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Sunak Announces Shift On Climate Policies

Several members of Sunak’s own party oppose any weakening of green targets, with member of Parliament Chris Skidmore saying it was “potentially the greatest mistake of Sunak’s premiership”…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said his government would take a new approach to meeting its emissions targets as he announced a delay on the ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars.

The ban will move from 2030 to 2035, in a shift that was criticized earlier in the day as causing uncertainty for the automotive industry as it readies for the electric vehicle transition.

Sunak said people needed more time to make the transition away from gas boilers and that households in some areas would get a delay on existing targets for the ban on new fossil fuel boilers. He also announced a 50% increase in cash grants under the government’s boiler upgrade program.

In a speech at Downing Street in which he sought to frame the new approach as in the interests of households, Sunak said he would announce a series of long-term decisions over the coming months, starting with a “new approach to one of the biggest challenges we face, climate change.”

“I believe deeply that when you ask most people about climate change they want to do the right thing, they’re even prepared to make sacrifices, but it cannot be right for Westminster to impose such costs on working people, especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet,” he said Wednesday. He also denied watering down targets despite the pushing back of key timelines.

Sunak said the U.K. had further to go to get charging infrastructure “truly nationwide” and needed to grow the automotive industry so it wasn’t reliant on imports from countries such as China.

Many of the announcements were leaked by the BBC late Tuesday, attracting widespread criticism from U.K.-based industry bodies and automakers ahead of the prime minister’s speech.

Lisa Brankin, chair of Ford UK — which has committed to making the U.K. its European electric vehicle component manufacturing hub — said the 2030 target was a “vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future.”

“Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency.  A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three,” Brankin said.

“We need the policy focus trained on bolstering the EV market in the short term and supporting consumers while headwinds are strong: infrastructure remains immature, tariffs loom and cost-of-living is high.”

The objective covering gasoline and diesel car sales was announced in 2020, as part of a broader target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Stellantis, which opened the U.K.’s first EV-only manufacturing plant earlier this month, also said industry needed clarity.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the auto industry needed the government to provide a “clear, consistent message, attractive incentives and charging infrastructure that gives confidence rather than anxiety.”

Ministers have suggested for some months that the government is considering watering down green policies that it considers may come at an upfront cost to households.

The ruling Conservative Party is lagging behind rival Labour in polls ahead of next year’s expected national election. 

Several members of Sunak’s own party oppose any weakening of green targets, with member of parliament Chris Skidmore on Tuesday telling the BBC it was “potentially the greatest mistake of [Sunak’s] premiership so far.”

In the long term, weakening the U.K. climate policies “could hurt economic growth by undermining domestic and overseas investment in a range of sectors that are developing and deploying clean technologies, such as heat pumps and electric vehicles. And it could make UK households poorer and colder because they will remain highly exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices,” said Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

Criticism also came from the energy industry, with Chris Hewett, head of trade association Solar Energy UK, saying the moves would be an “economic misjudgment of historic proportions,” as businesses in the U.S., China, EU and India race to lead in the fields of renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Lisa Brankin, the chair of Ford UK, said on Wednesday morning: “Our business needs three things from the UK government: ambition, commitment and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three.”

The prime minister also announced a delay to the target for eliminating the sale of gas boilers to homes. Under his new policy, homeowners will only have to replace their gas boilers with electric heat pumps when they are replacing their boilers anyway.

Boiler upgrade grants will be doubled to £7,500 and many homes will be exempt from the demand altogether. Energy efficiency targets for landlords will also be scrapped, along with planned insulation requirements for homeowners.

Before the speech, Chris Norbury, the chief executive of energy supplier E.ON, said: “We risk condemning people to many more years of living in cold and draughty homes that are expensive to heat, in cities clogged with dirty air from fossil fuels, missing out on the regeneration this ambition brings.”

