Gulf Arab states cannot surrender oil. However they will slash their emissions

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Abu Dhabi
CNN
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As Western states attempt to wean themselves off their habit to hydrocarbons, Gulf oil nations have been pushing again exhausting, warning {that a} hasty transition away from fossil fuels shall be counterproductive.

However as they inform the world that it can’t stay with out the pure useful resource that has introduced them huge wealth, the Gulf states are embarking on their very own bold clear power tasks.

Among the world’s largest hydrocarbon producers and exporters, Gulf nations are additionally among the many globe’s largest polluters. Fuel-rich Qatar and oil-wealthy Saudi Arabia have among the heaviest carbon footprints on the planet. In line with the World Financial institution, Qatar had the very best carbon emissions per capita as of 2019, adopted by Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The Gulf monarchies try to vary that, investing billions within the renewable power sector, a plan that permits them to avoid wasting extra of their hydrocarbons for export to an energy-hungry world.

Analysts say the transfer is greater than a publicity stunt in a world the place hydrocarbons are more and more stigmatized. It’s pragmatic, they are saying.

“The Gulf states are making internet zero home targets in some methods to extend their hydrocarbon property for export, to make the most of a window of alternative of these merchandise as demand is anticipated to progressively decline,” mentioned Karen Younger, senior analysis scholar at Columbia’s Heart on World Power Coverage.

Their push for going inexperienced at residence additionally helps them battle their longstanding picture of being heavy polluters, mentioned Rafiq Latta, senior correspondent at Power Intelligence, an power data firm.

“The very last thing the Gulf states need is to look soiled,” Latta instructed CNN, “So they’re investing closely in inexperienced power,” which additionally opens avenues for enterprise because the inexperienced power business features world traction.

So, funding in clear power tasks and renewables “makes superb enterprise sense and PR sense for the Gulf,” he mentioned.

Gulf petro-states are warning in opposition to a fast transition away from hydrocarbons, with the UAE calling for a “combined power” method that minimizes emissions with out slicing hydrocarbons.

The UAE is without doubt one of the largest oil exporters, however has made renewable and inexperienced power a precedence, arguing that clear and soiled power are complementary, not competing.

That view of the symbiotic relationship between the 2 sorts of energies that the UAE believes in is maybe greatest demonstrated by Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of the nation’s important oil firm ADNOC, who additionally occurs to be the federal government’s local weather envoy. He has argued that by 2050, the world might want to produce 30% extra power than right this moment.

“The world wants all of the options it may well get,” he mentioned at an power summit in Abu Dhabi final month. “It’s not oil or fuel or photo voltaic or wind or nuclear or hydrogen. It’s oil and fuel and photo voltaic and wind … It’s all the above.”

The UAE was the primary Center Jap state so as to add nuclear energy to its power combine 14 years in the past and the primary to set a net-zero emissions purpose, by 2050. The Gulf state is residence to the headquarters of the Worldwide Renewable Power Company (IRENA) and is because of host subsequent 12 months’s COP28 local weather summit.

Saudi Arabia, which has its personal local weather program, adopted by saying a internet zero carbon emissions goal of 2060. On Monday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman mentioned that his $620 billion wealth fund, the Public Funding Fund, will even goal internet zero emissions by 2050, including that the dominion will contribute $2.5 billion to the Center East Inexperienced Initiative, which goals to cut back carbon emissions from regional hydrocarbon manufacturing by greater than 60%.

This month, the USA and the UAE signed a memorandum that goals to mobilize $100 billion on clear power tasks that might “speed up towards a purpose of deploying 100 gigawatts of fresh power by 2035.” One gigawatt can energy about 300,000 houses.

“The world will nonetheless have demand for oil and the Gulf method, not less than in Saudi and UAE, is to supply a cleaner oil product that emits much less carbon from flaring and that’s extra environment friendly in extraction strategies,” mentioned Younger, “And they’re doing that.”

The flaring of pure fuel is a by-product of oil manufacturing, and the waste contributes to extreme air air pollution and greenhouse fuel emissions.

Talking to CNN’s Becky Anderson on Tuesday through the COP27 local weather summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, the UAE’s minister of local weather change and atmosphere Mariam Almheiri mentioned that the Gulf state has been working towards “a simply power transition.”.

