The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a key Middle Eastern country investing in renewable energy, as evidenced by its ratification of the Paris Treaty and the launch of the "Net Zero by 2050 Initiative" with a $163 billion investment budget.

The Middle East Green initiative aims to address climate change by transitioning the region away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources, with a focus on increasing efforts to survive and thrive in a post-oil world.

"Saudi Arabia has launched the Middle East Green Initiative, aiming to plant 10 million trees and reach net zero carbon emissions in its territory by 2060."

The Middle East is promoting clean energy, specifically green hydrogen and renewables, as part of its energy transition strategy, driven by global interest and the need to cut emissions.

"Saudi Arabia plans to achieve 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, as part of its energy transition strategy."

The UAE plans to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable and nuclear energy by 2050.

The UAE is investing AED 200 billion in renewable energy as part of its strategy to move towards a low carbon future.

Gulf Cooperation Council countries are transitioning to renewable energy, with goals to increase the proportion of renewable energy in their energy mix, such as relying on renewable and nuclear energy by 50% to generate electricity by 2050.

"Gulf countries, including Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, are developing renewable energy infrastructure in the Middle East, with a focus on solar power and net zero carbon goals."

"Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program aims to develop renewable energy sectors by 2030, with a goal of increasing the proportion of renewable energy from 0.3% to 50%."

"Saudi Arabia, a major oil and gas exporter, has set a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, marking a significant step in the country's energy transition."

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a key Middle Eastern country investing in renewable energy, as evidenced by its ratification of the Paris Treaty and the launch of the "Net Zero by 2050 Initiative" with a $163 billion investment budget.

Title:

