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Category: Environment

  • Decarbonisation in Focus as ADIPEC Kicks Off

    Decarbonisation in Focus as ADIPEC Kicks Off

    His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan opened the 39th edition of ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference with Dr. Sultan Al Jaber calling on oil and gas industry to rally around ambitious decarbonisation targets….reports Asian Lite News

    ADIPEC 2023 kicked off yesterday under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and will run until 5th October.

    His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, opened the 39th edition of the event.

    Held under the theme of “Decarbonising. Faster. Together”, the exhibition gathers the global energy industry to advance decarbonising today’s energy system and collaborate on tomorrow’s energy system.

    Featuring a rich exhibition programme that covers energy-related technology, innovation, collaboration, and digitalisation, ADIPEC 2023 is expected to attract more than 160,000 attendees from 164 countries for its biggest edition ever.

    The event is taking place just seven weeks before the UAE hosts COP28, providing a platform to convene energy and related industries to align on the lower-carbon, high-growth future of energy.

    The ADIPEC Exhibition will enable visitors to connect with over 2,200 global companies across 16 exhibition halls and 30 country pavilions, making it an ideal platform to drive business growth through its invaluable opportunities for cross-sectoral networking, deal-making, and knowledge exchange.

    This year, ADIPEC also includes four specialised areas that facilitate cross-sector collaboration and game-changing partnerships – Decarbonisation Accelerator, Maritime and Logistics Zone, Digitalisation in Energy Zone, Manufacturing, Industrialisation Exhibition and Conference.

    Al Jaber Rallies Oil & Gas Industry

    Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, called on the oil and gas industry to rally around ambitious decarbonisation targets as part of the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda to fast-track the energy transition and keep 1.5C within reach.

    In his keynote speech during the opening of ADIPEC 2023, Dr. Al Jaber reiterated calls on industry to “step up, align around net zero by or before 2050, zero-out methane emissions, and eliminate routine flaring by 2030.”

    He welcomed recent progress and action from over 20 oil and gas companies, including both international and national oil companies (IOCs and NOCs), which have “positively answered the call” to take the challenging but achievable steps to curb emissions from the production of energy.

    Describing the progress, Dr. Al Jaber said, “This took time, effort and many months of hard work, negotiation and collaboration. We are counting on many more to come onboard and start taking action to decarbonise further and faster. I urge everyone to make this commitment at COP28, a COP where I am calling on everyone to set the highest ambitions, follow through with practical actions and deliver real results.”

    Dr. Al Jaber issued his call to action at the beginning of ADIPEC 2023, the largest and most inclusive energy industry gathering.

    The event, which runs from 2-5 October, welcomes more than 2,200 exhibiting companies – including 54 NOCs, IOCs, and IECs – 30 country pavilions and 160,000 attendees, under the theme ‘Decarbonising. Faster. Together.

    Dr. Al Jaber said that “This industry can and must help to drive the solutions. For too long, this industry has been viewed as part of the problem, that it is not doing enough and, in some cases, even blocking progress. This is your opportunity to show the world that, in fact, you are central to the solution.”

    Noting the scale of the climate challenge, Dr. Al Jaber stated that “the world must reduce emissions by at least 43 percent over the next 7 years to keep 1.5 within reach. And that is our north star. It is our destination. It is simply respecting the science. And we must do this while also ensuring human prosperity by meeting the energy needs of the planet’s growing population.”

    Describing the necessary actions, Dr. Al Jaber highlighted three key areas that he was prioritising, including: curbing emissions from the production of energy, scaling up renewables, and decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel cement, aluminum and heavy transportation.’

    Discussing the immediate steps that he expects the oil and gas industry to take, Dr. Al Jaber noted that “Eliminating methane leaks and flaring is the fastest way to make the biggest impact on operational emissions in the short term.”

    Dr. Al Jaber also noted the critical role that the oil and gas industry has in scaling up renewables, highlighting how they represent “an opportunity for this industry to diversify and future proof its business models.”

    Acknowledging that intermittency meant renewables were not a viable solution for heavy emitting industries, Dr. Al Jaber emphasised the need to find low-carbon solutions to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, such as steel, cement, aluminum, and heavy transportation.

    “We know that solutions exist, and all industries can and must respond. But they can’t act alone. Governments should be proactive in setting the right demand signals and dealing with critical issues like permitting.”

