BETTING BIG ON RENEWABLES
Despite its fast-paced urbanization, Abu Dhabi and the UAE are giving environmental conservation their utmost attention.
Although most wouldn't count the UAE among global leaders in green initiatives, the country's drive to protect the environment shouldn't come as a surprise. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, famously stated in his Strategic Vision 2003 that, “the responsibility to fight the current environmental challenges falls onto this generation, both governments and people, to realize a better future for coming generations."
Long before climate change and sustainability gained global uptake, Late Sheikh Zayed issued the Environment Protection and Development Law (Federal Law 24 of 1999), which came into force in February 2000. And as the country celebrates 2018 as the Year of Zayed, marking 100 years since Sheikh Zayed's birth, it only makes sense that the year kicked off with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) announcing two nationwide initiatives to protect the biodiversity of the UAE coastline.
Over the course of the year, the Ministry aims to plant 30,000 new mangrove trees across the country in a bid to safeguard the natural coastal ecosystem, highlighting once more the importance of appropriate conservation measures to protect the blue carbon ecosystems. Indeed, mangroves have an incredible ability to act as “blue carbon" reservoirs, removing carbon from our atmosphere and oceans and storing it in plants and sediment. The move is being supported by the second initiative, which aims to boost local coral species with a cultivation project.
For Abu Dhabi, there is no greater crisis to tackle than water security. Water in the UAE comes from four different sources – ground water (44%), desalinated seawater (42%), treated wastewater (14%), and surface water (1%). Published by Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), Environment 2030 forecasts that both fresh and brackish underground water will be exhausted within 55 years if mitigation measures are not taken.
The government has addressed this issue by using waste treated water for irrigation. In 2017, the Abu Dhabi Municipality reported that 76% of the water used in landscapes was treated water. But tackling environmental concerns is not the government's job alone; at 550 liters per day, the UAE has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world, consuming about 15% of the world's desalinated water. As a result, the government is working to control that by educating young people, regulating groundwater extraction, and investing in new energy efficient sea water desalination, among other steps. What's more, MOCCAE, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, agreed to introduce sustainability programs and green curricula in every school, with a pilot scheme rolling out in 2018.
Moreover, the country launched the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 in September 2017 and its crown project is Abu Dhabi's new reservoir. Built at a cost of AED1.6 billion after 15 years of planning, the world's largest reserve of high-quality desalinated water was launched in January 2018.
While all these initiatives play a vital role in preserving the environment, they make up only one part of the solution; undertaking measures to develop robust plans for producing energy, through renewables is the other. And the UAE government is well on course as it aims to generate 27% of its total energy needs from clean sources by 2021 and 50% by 2050.
Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of MOCCAE, told TBY that, “Global trends show that renewables are competing with conventional power sources both in terms of the size of investments and the capacity that is brought to the market. The UAE has the advantage of sunlight all year long, which gives us a resource we can utilize at any time. Our government aims to invest AED600 billion in clean energy by 2050 to meet the growing demand, with projected savings of almost AED700 billion."
In order to achieve set goals, the country's largest Emirate, Abu Dhabi, needs to play the chief role—its electricity consumption per household is 10 times higher than world averages. So far, the Emirate has committed more than USD15 billion to renewable energy programs through the Masdar initiative, focusing on the development and commercialization of technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon management and monetization, water usage, and desalination. Despite their interdependencies and the adoption of the Estidama pearl rating system for all new constructed buildings, the water-energy nexus is still a critical issue in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, one that urgently needs an innovative solution.
BETTING BIG ON RENEWABLES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Juan Carlos Varela, President, Republic of Panama
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Rashed A. Al Blooshi, Chief Executive, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
TBY talks to Rashed A. Al Blooshi, Chief Executive of Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), on highlighting the opportunities available to companies on ADX, adopting best practices in the field, and further developing the market.
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hmed Omar Abdulla, CEO, Abu Dhabi Polymer Company Ltd (Borouge),
TBY talks to Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Abu Dhabi Polymer Company Ltd (Borouge), on the impact of its new Borouge 4 plant, specialized solutions for global challenges, and the need to continue to invest in innovation.
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Philippe Peccard, President Middle East Engineering & Investment Projects, Linde Group
TBY talks to Philippe Peccard, President Middle East Engineering & Investment Projects of Linde Group, on being a key partner of its regional partners, developing the downstream value chain, and further enhancing operations with technology.