ALSO READ: China poses threat to UK way of life, says Sunak

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-Top News Environment UAE News

COP28 UAE Rings in New Era of Climate Finance

In addition to his engagement at the New York Stock Exchange, a major focus on the Dr. Al Jaber’s day was announcing the greater involvement of cities and sub-national decision makers in COP28….reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, rang the famous opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to help raise awareness of climate finance in the US business community, as he began a programme of activities on the second day of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

This week, the COP28 Presidency is attending the 78th session of the General Assembly, and New York Climate Week, to advance its Action Agenda and consult with world leaders from politics, business and other sectors on how to deliver progress at COP28, being held in the UAE at the end of this year.

In addition to his engagement at the New York Stock Exchange, a major focus on the Dr. Al Jaber’s day was announcing the greater involvement of cities and sub-national decision makers in COP28.

He joined Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, to announce the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit – the first formal summit designed to bring subnational leaders into the COP programme.

Hosted by the COP28 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit will convene subnational climate leaders, such as mayors, governors, business executives, non-government organisation heads, and more, into the heart of the COP process.

The role of local leaders in climate action is a key focus area for the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda, under the pillar of full inclusivity.

The President-Designate also attended the second Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit today, alongside Earthshot Prize founder HRH Prince William, Prince of Wales, and other distinguished guests. The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental prize to discover, accelerate, and scale ground-breaking solutions that can help put the world firmly on a trajectory toward a stable climate.

Continuing his focus on finance for the day, Dr. Al Jaber also attended a high-level roundtable on climate finance, organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), which focused on private capital mobilisation in emerging and developing markets (EMDEs).

Other attendees included Mark Carney, Co-Chair GFANZ and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, IMF, Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary, and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt.

Dr. Al Jaber also held a series of one-on-one consultations and discussions with high-level figures, including Alok Sharma, former President of COP26, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva and Costas Simitis, the former Prime Minister of Greece.
The President-Designate is being accompanied in his visit to New York by the wider COP28 Presidency team, including COP28 Director-General, Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, COP28 CEO Adnan Amin, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion of the COP28 Presidency Razan Al Mubarak, and Minister of Community Development and Youth Climate Champion for COP28 Shamma Al Mazrui.

Ambassador Al Suwaidi delivered a speech at the International Emissions Trading Association’s opening ceremony on harnessing the power of markets and collaboration in scaling high-integrity voluntary carbon markets.

Razan Al Mubarak delivered opening remarks at a roundtable hosted by the Bezos Earth fund and SalesForce to amplify the science-based goal of accelerating finance, policy, and technology to restore and protect 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030.

She also spoke at an event hosted by the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation to share insights into the gender outcomes she is prioritising as the UN Climate Change High level Champion for COP28.

ALSO READ: UAE FM Meets Yemeni Leader

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-Top News Environment UAE News

UAE Announces Mangroves Ministerial at COP28

The Mangrove Breakthrough is an integral part of the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, which seeks to accelerate resilience efforts for vulnerable communities worldwide….reports Asian Lite News

In a resounding commitment to combating climate change and safeguarding critical coastal ecosystems, the UAE has endorsed the Mangrove Breakthrough and announced a high-level Mangroves Ministerial at COP28 that will convene mangrove-hosting governments and partners including civil society, philanthropy, financial institutions, as well as the scientific community to definitively scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

A collaborative effort between the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) and the UN Climate Change High-level Champions, the Mangrove Breakthrough aims to restore and protect 15 million hectares of mangroves globally by 2030. Today, the world has 14 million hectares of mangroves left, half their original extent.

The key objectives of the Mangrove Breakthrough are halting mangrove losses, restoring half of the recent mangrove loses, doubling the protection of mangroves on a global scale, and calling for an investment of US $4 billion by 2030 to conserve and revitalize mangrove ecosystems.

The Mangrove Breakthrough is an integral part of the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, which seeks to accelerate resilience efforts for vulnerable communities worldwide. This initiative aligns with the Race to Resilience goal of making 4 billion people – nearly half the world’s population – more resilient by 2030.

Underlining the UAE’s endorsement of the Mangrove Breakthrough, H.E. Mariam Almheiri, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The Mangrove Breakthrough represents a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions and preserving our planet’s natural treasures. The UAE recognises the paramount importance of mangroves in combating climate change and supporting our coastal communities and we look forward to helping drive real on-the-ground change. I invite nations around the globe to support this unique initiative.”