“We’re ramping up our renewables and on the similar time decarbonizing our oil and fuel sector,” Almheiri instructed CNN, including that the UAE now gives among the lowest carbon footprint oil barrels on this planet.

A lot of the hydrocarbons exported by Gulf states go to among the world’s largest customers and polluters, together with China and India.

Gulf states are nonetheless circuitously liable for the carbon footprints left by their customers, and analysts say it’s unrealistic to advocate for a lower in oil and fuel extraction and export, as it could be detrimental to GCC economies.

“They’ve bought their very own self-interest to take care of, and clearly it could be financial suicide to advocate for a radical shift away from oil and fuel,” mentioned Latta.

“The turkey is just not going to vote for Christmas, and the lamb is just not going to vote for Eid, so I don’t see the Gulf en masse shifting or accelerating away from hydrocarbons any time quickly,” mentioned Latta.

The UAE’s mantra of “most power, minimal emissions” requires a mixed power provide in a gradual and gradual power transition to keep away from a shock to the worldwide financial system.

Whereas it’s of their self-interest, “GCC states have first a accountability to their residents, and which means they have to generate income,” mentioned Younger. “Proper now, the best and most effective technique to generate state income is to promote oil and fuel. In order that’s what they may hold doing.”

At the very least 18 individuals, together with two kids, have been killed in final Friday’s protests within the metropolis of Khash, in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, mentioned Amnesty Worldwide on Thursday.

“This newest lethal incident in Sistan and Baluchistan province reveals that protesters from the oppressed Baluchi minority have borne the brunt of the safety forces’ notably vicious crackdown on demonstrations,” the human rights group added.

Final week, protests turned violent in a number of cities within the province in southeast Iran, state media and activists mentioned. Sistan and Baluchistan, which neighbors Pakistan and Afghanistan, is residence to the long-oppressed Baluch ethnic minority and has a historical past of unrest with armed teams finishing up assaults in opposition to Iranian safety personnel.

The lethal protests are a part of a wider nationwide motion gripping Iran in current weeks.

Right here is the most recent:

  • Iran’s overseas minister on Thursday criticized his German counterpart after she tweeted a message of assist for anti-government demonstrators on Wednesday.
  • Main Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti posted an image of herself on Instagram with out the obligatory hijab to indicate assist for the protests.
  • The Iranian authorities labeled London-based information channel Iran Worldwide as a “terrorist group,” the state-aligned information company ISNA reported Tuesday, citing the nation’s data ministry.
  • Iranian forces then arrested a journalist from Iran Worldwide, ISNA reported Thursday. ISNA, referring to journalist Elham Afkari as an “agent,” reported that she was arrested Thursday by the Ministry of Intelligence whereas making an attempt to “flee the nation.” Iranian officers have recognized Afkari because the sister of well-known Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari, who was executed two years in the past, in line with the state information company IRNA.

FIFA declares shared flights for Israeli and Palestinian soccer followers for 2022 World Cup

FIFA, soccer’s world governing physique, introduced on Thursday that shared flights have been organized to allow Israeli and Palestinian followers into Qatar to observe the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

  • Background: In FIFA’s press launch, the group’s president Gianni Infantino mentioned, “We’re delighted that an settlement has been reached for Israeli and Palestinian followers to go to Qatar and attend matches through the FIFA World Cup. With this deal, Israelis and Palestinians will have the ability to fly collectively and luxuriate in soccer collectively.” Qatar doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Israel, however a short lived consular providers workplace shall be arrange through the match to deal with Israeli guests. Greater than the 8,000 Palestinians and three,800 Israelis have purchased tickets for the match, a supply briefed on the matter, however not licensed to talk publicly, instructed CNN.
  • Why it issues: The short-term constitution flights between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Hamad Worldwide Airport in Doha, Qatar, characterize the one official direct flights between the 2 nations. Two Gulf Arab states neighboring Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, signed historic normalization agreements with Israel in 2020, however regardless of direct flights for the World Cup, a Qatari official instructed CNN that the nation’s stance on normalization “has not modified.”

Lawyer of British-Egyptian starvation striker refused jail entry, authorities say he’s in “good well being”

Khaled Ali, a lawyer representing jailed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, tweeted Thursday that regardless of a allow, he was denied entry to Wadi Al Natroun jail to go to his consumer amid mounting issues over Abd El-Fattah’s deteriorating well being. On the identical day, Egypt’s Public Prosecution mentioned in an announcement {that a} medical report exhibits jailed British-Egyptian author and activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah is in “good well being.”