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Ali Vezvaei, Executive President & CEO, Bilfinger Middle East
TBY talks to Ali Vezvaei, Executive President & CEO of Bilfinger Middle East, on its keys areas of focus in the UAE, trends in the hydrocarbons sector, and the application of energy efficiency technologies to new sectors.
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Samia Bouazza, Managing Director , Multiply Marketing Consultancy
TBY talks to Samia Bouazza, Managing Director of Multiply Marketing Consultancy, on satisfying sophisticated consumers with high purchasing power, targeting different categories of the population, and thinking globally while acting locally.
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Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)
TBY talks to Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), on the goals of the national space program, attracting youth to the program, and the significance of KhalifaSat.
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Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, Managing Director & CEO , Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)
TBY talks to Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, Managing Director & CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), on its expansion upstream, strategies to grow the sector, and sustainability initiatives.
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Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman , Department of Health (DoH)
TBY talks to Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health (DoH), on facilitating investment for local and foreign investors and building and maintaining a sustainable workforce.
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Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister , Culture and Knowledge Development
TBY talks to Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, on the Creative Industries Contributions Index, bridging the AI-culture divide, and adopting a systems leadership approach moving forward.
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Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman , Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)
TBY talks to Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, on the role of innovation, the late Sheikh Zayed's cultural vision, and strengthening cultural engagement among youth.
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Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary , Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT)
TBY talks to Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, on becoming a beacon of cultural tourism, tailoring its approach to different markets, and penetrating the MICE segment.
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Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO , Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC),
TBY talks to Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), on fast-tracking Abu Dhabi's economic diversification, the importance of the Year of Zayed, and technology's impact on the world of event planning.
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Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister , Climate Change and Environment
TBY talks to Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, on the UAE's commitment to reducing its ecological footprint, transitioning to a climate-resilient green economy, and the importance of sustainable green finance.
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Neri Askland, Vice President , Middle East and UAE Country Manager of Statoil
TBY talks to Neri Askland, Vice President of Middle East and UAE Country Manager of Statoil, on its efforts to help reduce its carbon footprint, opportunities for R&D in the area, and its collaboration with Masdar.
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The Nuclear Option
The UAE is the first country in the MENA region to develop nuclear power, with Abu Dhabi's Barakah nuclear power plant. The Emirate hopes to achieve energy security and embrace alternative sources of energy, ensuring full cooperation and support from the international community.
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Christer Viktorsson, Director General , Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)
TBY talks to Christer Viktorsson, Director General of Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), on the role of the institution in advancing the nuclear energy regulatory environment, the Barakah Power Plant, and the importance of an integrated network.
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Eng. Omar Husain Al Hashmi, Acting Managing Director , Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC),
TBY talks to Eng. Omar Husain Al Hashmi, Acting Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), on its successes with STEP, helping Abu Dhabi to reduce its carbon footprint, and its successful Emiratization policies.
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Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General , Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA)
TBY talks to Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), on the Farmers Income Support Program, the UAE's agroecological climate, and introducing intelligent control systems.
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Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman, Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (DPM)
TBY talks to Falah Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities (DPM), on coordinating joint-investment programs and strategic alliances with the private sector and integrating technology within developments and services.
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Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Undersecretary of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Economy
Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Undersecretary of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, on efforts to enhance the UAE's intellectual property framework, creating a knowledge-based economy, and fostering a culture of innovation.
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Khalifa Al Mubarak, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Mubadala Investment Company
TBY talks to Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Mubadala Investment Company, on the company's diversification strategy, its technology investments, and its focus on innovation.
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Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Chairman, Statistics Centre- Abu Dhabi (SCAD)
TBY talks to Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Chairman of Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi (SCAD), on its efforts to improve data collection and lower costs, innovative statistical development tools, and its Emiratization policies.
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Saeed Al Neyad, Director General, Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC)
TBY talks to Saeed Al Neyadi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC), on being a critical enabler for various key partner organizations, efforts to increase Abu Dhabi's competitiveness in tourism and commerce, and improving the quality of life for citizens and visitors.
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Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman, British Business Group (BBG)
TBY talks to Nick Cochrane-Dyet, Chairman of British Business Group (BBG), on Abu Dhabi's forward-looking strategy, the need for British firms to continue to bring value to the Emirate, and areas of opportunity for the UK.
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