Content: The Guardian: The Middle East is facing a ‘ resurrection ’
And Mecca may not be livable by the end of the century.
Friday 29 October 2021 05: 27 pm / Jerusalem time + 2GMT
London / Sama /
Titled “Resurrection Soon: A Reluctant Middle East Forced to Awareness of the Climate Crisis, ” The Guardian ’ s diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour said that Hurricane Shaheen hit Oman some time ago, the first tropical cyclone to reach this point west into the Gulf.
In Basra, southern Iraq, power has been cut off frequently as a result of this summer ’ s temperature of 50 degrees Celsius, forcing residents to move in their cars to get cold.
Kuwait broke the record for the hottest day of 2016 of 53.6 degrees Celsius, and this summer temperatures were very high, with floods in Jeddah and more recently in Mecca at a time when temperatures in Saudi Arabia have increased by 2 percent and the maximum temperature of 2.5 percent since the 1980s.
Qatar is the world ’ s highest emitting country and the world ’ s largest producer of liquefied gas (LNG), and public spaces are equipped with air conditioners.
In Tehran, pollution annually kills 4,000 people a year, and in Khuzestan province, citizens have blocked streets and burned tires due to drought as a result of mismanagement, U.S. sanctions and a deadly atmosphere.
In the United Arab Emirates, the climate crisis is estimated to cost $6 billion a year, the highest in terms of health costs.
The salinity of the Gulf increased with the proliferation of desalination plants by 20%, which affected marine life and biodiversity.
Conditions are expected to worsen at a time of rising temperatures, humidity and sea levels.
Warming rates in the Middle East are twice as high as in the world.
By the end of the century, if the dangerous predictions are correct, Mecca may not be fit for life, making the Hajj season dangerous if not catastrophic.
Large swaths of the Middle East have come to resemble the Afar region of Ethiopia, a vast area without human settlement that pushes towards the Red Sea.
The glittering cities of the Gulf may face the dilemma of rising water levels themselves.
We do not speak of the day of judgment, but of the day of judgment.
Jim Crane, an energy researcher at Rice University in Houston, said: “This is really a difficult topic because the interests of the ruling elites are at odds with the interests of the citizens.
The ruling elite depends on oil resources for the survival of their regimes.
They want to keep the oil trade in order to keep them in power.
Their system is based on oil leasing, but the population ’ s ultimate interests lie in a sustainable climate. ”
Zeina Khalil Haj, founder of Greenpeace in the Middle East, believes that the region is suffering from double pressure: “With increasing demands for energy change, a region that relies on fossil energy, oil and carbon for its economic survival, but cannot continue this dependency.
There will be no oil market but with climate change, they are required to increase efforts to survive.
The extreme climate is changing people ’ s lives on a daily basis and there is no choice but to go green. ”
The West ’ s persistent appetite for fossil energy has led the region to build car-based cities, shiny skyscrapers filled with air conditioners and shopping malls.
It must look for ways to avoid self-destruction, and it must be, according to Thomas Friedman, the Prometheus moment for the Middle East and the search for creative and creative ways.
In fact, the region has been reminded for a decade that it has to make the transition from oil.
Although the moment when oil demand will reach its highest point remains controversial, and depends on a number of assumptions about regulation, technology and customer behavior, the point I mentioned is 2040, after which demand will decline.
But the International Energy Organization ’ s “Net Zero ” report sees the peak as 2050 and by comparison suggests a reduction in oil demand from 88 million barrels per day in 2020 to 72 million barrels per day by 2030, and 24 million barrels per day in 2050, a 75% decline between 2020-2050.
The report argues that the Gulf has three factors underpinning the transformation: capital, sun, and vast, empty spaces.
Until recently, the Gulf states, including Iran, did not feel the desire to shift away from fossil energy to this extent.
When asked, Saudi Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said it was “a sequel to La La Land, ” meaning that the report and its writers do not know what is happening.
"If I wanted to worry about the IEA's expectations, I would be on Prozac all the time," he said.
Qatar ’ s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said reducing oil and gas production levels would affect the supply process and laughed at “the enthusiasm surrounding the transition. ”
The Organization of Petroleum Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) forecasts that the process of oil demand will increase significantly through 2045 and the share of oil in global energy demand will fall from 30% to 28%, which is not a green revolution.
Gulf states still rely on gas and oil exports, accounting for 70 percent of goods exported from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Oil resources account for more than 70% of the total resources of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
In Vision 2030, published by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, he promised to turn the country into an important industrial hub.
World Bank figures show that Saudi Arabia relies on 75% of its oil resources for its budget.
Aramco, which is making its mark on global carbon emissions, is not diversifying at the same pace as Shell or BP.
Instead, it announced it would increase crude oil production capacity from 12 million barrels per day to 13 million barrels per day by 2027.
Haj believes that the shift away from oil may require a psychological shift from the consumer mentality, “The Gulf has not yet reached this kind of discussion.
If you see the way of life in the UAE and Qatar, it is based on inexhaustible consumption, and I fear we are still a long way from that in terms of politics and readiness. ”
Iran is the largest country in the world in terms of carbon emissions by population, followed by the UAE in second place and Saudi Arabia in 13th place.
Of course, Gulf rulers at events such as the Glasgow climate conference can defend themselves by saying that their region is not the primary source of carbon emissions, and historically, collectively, accounts for 4.7% less than carbon emissions and pollution from the United States, Europe and China.
The Middle East exports oil, but pollution is the responsibility of those who import it.
But the region ’ s leaders have come to grips with the problem not because of Western pressure but in response to citizens ’ demands, the goose has realized that the eggs, the oil, are no longer golden but brown.
The UAE is the first country to say it has moved to ratify the Paris Treaty and is the least dependent Gulf state on oil for its government resources.
Last week, she announced the “Net Zero by 2050 Initiative ” with an initial investment budget of $163 billion and appointed the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Maryam Al Muhairi.
The announcement came after the government ordered awareness sessions in all its ministries since June for 80 days.
It was the first country in the Gulf to adopt a net zero domestic consumption policy.
The plan is still in its infancy and some of its features are unclear, but the direction is clear.
It promised to rely on renewable and nuclear energy by 50% to generate electricity by 2050.
Abu Dhabi ’ s national oil company said it would get 100 percent of its electricity from the nuclear reactor and solar power.
The Mohammed bin Maktoum Solar Park will be the largest in the world with a capacity of 5,000 megawatts.
Gulf states are competing with each other, with news reports that Qatar has appointed a climate minister, Bahrain aiming for net zero carbon by 2050 and Kuwait announcing a plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Saudi Arabia does not like to be late.
It announced that it would increase the proportion of renewable energy from 0.3% to 50% by 2030.
The plan is to plant 10 million trees in the coming decades.
Over the weekend, the kingdom organized a summit of the Green Middle East Initiative, attended by John Kerry and Britain ’ s Prince Charles.
It promised to reach net zero carbon emissions in its territory by 2060.
The main reason the Gulf states have been slow to shift away from oil and its commodities is that they have made them rich and helped them anesthetize their citizens.
Their loyalty was bought through a series of subsidies for water, electricity, fuel and tax breaks.
These dynamics were different from Iraq, Lebanon and to a lesser extent Iran, but the situation is changing with the emergence of local environmental groups.