Announcing the Mangroves Ministerial on December 9, COP28’s ‘Nature, Oceans and Land Use Day’ and inviting all stakeholders to be part of the event, HE Almheiri said: “The Mangroves Ministerial aims to shape a strong pathway to advance nature-based solutions in our collective fight against climate change. It will focus on accelerating finance, policy and technology to meet the Mangrove Breakthrough global target of restoring and protecting 15 million hectares of mangroves, as well as halting their destruction, by 2030.”

“Our hope is to see substantial announcements anchored in a science-based, action-oriented plan to deliver these targets. Let us take forward the actions and commitments to the global stage mobilized at COP28, to continue raising strong awareness of the intrinsic interdependence of nature and climate,” added HE Almheiri.

To be hosted jointly by the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, the Global Mangrove Alliance, the UN High-Level Champions (stewards of the Mangrove Breakthrough), and the COP28 Presidency, the ‘Nature, Oceans and Land Use Day’ at COP28 reflects the commitment made by the UAE at the COP15 to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal last December. The marquee event, which will discuss the delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)’s 30×30 targets, will serve as an informal stocktake of current progress on the GBF’s implementation one year from its adoption.

“Mangroves exemplify the power of natural systems that advance our climate efforts while providing co-benefits for people, nature and biodiversity,” HE Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP28. “With coastal ecosystems already facing the impacts of a changing climate, we urgently need to scale up action to conserve, restore and protect mangroves. COP28 will provide a valuable opportunity to amplify the Mangrove Breakthrough’s goals and place nature at the very heart of the climate agenda.”

The UAE’s support for mangrove ecosystems is well known, including its own national target to plant 100 million plants by 2030. The country has also formed partnerships with international organisations, NGOs, and other countries to share best practices, conduct joint research, and implement marine conservation projects.

The UAE launched the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) in partnership with Indonesia to promote mangroves as a nature-based solution to climate change. It has attracted 20 partners to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities worldwide. The Alliance seeks to raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a nature-based climate change solution, and, through its members, it works towards expanding and rehabilitating mangrove forests globally. Mangroves are extremely effective carbon sinks as they can store around 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare in their biomass and underlying soil, according to the United Nations (UN). Mangroves also play a crucial role in bolstering coastal resilience and nurturing biodiversity.

Mangrove forests cover about 0.1% of the planet’s surface, but they can store up to ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests, according to MAC. These major benefits will be in the spotlight at COP28, where the UAE aims to promote the power of international collaboration in accelerating progress in conservation and restoration.

ALSO READ: UAE FM Meets Yemeni Leader

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Asia News China Environment

Casualties Reported As Tornadoes Rip Through China’s Jiangsu Province

It is the most recent fatal extreme weather catastrophe to affect the nation, which has recently struggled with both devastating floods and terrible heat waves….reports Asian Lite News

At least 10 people were killed after deadly tornadoes ripped through two cities in China’s eastern Jiangsu province, reported CNN.

It is the most recent fatal extreme weather catastrophe to affect the nation, which has recently struggled with both devastating floods and terrible heat waves.

According to official broadcaster CCTV, a powerful tornado that rocked Suqian city in Jiangsu province on Tuesday resulted in five fatalities and four serious injuries. The region is situated on China’s east coast, stated CNN.

As a result of the calamity, more than 400 people have been relocated and more than 130 houses were turned into rubble in the city.

Separately, an even stronger tornado left five people dead and four with minor injuries Tuesday night in Yancheng – which lies southeast of Suqian city and north of China’s biggest city, Shanghai – CCTV stated, adding that 129 people have been relocated, according to CNN.

Mid- to late-September in Jiangsu is not a typical time for tornadoes to occur, but a few have recently occurred because of recent higher temperatures that have brought about severe weather, according to reports from official media Beijing Youth Daily and meteorological experts.

Last week, China’s meteorological authorities had recommended a reduction in outdoor activities. Vessels operating in or transiting affected waters should return to port or detour.

The authorities has also suggested that drainage systems in cities, farmlands, and fishponds be inspected and that preparations for flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and other disasters are made.

