ on pledge to stop deforestation by 2030: NGOs

    Deforestation last year was over 20 percent higher than it should have been to meet the leaders' pledge, with 6.6 million hectares of forest lost, much of it primary forest in tropical regions. The Forest Declaration Assessment, overseen by more than two dozen environmental groups and research organizations, also warns...
  • Saudi Arabia launches mechanism to advance global climate goals

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Clean Development Mechanism Designated National Authority (CDMDNA) announced on Monday the operation of Saudi Arabia's domestic market mechanism, Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM), at MENA Climate Week 2023 here.  This step reflects the Kingdom’s role in addressing climate challenges and enabling institutions to...
  • UN conference adopts plan to reduce harmful chemicals

    PARIS, FRANCE - A new roadmap to reduce the environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a United Nations conference on Saturday as part of a drive to manage damaging chemical exposure. The Global Framework on Chemicals was adopted by governments, companies, and NGOs at the fifth International Conference...
  • 1bn tons of food wasted every year while 783m people face hunger: FAO

    Rome, Italy - The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Environment Program (UNEP) said one billion tons of food are wasted every year, while up to 783 million people around the world are facing hunger. Ahead of the International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste...
  • EU wants to renew herbicide glyphosate for next 10 years

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Commission is proposing to renew the use of the controversial and widely used herbicide glyphosate in the EU for 10 years in a text published on Wednesday, after a report saw no reason to block it. The European Union's 27 member states will discuss the proposal...
  • California sues oil giants, alleges environment, climate-risks deception

    The US state of California sued five of the world's largest oil companies, alleging the firms caused billions of dollars in damages and misled the public by minimizing the risks from fossil fuels, according to a court filing. The case was filed in superior court in San Francisco against ExxonMobil,...
  • Enbridge inks $14bn pact

    The deal will make it North America's largest natural gas supplier.
  • World inches step closer towards plastic pollution deal: UN

    Some 175 nations are working to reach a landmark agreement by end-2024 that will curb plastic pollution, which ends up in oceans, birds' stomachs and on mountain peaks. Microplastics have even been detected in blood and maternal milk.
  • Bahrain to partner with private sector to ramp up investments in oil projects

    Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain has indicated its keenness to encourage investments in the kingdom's oil and environmental projects through partnerships with the private sector, especially banks, to achieve sustainable development goals. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Oil and Environment Minister, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, has affirmed the government’s keenness to...
  • Dubai Chambers saves water, works on sustainability agenda

    DUBAI, UAE - Dubai Chambers has contributed to the emirate’s drive for sustainability by saving a total of 72,239 litres of water between June 2022 and June 2023, equivalent to 3,822 five-gallon bottles. The savings were achieved as part of the chambers’ participation in ‘Dubai Can’, a sustainability initiative launched...
  • Widespread tree felling turns Syria’s forests into ‘barren land’

    On a riverbank in war-ravaged Syria's north, felling has reduced what was once a lush forest to dispersed trees and decimated trunks poking out from dry, crumbly soil. Syria's war has devastated the environment, triggering an "alarming" loss of forest cover across the country, Dutch peacebuilding group PAX warned in...
  • Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan to boost environment, agriculture ties

    Astana, Kazakhstan-- Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan have pledged to strengthen cooperation in the fields environment, water, and agriculture. The strengthening of ties in these sectors came up in a meeting between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli. Both...
  • Bahrain to build walls against rising sea

    But by 2050, sea levels could rise by at least 0.5 metre, according to the minister, citing the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Some experts view the estimate as conservative. Rising seas aggravate flooding, threaten coastlines and could pollute Bahrain's already scarce groundwater reserves with salty seawater.
  • Ceer and Siemens deal to boost EV in Saudi Arabia

    Riyadh-based Ceer is collaborating with Siemens Digital Industries Software to accelerate Ceer’s digital transformation and empower its engineers to design and build truly next-generation vehicles.
  • UAE commends UN for successful oil transfer from decaying Yemen tanker

    Abu Dhabi, UAE--The UAE has applauded the UN for the successful unloading of oil from the deteriorating tanker, FSO Safer, situated off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) lauded the collective efforts of the United Nations, its Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Coalition to Restore...
  • UAE urges collective action for sustainable development at G20 ministers meeting in India

    DUBAI, UAE – UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri highlighted the importance of collective action and collective finance to strengthen sustainable development. She also called upon G20 countries to fulfill their commitment to providing the pledged financial support for global climate initiatives. Almheiri addressed...
  • Dubai seeks to unleash high-powered growth for its family business sector

    DUBAI, UAE - In Dubai’s economic growth story, family businesses stand tall as architects of growth, innovation and value creation. Generating over 40 percent of the emirate’s GDP, the sector represents Dubai's indomitable spirit of enterprise. Now, as the emirate seeks to unlock a new phase of high-powered growth for...
  • UN hands over boat for oil transfer from rusting Yemen tanker

    Aboard Nautica , Yemen - The United Nations on Monday handed over a vessel that will take on board oil from a decaying tanker in the Red Sea off war-torn Yemen, an operation aimed at averting an environmental catastrophe. The handover ceremony took place aboard the Nautica, which is being renamed...
  • Middle East firms pay fortune for employee burnout

    A TRENDS exclusive report takes a hard look at how tens of thousands of white-collar workers in Middle East are falling victim to burnout brought about by workplace stress.
  • Middle East firms pay fortune for employee burnout

    A TRENDS exclusive report takes a hard look at how tens of thousands of white-collar workers in Middle East are falling victim to burnout brought about by workplace stress.
  • Bahrain, UK sign MoU to preserve biodiversity and curb marine pollution

    London, UK--Bahrain and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on biodiversity and marine pollution. The MoU aims to create a framework of action between Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and Britain’s Cefas by allowing them to explore areas of cooperation in monitoring the environment, marine...
  • Climate change spells ‘truly terrifying’ future of hunger, suffering: UN

    On current policy trends, the planet will be 2.8C warmer by the end of the century, according to the UN's IPCC climate science advisory panel.
  • Global body to fund 26 FAO projects worth $174.7m

    ROME, ITALY - Building on growing momentum to tackle environmental problems by addressing the ways in which our food and fiber are produced, the Global Environment Facility has approved 26 projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). "To achieve the 2030 Agenda we need...
  • Qatar and Iran agree to deepen ties in labor sector

    Tehran, Iran-- Qatar and Iran have agreed to bolster ties in the labor sector with the aim of raising capacities, exchanging experiences, developing a consultation mechanism between the two countries, exchanging experiences in the field of vocational and technical training and training centers. In this connection, the Qatari-Iranian Joint Committee...
  • At UN, UAE plays up link between climate change and peace

    Exhorting the Security Council to adopt what she called as innovative attempts to address the interplay between climate change, peace and security, Mariam Almheiri, UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, warned that the threat of climate change was not a hypothetical scenario but a "risk multiplier" and many were...
  • Arab-China summit sees $10bn deals on first day

    Investment agreements between the two sides covered diverse sectors such as technology, renewables, agriculture, real estate, minerals, supply chains, tourism, and healthcare.
  • SEWA, US delegation explore collaboration in innovation, sustainability

    Sharjah, UAE - Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al Shamsi, Director-General of SEWA Sunday discussed the authority's initiatives to reduce emissions and combat climate change with a delegation from the US Consulate General, led by Megan Gregonis, the Consul-General in Dubai. The discussion also focused on SEWA's efforts in promoting innovation in...