The Middle East Green initiative aims to address climate change by transitioning the region away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources, with a focus on increasing efforts to survive and thrive in a post-oil world.

"Saudi Arabia has launched the Middle East Green Initiative, aiming to plant 10 million trees and reach net zero carbon emissions in its territory by 2060."

The Middle East is promoting clean energy, specifically green hydrogen and renewables, as part of its energy transition strategy, driven by global interest and the need to cut emissions.

Title:

Content: Atef Abdullah (Abu Dhabi)
Global interest in green hydrogen as the fuel of the future and the “optimal ” source of clean energy has recently increased at the level of governments and companies, in a hybrid phase of energy fuel compatible with new environmental regulations and laws that also include oil and gas (carbon free) and hydroelectric.
A host of factors have spurred investment in green hydrogen, including pledges by major industrialized nations to cut emissions to zero by 2050 under the Paris Agreement on climate change.
To achieve these goals, countries need to produce massive amounts of solar, wind, and hydro to meet industry, transportation, and electricity sectors, while hydrogen provides flexible solutions to store, send, and charge energy when needed.
Hydrogen is also the most abundant element in the universe, and is produced, the green type of it, through the electrolysis of water, where this method uses an electric current to separate hydrogen from oxygen in the water, and feed electricity from renewable sources (wind and sun), while oxygen, the second component of water, is produced and released into the air, where it is a positive factor for the atmosphere.
Hydrogen economy
According to a report by Goldman Sachs, hydrogen is expected to meet about a quarter of the world ’ s energy needs by 2050, and the sector is expected to attract an estimated $11.7 trillion in investment, a forecast that is in line with a previous Bank of America study that projected an injection of $11 trillion over the period 2020-2050.
Hydrogen is likely to generate $2.5 trillion in direct revenue and $11 trillion in associated infrastructure by 2050, especially with production expected to double sixfold.
Role of the region
Although the Arab world holds about 57% of the world ’ s crude oil reserves and 26% of the world ’ s natural gas reserves, according to the statistics of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), it also has several elements that can make it a major player in the field of renewable energy due to the large area of   the desert and sunshine most of the year.
According to a study by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is blessed with abundant wind and wind energy, which is essential for the production of low-cost green hydrogen, which in turn supports local industries, the economic and social development of the region and the creation of more new jobs.
The study stressed that the Middle East region has the potential to become a center for green hydrogen production, both for its regional and global markets, as the opportunities that exist will outweigh all challenges.
The region is home to major energy players led by ADNOC, Mubadala, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Holding, Dubai Electricity, ACWA Power and NEOM, who can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy in the Arab world with their physical capabilities, qualified technical staff and global expertise.
In addition to international initiatives, there are regional initiatives focused on the development of the sector such as the Middle East and North Africa Hydrogen Alliance (Dii Desert Energy), which implements initiatives aimed at the prosperity of the green hydrogen sector and sustainability by creating a strong market with local jobs and industries linked to the transformation of the energy sector.
Cost of production
At present, producing green hydrogen costs three times the cost of producing natural gas, and producing it is more expensive than gray hydrogen naturally because of the electrolysis process required to manufacture it.
But according to a recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hydrogen produced with electricity generated from renewable sources could rival conventional energy sources in terms of production costs from 2030 onwards.
This is due to the continuous decline of a range of costs such as solar and wind power production, as well as the improvement of operational and production performance in general, as well as the expansion of the production of electrolysis devices, which is reflected positively over time in reducing their costs by 40% in the short term and up to 80% in the long term.
According to the Bernstein Investment Group ’ s projections, the cost of producing green hydrogen could fall below $2 per kilogram by 2030, versus $1 per gallon of gasoline.
Fuel cell costs are likely to drop 80 percent over the same period, to $30 per kilowatt, as the hydrogen industry grows.
By the mid-2000s, hydrogen fuel-cell heavy cargo vehicles may be more competitive than diesel trucks, and by 2030 fuel-cell vehicles could compete with electric vehicles in terms of total cost.