    He also stated the need to “overcome the hurdles to scale up and commercialize hydrogen and carbon capture technologies.”

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  • India plans to use N-energy to achieve net zero emissions

    India plans to use N-energy to achieve net zero emissions

    Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty shared India’s ambitious plans to step up nuclear power generation during a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi….reports Asian Lite News

    India on Wednesday spelled out plans to generate 22 GW power through nuclear energy to achieve Net Zero emissions for addressing the challenges posed by climate change.

    At the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty shared India’s ambitious plans to step up nuclear power generation during a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

    Mohanty is in Vienna to attend the annual IAEA General Conference.

    Mariano Grossi posted on X, “Greetings to Mohanty on India’s ambitious plans to reach 22 GW through nuclear energy for Net Zero.”

    Addressing the conference, Mr Mohanty said Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has been setting records in extended continuous power plant operations and maintaining excellent safety records.

    “Some of its units have operated continuously for more than 365 days (a year) on 42 occasions and more than 700 days on five occasions. One remarkable achievement is that unit-3 at Kakrapar in the Gujarat state of India recently commenced commercial operation, the first-of-its-kind 700 MW indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR),” he said.

    Mohanty said a few days ago, India hosted the G20 Summit where energy security, access, affordability, and transition are essential considerations.

    “Under India’s Presidency, the countries that opt to use civil nuclear energy reaffirmed their role in providing clean energy. These countries will now collaborate in research, innovation, development & deployment of civil nuclear technologies, including advanced and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs),” he said.

    The discussions at G20 also centered around helping build resilient nuclear supply chains, promoting responsible nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste and spent fuel management, and sharing knowledge and best practices, he said.

    Mohanty also touched upon India’s nuclear programme, commitment to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and its long history of partnership with the IAEA, the global nuclear watchdog. 

    NPCIL currently operates 23 commercial nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 7480 MW and plans to increase it to 22480 MW by 2031.

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  • Global Stocktake Vital to Get Back on Paris Track: COP28 Chief

    Global Stocktake Vital to Get Back on Paris Track: COP28 Chief

    The President-Designate delivered an address at the Friends of Paris High-Level Dialogue meeting held in Beijing this week….reports Asian Lite News

    Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, has concluded a visit to China to attend a high-level dialogue on climate action, during which he hailed China’s “remarkable leadership” in the energy transition.

    During his visit to China, the President-Designate held meetings with Xie Zhenhua, China’s Special Envoy on Climate Change; Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment; and Wangi Yi, Foreign Minister. He also met Laurence Tubiana, Chief Executive Officer of the European Climate Foundation, and a key architect of the Paris Agreement.

    The President-Designate delivered an address at the Friends of Paris High-Level Dialogue meeting held in Beijing this week.

    Calling for a robust response to the Global Stocktake, Dr. Al Jaber said, “We have no time to waste, and we need a detailed action plan that delivers a robust and comprehensive response to the Global Stocktake across the key pillars of the Paris Agreement. We must agree on an ambitious mitigation work program, finalise the global goal on adaptation, establish a fund for loss and damage and agree on an equitable approach to means of implementation.”

    Acknowledging that the world is not on track to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, Dr. Al Jaber said that the COP28 Action Agenda will help “translate all the ambitions of Paris into practical results.”

    “The first pillar of that agenda is a fast, fair, equitable and well-managed energy transition,” the President-Designate said. “China’s remarkable leadership in this transition is one of the reasons I am optimistic that we can make breakthrough progress.”

    “This great country has already installed 1000 GW of renewable energy capacity and will add another 500 GW in wind and solar in the next three years alone. This aligns closely with COP28’s call for a global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. And with China leading the way, I am sure the whole world can do it.”

    China will also “play a vital role in expanding green growth through expanding South-South cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative,” Dr. Al Jaber said. The initiative is designed to drive investment in green infrastructure in emerging and developing economies.

    The President-Designate reiterated the importance of operationalising the fund and funding commitments for loss and damage at COP28 and again urged donor countries to double adaptation finance by 2025 and replenish the green climate finance.

    Discussing the importance of preserving nature, Dr. Al Jaber also commended “China’s commitment to ecological civilisation, enhancing natural ecosystems and achieving a nearly 100 per cent improvement in air quality since 2015.”