China has a three-tier, colour-coded weather warning system for severe convective weather, with orange representing the most severe warning, followed by yellow and blue. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ‘No Alignment With India Or China’

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-Top News Arab News Environment

Recovery Efforts Begin After Deadly Flooding Hits Eastern Libya

Bathily also underlined the urgency for Libya to have unified and legitimate institutions to respond effectively to all challenges facing the country…reports Asian Lite News

The special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has stressed the importance of swift, coordinated and united efforts to recover from the floods that hit eastern Libya last week.

Bathily made the remarks in a meeting with President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi in the capital Tripoli, during which he expressed condolences on behalf of the UN after deadly floods swept the city of Derna and other areas, Bathily wrote on Sunday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The UN envoy said he emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the use of resources during the recovery and reconstruction process and proposed the establishment of an inclusive mechanism to oversee the recovery efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

Bathily also underlined the urgency for Libya to have unified and legitimate institutions to respond effectively to all challenges facing the country.

On September 10, Mediterranean storm Daniel triggered the worst floods in Libya in decades, which have so far claimed at least 5,500 lives and left another 10,000 missing, according to official statistics.

Oil-rich Libya has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west after the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

ALSO READ-India Evacuates 4 Citizens Stranded in Libya

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Arab News Environment UAE News

Masdar to Showcase UAE’s Renewables Leadership at COP28

Masdar’s strategic initiatives will be well-represented at COP28…reports Asian Lite News

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), is gearing up to support the nation’s renewable energy ambitions and leadership at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

As a COP28 Principal Pathway Partner, Masdar will maintain a highly visible presence throughout the 12-day event with a packed programme of events, activations, discussions and forums. Aimed at a wide range of audiences, Masdar’s activities will also have a special emphasis on supporting women sustainability leaders and young people interested in a career in the sector.

The Masdar Stand, located within the Energy Transition Hub in COP28’s Green Zone, will showcase the company’s history and ambitions. Visitors to the stand will discover the key role that Masdar is playing in supporting the UAE’s clean energy commitments and its target to become the world’s largest renewable energy company and a green hydrogen champion by 2030, placing the UAE at the forefront of the energy transition.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Masdar is proud of the pioneering role we have played in advancing the clean energy sector and enabling the UAE’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action. As a COP28 Principal Pathway Partner, we embrace this opportunity to showcase our proven track record in advancing the commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy and clean technologies to address the world’s sustainability challenges.”

Masdar’s strategic initiatives will be well-represented at COP28. This includes Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), a global initiative championed by the UAE and Masdar to accelerate sustainable development and advance economic, social, and environmental progress.

The Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) global platform that champions women as leaders of sustainable change and Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S), which supports the development of young people to enable them to become the sustainability leaders of tomorrow, will also host a number of events.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi added, “Masdar will be doing our utmost to ensure COP28, led by our Chairman and COP28 President-Designate Dr. Sultan Al Jaber is a resounding success. We are mindful that the fight against climate change does not end with COP28 and our special program of events will highlight the role that women and the next generation will play in leading the world’s sustainability efforts.”

Masdar’s presence at COP28 will spotlight the impressive renewable credentials the company has built since its formation in 2006 under its founding CEO, and now Chairman, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, who has been a pioneer of the global renewable energy sector for 17 years.

As the UAE’s clean energy champion, Masdar’s global footprint has expanded exponentially over the past few years, with new renewable energy projects currently under development in Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Americas. This includes the Cirata floating solar plant in Indonesia, the largest in Southeast Asia, and the Garadagh Solar PV Plant, Azerbaijan’s first foreign investment-based independent utility-scale solar project.

Now active in more than 40 countries, across six continents, Masdar has developed more than 20GW of renewables capacity, invested more than US$30 billion, and is targeting a 100GW portfolio by 2030.

ALSO READ: UAE Supports GCC Reforms

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Environment India News Politics

Asok Kumar receives Governor’s Award for Excellence 

Kumar received a trophy and Rs 1 lakh from West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose at the Throne Hall ceremony….reports Asian Lite News

Asok Kumar, who belongs to the 1991 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS-Telangana Cadre), received the West Bengal Governor’s Award for Excellence – 2023 for outstanding contributions to public services on Monday.