"Saudi Arabia plans to achieve 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, as part of its energy transition strategy."

The UAE plans to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable and nuclear energy by 2050.

The UAE is investing AED 200 billion in renewable energy as part of its strategy to move towards a low carbon future.

Title:

Content: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues have become increasingly prominent on the global stage as organisations recognise the need to integrate sustainability into their operations.

As the Middle East moves towards a low carbon future, sustainability has become a top priority for organisations and governments across the region.

Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai announced while launching the National Hydrogen Strategy that the UAE is to invest up to AED 200 billion ($54.5 billion) in renewable energy.

The launch of a AED 4 billion renewable energy plant in Dubai,  and the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant are proof of sustainability climbing the agenda.

With COP 28 being held in the UAE this year, there is a renewed sense of urgency on climate change action, and the net-zero carbon target is being prioritised through policies and actions.

After all, sustainability will boost the UAE’s economic competitiveness, drive innovative policy and improve investment opportunities.

The region has seen notable sustainability innovations, including Saudi Arabia’s rapid transition to a circular carbon economy, Bahrain’s state oil company refinancing a $2.2 billion sustainability-linked corporate finance facility, and Oman’s exploration of green hydrogen as a clean energy source.

However, the Middle East faces its own unique challenges in implementing ESG practices, especially around accurate sustainability reporting and implementing early regulations to fill in previous gaps.

Other challenges that hinder the progress of the region’s ESG agenda include the talent gap, how corporates in the region address the need to implement ESG practices, as well as data availability.

Regulatory frameworks

While standardised frameworks and reporting guidelines begin to form, the lack of clear regulations can hinder consistent measurement and disclosure of ESG performance.

Global frameworks have now become more widely adopted in the region such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the newly published International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

The gap in standardisation previously posed challenges for investors and stakeholders who relied on transparent and comparable ESG data for decision-making, however, we are starting to see drastic changes in this area.

Data availability

Many companies in the Middle East still face challenges in collecting, managing, and reporting ESG data, which can hinder their ability to effectively assess and manage their sustainability performance.

Data is the first step to measure any status, but also measure progress. Improving data collection mechanisms and investing in robust reporting systems will be instrumental in addressing this challenge.

ESG talent gap

Organisations need individuals with specialised knowledge and expertise in ESG practices to drive sustainable strategies effectively. Alongside this specialised knowledge, the industry also needs innovators, risk takers, agitators for change, mentors, and communicators in the field. There is however, a shortage of skilled professionals in the region with a deep understanding of ESG principles to drive innovative solutions.

Bridging this gap requires investment in education and training programmes to build a skilled workforce capable of integrating ESG considerations into business practices. Universities and training institutions are therefore increasingly offering courses and programmes on sustainability and ESG and businesses are partnering with academic institutions to develop tailored training initiatives and internships, nurturing a pipeline of talent equipped with the required knowledge and skills.

These efforts will cultivate a sustainable workforce capable of implementing and driving ESG practices in the Middle East.

Implementation by region’s corporates

Despite the challenges, corporations in the Middle East are embracing ESG practices, recognising the importance of sustainability and responsible business conduct. We see this through accelerated electrification and the increase of decarbonizing energy supply.

The GCC’s oil-producing nations have made efforts to diversify energy sources, transitioning towards net-zero carbon fuels for transportation. Investments in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, aim to mitigate environmental impacts and promote a low-carbon economic future transforming the economic system and supply chain.