    The fifth such meeting, the Friends of Paris High-Level Dialogue, is a non-government platform to convene climate champions to explore ideas for implementing the Paris Agreement. The meeting featured thematic dialogues on the energy and industry transition and financial flows for climate and financial reform.

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  • ‘4 Billion Around World Face Water Scarcity’

    ‘4 Billion Around World Face Water Scarcity’

    The paper calls for a decisive and coordinated international response to the urgent threat of global water scarcity….reports Asian Lite News

    Four billion people around the world currently experience water scarcity at least one month per year, with this figure expected to grow in the years ahead, according to a detailed discussion paper published by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the sidelines of the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

    The paper calls for a decisive and coordinated international response to the urgent threat of global water scarcity. Entitled ‘Ripple Effect Water Scarcity – The hidden threat to global security and prosperity’, the discussion paper examines global water scarcity and its main causes, highlights various implications of water scarcity already evident in parts of the world, and identifies a range of potential solutions to this rapidly worsening issue.

    The paper is intended to serve as a global call to action and an open invitation to members of the international community to work together in new ways to address the emerging challenge of global water scarcity.

    Announcing the publication of the report, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, said: “Concerned by the growing problem of water scarcity and the severe risks that it poses to the world, the United Arab Emirates has published a discussion paper today that aims to contribute to the development of a coordinated international response to this issue, and the forging of new models for effective cooperation to address this multifaceted threat to global security and prosperity.”

    The discussion paper stresses that according to certain metrics, four billion people around the world currently experience water scarcity at least one month per year, with this figure expected to grow in the years ahead. It also warns that based on current trends, global water scarcity is projected to have a range of negative implications, including loss of life, food insecurity, economic underdevelopment, humanitarian crises, involuntary migration, geopolitical instability and the potential for armed conflict. Despite these potential scenarios, the discussion paper finds that global water scarcity does not currently receive the same levels of public attention and financial investment as other comparable risks such as climate change and future pandemics, thereby hampering the development of effective solutions.

    His Highness Sheikh Abdullah added, “The UAE believes that the seriousness and immediate urgency of the threat posed by water scarcity has not been fully recognized around the world. As a result, the international community is lagging in its efforts to confront this challenge, with potentially grave outcomes. As it becomes increasingly clear that no nation will be immune from the cascading effects of unmitigated water scarcity, we must seek new ways to quickly and effectively cooperate in addressing this significant global issue.”

    Expanding on the UAE’s commitment to addressing this issue, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah said, “As a nation on the frontlines of the impending water scarcity crisis, and as a longstanding advocate for international dialogue and cooperation, the UAE is determined to raise global awareness of this issue and to help mobilize a decisive and coordinated international response to the threat that it poses to humanity.”

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  • ‘We Are Not Powerless To Tackle Climate Crisis’

    ‘We Are Not Powerless To Tackle Climate Crisis’

    COP28 President-Designate called on the world to be “brave” and “bold” and get “back on track” to meet its climate ambitions…reports Asian Lite News

    Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and COP28 President-Designate, addressed today the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, where he reminded the international community that “we are not powerless” to overcome the climate crisis and urged the world to “get after gigatons”.

    The summit, which is the landmark climate engagement during the United Nations General Assembly and was convened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, was attended by world leaders, the private sector and civil society.

    During his speech, the President-Designate called on the world to be “brave” and “bold” and get “back on track” to meet its climate ambitions, reaffirming the founding principles of the UN and to think “beyond borders, beyond politics, and beyond our own lifetimes.” He emphasised that “climate change is our common enemy, and we must unite to fight it”.

    Dr. Al Jaber pointed to recent data from the first Global Stocktake, which confirmed that “the world is falling short, and we are running out of time” but was emphatic in stating that it is not too late to change course. Indeed, he challenged the world to respond to the Global Stocktake with the highest levels of ambition, noting that “We know the size of the problem. The numbers are straightforward: 22 gigatons. That’s the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we need to cut in the next seven years to keep 1.5 within reach.”

    Dr. Al Jaber went on to speak of the need for the international community to “remember that we are not powerless. As we have seen throughout history, when we act with optimism, urgency and solidarity, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.”