During the award ceremony held at the Throne Hall of the West Bengal Raj Bhavan, in the presence of a distinguished gathering, Kumar was given a trophy and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh, by Dr CV Ananda Bose, Governor of West Bengal.

“I am excited to receive the award along with my wife Dr Bindu and our son Gaurav, as they have also contributed to my work to the public, by bearing with me, supporting me and silently absolving me of the pangs of guilt of placing, many a time, my work priorities ahead and over the familial responsibilities,” said Kumar, Special Secretary and Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga.

Recently, the Namami Gange project headed by Kumar was recognised as “One of the Top Ten World Restoration Flagships” by the UN at the CoP15 meeting in Montreal in 2022.

Under the Namami Gange project over 2000 Million Liter Daily (MLD) sewage treatment capacity was added compared to 981 MLD in the seven previous years.

Besides the fruitful and innovative implementation of Namami Gange, the award also recognised the successful implementation of the “Catch The Rain” campaign to harvest rainwater.

Other contributions of Kumar as mentioned in the citation included his imprint in many other sectors like water, sanitation, infrastructure, urban planning, civil aviation, power, sports, welfare, health, education and IT. It added that Kumar had completed many infrastructure projects like the 162 Kms 8 lane Outer Ring Road, 90 MGD Krishna Phase-2 Drinking Water project, 90 MGD Godavari Drinking Water Project and many Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs). The citation said that, Kumar, as Principal Secretary Welfare Dept was instrumental in starting 119 English medium residential schools in all the 119 Assembly segments.

Kumar as Project Director, APSACS ( Andhra Pradesh AIDS Control Society), had launched the “#BeBold” campaign in 2006-08 to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV-AIDS and the “0/7“ initiative to reduce mother-to-child transmission. This was appreciated by UNAIDS as one of the best practices in the world to deal with HIV and its spread.

While serving in the central government as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Kumar was instrumental in setting up India’s Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau, headed a committee whose recommendations resulted in vastly improved facilities for passengers with reduced mobility and also played a key role in helping to revive the ailing aviation industry when it was going through a bad patch.

As director of the Ministry of Power, Kumar was in charge of R-APPRD programs to modernise power distribution entities and reduce their aggregate, commercial and technical losses and RGGVY, the program for rural electrification. He is also the founder president of the India Smart Grid Forum

In the water and sanitation sector, beginning with “Shubrata” Kumar’s initiative for the construction of over 1,40,000 individual sanitary latrines for households with people’s participation and about 3000+ toilets in 1000 schools in Nizamabad district in 2001-03 period when he worked as District Collector

As Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Water Mission, his innovative initiatives like the monthly “Water Talks” and “Water Tech Talks” drew over 2.5 million views.

National Water Mission under him was the chief implementing agency of the “Jal Shakthi Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modion World Water Day.  

Kumar is the winner of many awards, including the “Jal-Mitra” award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the first TEX (Telangana Excellence) Award of the Government of Telangana for “Outstanding work done in Public Administration”, the Skoch Award for “Public Service”.

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-Top News Arab News Environment

Libya Floods: 6,000 Dead, 30,000 Displaced

According to workers, mortuaries are overflowing in hospitals that are still closed despite the pressing need to treat disaster survivors…reports Asian Lite News

More than 6000 people have lost their lives due to heavy flooding that caused massive devastation across Libya, reported CNN on Wednesday.

The death toll was revised on Wednesday morning local time, according to health ministry undersecretary of the Unity Government in Tripoli, Saadeddin Abdul Wakil.

According to workers, mortuaries are overflowing in hospitals that are still closed despite the pressing need to treat disaster survivors. As per Egypt’s emigration ministry, the government buried 87 Egyptian victims who died in Libya.

Authorities fear 10,000 more people remain missing, maybe swept out to sea or buried beneath rubble strewn over the metropolis that formerly housed over 100,000 people.

The flooding in Derna has displaced over 30,000 people, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Libya. The extensive damage to the region’s infrastructure has rendered some affected areas inaccessible to humanitarian organisations, CNN reported.

Only two of the seven entry points to Derna are presently open.