  • Background: The Public Prosecution mentioned it has ordered the formation of a medical committee to look into Abd El-Fattah’s well being situation following a request by his legal professional earlier this month to maneuver him to a medical middle. The Public Prosecution mentioned within the assertion that the medical report “concluded that Abd El Fattah is in good well being and doesn’t require shifting to a medical middle and really helpful common observe up.” Abd El-Fattah, a number one activist within the nation’s 2011 rebellion who has been imprisoned a number of instances over 9 years, escalated a greater than 200-day starvation strike on Sunday as he stopped consuming water.
  • Why it issues: The household of Abd El-Fattah mentioned Thursday that Egyptian authorities had intervened medically after the activist stopped consuming water, and urged British authorities to get details about his well being standing.

It’ll be Bibi: Israel’s president to ask Netanyahu to kind subsequent authorities

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog introduced Friday he’ll invite Benjamin Netanyahu to kind the nation’s subsequent authorities.

  • Background: Herzog will formally problem the mandate to Netanyahu on Sunday, he mentioned. Herzog made the announcement after assembly with all of the Knesset’s factions to ask who they’d again for prime minister. In an announcement launched by his workplace, he mentioned: “On the finish of the spherical of consultations, 64 members of the Knesset really helpful to the president the chairman of the Likud faction, MK Benjamin Netanyahu.” He added that 28 Knesset members really helpful outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid. The identical quantity selected to not advocate anybody. Below Israeli regulation, Netanyahu will then have 28 days to kind a brand new authorities, with the opportunity of a 14-day extension if required.
  • Why it issues: The invitation paves the best way for Netanyahu to take Israel’s high job for a report sixth time and his prolong his report because the nation’s longest-serving chief. Netanyahu’s ruling coalition is more likely to be probably the most far-right authorities Israel has ever seen, which dangers creating additional tensions with Palestinians.

Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist on the College of Santo Domingo, has been trying to find the misplaced tomb of Cleopatra for almost 20 years. Now she believes she’s made a pivotal breakthrough.

Martinez and her workforce uncovered a 1,305-meter (4,281-foot) tunnel, positioned 13 meters (43 ft) underground, the Egyptian Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities not too long ago introduced – an architectural design specialists referred to as an “engineering miracle.”

“The excavation revealed an enormous non secular middle with three sanctuaries, a sacred lake, greater than 1,500 objects, busts, statues, golden items, an enormous assortment of cash portraying Alexander the Nice, Queen Cleopatra and the Ptolemies,” Martinez instructed CNN.

“Probably the most fascinating discovery is the complicated of tunnels resulting in the Mediterranean Sea and sunken constructions,” she added. Exploring these underwater constructions would be the subsequent stage of her seek for the Egyptian queen’s misplaced tomb – a journey that started in 2005.

A collection of clues led Martinez to consider Cleopatra’s tomb is likely to be positioned within the Temple of Osiris within the ruined metropolis of Taposiris Magna, on Egypt’s northern coast, the place the Nile River meets the Mediterranean.

Chief amongst them was the title itself. In line with Martinez, Cleopatra was thought-about in her time to be “the human incarnation of the goddess Isis,” as Antony was thought-about to be that of the god Orisis, Isis’ husband.

Martinez believes Cleopatra could have chosen to bury her husband within the temple to replicate this delusion. Of all of the 20 temples round Alexandria she has studied, Martinez mentioned, “no different place, construction or temple combines so many situations because the temple of Taposiris Magna.”

And after years of looking out, Martinez feels she is getting shut.

The excavations up to now have revealed that “the temple was devoted to Isis” – which Martinez believes is one other signal that the misplaced tomb lies close by – in addition to the tunnels beneath the ocean.

Now, Martinez mentioned, she is at “the start of a brand new journey” – underwater excavations.

That is the place Martinez and her workforce are trying subsequent. Though it’s “too early to know the place these tunnels lead,” she is hopeful.

If the tunnels result in Cleopatra, “will probably be crucial discovery of the century,” she mentioned.

By Christian Edwards

A girl with face-paint depicting the Palestinian flag looks on as others gather with flags of the Fatah movement during a rally to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, in Gaza City on Thursday.



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