    He continued to share his belief that “in the face of the climate crisis, we can – and we will – rediscover humanity’s greatest strength: our capacity to collaborate, to overcome differences, and to harness the power of collective action.”

    Dr. Al Jaber’s speech at the UN Climate Ambition Summit comes just 71 days before COP28, the global climate summit in the UAE. Dr. Al Jaber noted, “We are working tirelessly to advance an ambitious climate agreement between all 198 Parties. However, climate change won’t be solved through agreement alone. It can only truly be addressed through Action. That’s precisely what we aim to achieve through the COP28 Action Agenda.”

    Dr. Al Jaber went on to detail the COP28 Presidency’s ‘Action Agenda’ to get the world “back on track” to meet the ambitions set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. He called on those present and listening across the world to make actionable commitments across its key pillars: to fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition, fix climate finance, focus on lives and livelihoods, and underpin everything with full inclusivity.

    Fast Tracking Energy Transition

    Speaking of the COP28 Presidency’s plan to fast-track a just, orderly, and well-managed energy transition, Dr. Al Jaber told the audience that the “phase-down of fossil fuels is essential. It is in fact inevitable. And it must go hand-in-hand with a rapid phase up of zero-carbon alternatives.”

    Dr. Al Jaber called on Parties to do their part towards a “massive expansion of renewable energy” and triple global capacity by 2030. He also emphasised the power of energy efficiency improvements as “the simplest cheapest and fastest way to dial down emissions.”

    He then called for all to be “brutally honest about what it will take to transition heavy emitting sectors” which cannot run on renewables alone, while noting the need to develop the entire hydrogen value chain.

    Dr. Al Jaber also stressed the need to “rapidly and comprehensively decarbonise the energies we use today,” before reiterating his previous calls on the oil and gas industry to eliminate methane emissions by 2030 and align with net zero by or before 2050.

    Fixing Climate Finance

    Addressing the COP28 plan to fix climate finance, Dr. Al Jaber spoke of the need to restore trust between Parties and for contributing countries to deliver the $100 billion pledge this year. He then stressed the need to go “much further” and noted that “if we are to unlock trillions, we need to unleash the full potential of private capital.”

    Dr. Al Jaber called for reform of “outdated international financial institutions”, and for “smart innovation across the financial system and better-functioning carbon markets.” In summary, Dr. Al Jaber noted that the objective was to “create an ecosystem where finance is more available, more accessible and more affordable, so that the money flows to where it needs to go – to the people who need it most.”

    Focusing on People, Lives and Livelihoods

    Dr. Al Jaber spoke of the urgent need to put “people, lives and livelihoods” at the centre of climate discussions. He noted that “people everywhere want the same things: clean water, clean air, economic opportunity, safety in the storm.” He then called for countries to “embed nature-positive investments in national climate strategies” and for “a smarter approach to how we grow and consumer food.” He also noted that COP28 would be the first COP to put global health on the COP agenda.

    He acknowledged that “the key to all these measures will be finance.” He therefore called on countries to “double adaptation finance by 2025, replenish the Green Climate Fund, and operationalise the fund for Loss and Damage with early pledges.”

    Full Inclusivity

    Discussing the COP28 priority to underpin all climate action with full inclusivity, Dr. Al Jaber called on everyone to “put our differences aside and start partnering for progress.” He asked that “everyone who comes to COP28 to come with results in mind”, particularly key stakeholders, such as negotiators, the private sector and world leaders.

    He stressed this would be the most inclusive COP yet, with plans to facilitate the participation of all groups, including subnational leaders, youth, businesses, philanthropists, Indigenous Peoples, and others.

    Dr. Al Jaber concluded his speech by calling on leaders to “turn pledges into projects and ambition into action”.

    He continued, “Let’s be brave. Let’s be bold. Let’s go after gigatons, Let’s activate a truly global response to the global stocktake… and let’s unite… let’s act… and let’s deliver.”

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  • Sunak Announces Shift On Climate Policies

    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.”

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  • COP28 UAE Rings in New Era of Climate Finance

    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.

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  • UAE Announces Mangroves Ministerial at COP28

    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.

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  • Casualties Reported As Tornadoes Rip Through China’s Jiangsu Province

    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)

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  • Recovery Efforts Begin After Deadly Flooding Hits Eastern Libya

    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.

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