Officials are digging amid mountains of wreckage for survivors and bodies in order to honour Islamic traditions that the dead should be buried within three days, according to CNN.

Storm Daniel’s devastation has made it considerably more difficult for rescuers to remove roads and debris in order to find survivors. The storm disrupted communications, complicating rescue attempts and raising concern among family members living outside Libya who are waiting for word on missing loved ones. (ANI)

ALSO READ: UN Deploys Emergency Team to Aid Flood Victims in Libya

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-Top News Environment UAE News

ISA DG hails UAE’s Zero Carbon Drive

The UAE, the international official continued, has implemented several advanced initiatives and projects, such as the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. These initiatives aim to increase the use of renewable energy sources, including solar power…reports Asian Lite News

Dr Ajay Mathur, Director-General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), praised the UAE’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

He said that the UAE has been making significant investments in renewable energy for over 15 years, and these efforts have resulted in major achievements, such as the provision of solar energy at a low price of 1.35 cents per kilowatt/hour.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in India, Mathur praised the UAE’s commitment to climate action, calling it a “tangible and proactive response” to the challenges of climate change.

He urged other countries to follow the UAE’s lead and take urgent action to reduce their emissions.

The Director-General noted that the UAE has taken significant steps to explore sustainable and innovative energy generation methods. These efforts are in line with the country’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and its ambition to become a global leader in renewable energy, he said.

The UAE, the international official continued, has implemented several advanced initiatives and projects, such as the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Abu Dhabi Vision 2030. These initiatives aim to increase the use of renewable energy sources, including solar power.

He also highlighted the UAE’s commitment to developing sustainable knowledge, green industries, and job opportunities. ‘These efforts will help to create a more sustainable future for the UAE and the world,” he noted.

ALSO READ-UAE Provides Aid To Quake-Hit Morocco

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-Top News Africa News Environment

Morocco Earthquake Toll Rises to 2,122 Dead, 2,421 Injured

According to the World Health Organization estimates, the disaster has affected more than 300,000 people in the ancient old city and its outskirts…reports Asian Lite News

At least 2,122 people have been killed and 2,421 injured since a massive earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night, according to the latest update from the Moroccan Interior Ministry.

The deaths include 1,351 people reported in the Al Haouz Province, 492 in Taroudant Province, 201 in Chichaoua, and 17 in Marrakesh, added the ministry in a press release on Sunday.

Moroccan troops and emergency services were reportedly struggling to reach the most affected areas in the Atlas Mountains region, as roads leading up there were blocked by fallen boulders, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local media.

Earlier in the day, Marrakesh’s residents told reporters that aftershocks could still be felt.

According to the World Health Organization estimates, the disaster has affected more than 300,000 people in the ancient old city and its outskirts.

The number of casualties is expected to rise. The Moroccan Red Crescent (MRC) has said the situation on the ground posed a vast challenge to search and rescue efforts, and “getting heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority”.

As more people were being pulled out of the rubble, the MRC and other first responders were working around the clock to identify and prioritize the most severe cases, the MRC said in a statement.

The earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km, according to the US Geological Survey.

Rescuers Scramble to Find Survivors

Rescuers are racing against time to search for survivors after a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc in central Morocco.

The strong tremor, which struck the ancient city of Marrakesh on Friday night, has killed more than 2,000 people.

Rescuers on Sunday were seen struggling to reach the most affected areas in the Atlas Mountains region as roads leading up there were blocked by fallen boulders, Xinhua news agency reported.

Makeshift tents were pitched up to shelter local residents, who had spent two nights outdoors for fear of more aftershocks.

“We need food and cover, they are the most important to us for now,” Amin, without giving his full name, told the news agency.

He added that being stranded outdoors for another cold night was particularly difficult for elders and the children.

The earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 km, according to the US Geological Survey.

The death toll has risen to 2,012, among whom 1,293 were reported in Al Haouz and 452 were in the Taroudant Province. The quake left some 2,059 people injured, with 1,404 in severe condition, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said in its latest update.

The World Health Organization estimated that more than 300,000 people in Marrakesh and its outskirts were affected by the disaster.

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