Additionally, social considerations are gaining prominence. Companies are addressing social issues through initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and employee welfare.

Governance practices are also being strengthened to ensure transparency, accountability, regulatory reforms and ethical conduct.

While obstacles in integrating ESG practices persist in the Middle East, corporates in the region are proactively embracing sustainability and responsible business practices.

That the Middle East is emerging as a leader in ESG adoption is apparent through their fullfillment of the UN SDG goals which has driven positive environmental, social, and governance outcomes for businesses and society as a whole.

Gulf Cooperation Council countries are transitioning to renewable energy, with goals to increase the proportion of renewable energy in their energy mix, such as relying on renewable and nuclear energy by 50% to generate electricity by 2050.

"Gulf countries, including Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, are developing renewable energy infrastructure in the Middle East, with a focus on solar power and net zero carbon goals."

"Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program aims to develop renewable energy sectors by 2030, with a goal of increasing the proportion of renewable energy from 0.3% to 50%."

"Saudi Arabia, a major oil and gas exporter, has set a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, marking a significant step in the country's energy transition."

Title:

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Huawei offers Middle East a digital supersystem to meet ambitions for a low-carbon future
© Sputnik.
Mikhail Voskresensky / Go to the Bank of Tyre solar power plant, 20 km from Damascus, Syria
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Tackling climate change is a growing priority on the agenda of most Middle Eastern countries, and last year, new climate action targets emerged across the region, and even major oil and gas exporters such as Saudi Arabia announced they would reach net zero emissions by 2060.
So far, 137 countries that are parties to the UN climate agreement, responsible for 80% of global carbon emissions, have begun to commit to clear emission reduction targets.
The Middle East also hosted an increasing number of conferences focusing on sustainable energy last year, paving the way for mega projects in the field.
The recent World Digital Energy Summit 2021 is one such forum, showing how public-private collaboration is helping usher in a low-carbon, greener future through advanced technologies.
Hosted by Huawei Digital Power, a new business for information and communications technology giant Huawei, the summit brought together more than 500 participants from 67 countries to examine the interplay between digital electronics technologies and clean energy.
Charles Yang, senior vice president of Huawei and head of global marketing sales and services at Huawei Digital Power, said: “Carbon neutrality has become a global consensus and a big task, and to achieve this goal, energy production must be low-carbon, and energy consumption must be regulated. ”
After the pandemic, there is expected to be greater demand from society for new and green energy sources.
For its part, Huawei sees an opportunity to deeply integrate digital electronics and energy technologies to create low-carbon energy solutions that cover the entire energy flow from green power generation to efficient energy consumption.
This is embodied in the company ’ s philosophy of “using bits to manage watts. ”
In June, Huawei proposed the Network Carbon Intensity (NCI) initiative, in which carbon emissions are defined by one bit as a new measure of green energy.
The initiative comes at a time when Huawei estimates that nearly 40% of its carbon emissions now come from electrical systems, and experts have highlighted how the power generation industry is transitioning to zero-emission status.
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The Middle East and Gulf region in particular is of strategic importance to Huawei, as it has the longest hours of sunlight in the world, estimated at 2,500 hours per year.
Yang asserts that there are significant opportunities for large-scale deployment of photovoltaic energy storage systems in particular.
Various test cases are now available for how to facilitate the use of artificial intelligence and big data in the operation and maintenance of energy systems more efficiently, thus companies can provide society with cleaner and more stable energy.
Smart photovoltaics, smart data center facilities, clean energy for electric vehicles, and for the construction site form an integrated network essential to driving the clean energy revolution.
Yang commented: “While we will cooperate with local companies in all these areas, I believe smart PV data center facilities are of particular importance in our plans. ”
“We have partnered with hundreds of companies, consultants, NGOs and governments around the world to consider opportunities to use a clean energy system, and the fact is that the Middle East is a major energy producer and a global leader in exploring alternative energy systems, and therefore we see tremendous potential for digital power to support the Middle East ’ s transformation agendas in building a better and greener future. ”
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