UN draft on climate finance highlights deep divisions ahead of COP29
Paris, France - The UN has published a draft on climate financing due to be presented at the COP29 in November,...
Sprinklers and drip irrigation help Iraqis beat drought
After four years of drought, Iraqi farmer Mohammed Sami was about to abandon his father's parched land, but then a...
Economy
Business
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...
- Fitch Ratings has affirmed the critical role that COP28 will play in raising awareness of sustainability issues in the region.
- Environmental, social and governance bonds in UAE constitute over 19 percent of the global ESG bond market.
Business
Adoption of electric vehicles in US face infrastructure hurdles
NEW YORK, US - The US transition to electric cars has hit a speed bump, with concerns about vehicle range and...
- Automakers in recent weeks have pushed back EV sales targets and delayed capital projects as they seek to reduce inventories of unsold EVs at dealerships.
- The network of EV charging stations in the US remains dodgy, with many areas either lacking infrastructure or equipped with unreliable machines
UN says greenhouse gas emission reach all time high in 2022
The UN's World Meteorological Organization said levels of the three main greenhouse gases -- the climate-warming carbon dioxide, methane and...
- Such levels of heat-trapping gases will mean further temperature increases, more extreme weather and higher sea levels.
- The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average, with 2023 likely to be the warmest year on record.
Economy
China emissions to fall in 2024 on renewables jump
The country has been installing renewable energy capacity at breakneck speed, with new solar in 2023 alone amounting to twice...
- China is the largest greenhouse gas emitter and has brushed aside calls for a more ambitious carbon neutrality target
- IEA says the country is projected to account for 45 percent of global emissions from existing fossil fuel assets
Endangered sea turtles get second life at Tunisian centre
The facility, one of two in North Africa, is run by the EU-funded Life Med Turtles project, which looks after...
- Since the centre opened in 2021, nearly 80 turtles have been treated and returned to their natural environment, said its chief Imed Jribi
- Every year, around 10,000 loggerheads are caught by trawlers and in fishing nets in the waters off Tunisia, a potential death sentence for the turtles
Geostrategy
Saudi urges leniency in climate change policies for low income nations
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that policies to address climate change should not "crush the bones" of...
- Climate change is "relevant and important" but "should not be attended to by crushing the bones and the future of the less (powerful) people," Prince Abdulaziz said.
- Prince Abdulaziz said on Thursday that attempts to provide financial support to countries affected by climate change had so far delivered poor results.
Geostrategy
Higher global temperatures culprit El Nino could stay till Apr 2024
Geneva, Switzerland - The El Nino weather phenomenon, which triggers higher global temperatures, is expected to last until at least April...
- El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere
- The UN's World Meteorological Organization said the current El Nino, which developed rapidly during July-August this year, was likely to peak between now and January
Economy
Fossil fuel plans by producing nations threatens 1.5C limit: UN
Most of the world's leading producers of fossil fuels have pledged to achieve "net-zero" emissions by midcentury -- a target...
- UNEP report covers 20 countries that account for 82 percent of production and 73 percent of consumption of the world's fossil fuel supply
- UNEP said the world's biggest emitter China produces just over half of the world's supply of coal, the most polluting of the fossil fuels
Geostrategy
Turkmenistan plants over 470,000 trees in a single day
Turkmenistan is one of the most closed societies in the world, where dissent is outlawed and the Berdymukhamedov family have...
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says water stress in Turkmenistan is "extremely high".
- Three-quarters of the country are covered by the black sands of the Karakum Desert and annual precipitation is below 100 mm in places.
Science
AI to contribute in enhancing low-emissions development
BONN, GERMANY - Artificial intelligence (AI) can make substantial contributions to climate-resilient and low-emissions development.UN Climate Change’s Initiative on Artificial...
- UN Climate Change’s Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action explores the role of AI as a tool for climate action in developing countries.
- It aims to deliver results both on policy and implementation, under the first joint work program of UN Climate Change’s Technology Mechanism.
UN draft on climate finance highlights deep divisions ahead of COP29
Paris, France - The UN has published a draft on climate financing due to be presented at the COP29 in November,...
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ADDED, Siemens Energy to support sustainable industrial development in Emirate
ABU DHABI, UAE - Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), represented by Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), and Siemens Energy...
Economy
Oman to expand production of green hydrogen to boost non-oil economy
Hong Kong - The government of Oman’s targets to expand local green hydrogen production could support key credit metrics, such as...
Business
TAQA, GS Inima and EWEC seal deal
Abu Dhabi's Shuweihat 4 desalination project secures $444 million.
Business
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Geostrategy
Turkmenistan worried as Caspian Sea continues to shrink
Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan - On the Caspian Sea coast in Turkmenistan, Batyr Yusupov can no longer ferry his passengers between two ports....
- It is still not entirely clear why that is happening, but scientists say it is down to naturally occurring processes exacerbated by climate change
- Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic, is one of five countries on the Caspian Sea together with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia
Business
London’s transport shifts gears with TfL’s cargo bike action plan
London, United Kingdom - On a busy north London street, plumber Ben Hume-Wright zipped through the heavy rush-hour traffic to his...
- Transport for London (TfL), the local government body responsible for most of the British capital's transport network, launched its first "Cargo Bike Action Plan" earlier this year
- The use of cargo bikes also increased during lockdown and encouraging their use chimes with Mayor Sadiq Khan's aim of a carbon net-zero city by 2030
Business
ENEC announces completion of Unit 4 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE's independent nuclear regulator, recently issued the Operating License for Unit 4...
- The three current commercially operating Units at Barakah, delivered in three consecutive years, are already generating more than 30TWh of zero-emission electricity every year.
- The Barakah Plant, a pivotal player in the international nuclear energy sector, boasts four APR-1400 units, marking it as one of the largest nuclear energy facilities globally.