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biodiversity

UN Ocean Decade Conference commences in Barcelona

by Madaline Dunn April 11, 2024

written by Madaline Dunn

This week, the UN Ocean Decade Conference is being hosted in Barcelona from April 10 to 12 under the theme: ‘Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want.’ The three-day conference convenes governments, leaders, maritime sectors, universities, NGOs, the private sector and civil society, with attendance from 1,500 experts and over 40 international speakers.

The conference is part of the larger Ocean Decade Week, which runs from April 8 to 12 and features more than 120 Satellite Events alongside the official programme.

The Ocean Decade is a ten-year framework initiative which was launched back in 2021, aimed at identifying, generating and using ocean knowledge to manage the ocean sustainably.

The conference will set joint priorities for the future of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and launch the Barcelona Statement, which will contain recommendations on priority areas of action for the Ocean Decade in coming years.

Yesterday, opening the week, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said: “We know that the big blue should be our obsession because the ocean is suffocating. The #OceanDecade is a movement that has already exceeded expectations, and this movement is based on three goals: understanding, educating, and protecting.”

The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference is organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO), the Generalitat of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council through the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica, and the National Ocean Decade Committee of Spain, which is led by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

April 11, 2024 0 comments

Green Tourism: Striking a Balance

by Madaline Dunn March 14, 2024

written by Madaline Dunn

The travel and tourism sector generates more than 9% of total global GDP and accounts for one in 11 jobs worldwide. But this success comes at a cost. From 2010 and 2019, greenhouse gases produced by travel and tourism rose at an average annual rate of 2.5%, amounting to 8.1% of global emissions in 2019.

Travel and tourism impacts vital local resources. Its water demands can have severe consequences on local eco-systems, industries, and populations, particularly in hotter, water-deprived regions. From 2010 to 2019, the Middle East saw tourism’s water footprint increase as industry growth outpaced water intensity and supplies.

As an industry, travel and tourism needs to rethink its focus and strike a sustainable balance between development and nature. Destinations must shift from exploiting the benefits of their environment, to being conscious custodians of our natural world.

In Saudi

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental action is exemplified by the principles and goals of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). Across the Kingdom, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and Vision 2030 plan provide an interconnected vision to restoring nature’s balance, contributing to the global environmental stocktake, and fulfilling long-term sustainability goals as KSA advances from ambition to action.

Built around the aims of reducing emissions, greening Saudi’s landscape, and protecting the land and sea, SGI includes efforts by the Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre to implement new energy efficiency standards across power generation, water desalination, and electricity transmission and distribution by 2025; a partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Aramco to use captured carbon to produce chemicals and synthetic fuels by 2030; and ambitions for Saudi Arabia to become the world’s leading hydrogen producer and exporter by 2030, capturing more than 27 million tonnes of CO2e to produce four million tonnes of clean hydrogen per year.

In AlUla

In northwest Arabia, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is establishing a new tourism destination in a landscape that has seen significant degradation due to poor agricultural practices, depletion of water reserves, and the realities of life in an arid climate.

Guided by the 12 principles of the AlUla Sustainability Charter, RCU’s plans to create a new path focused on protection and preservation, including developing light-touch tourism; balanced agriculture; safe and healthy environments within the circular economy; and embedded resilience.

The AlUla Sustainability Charter drives RCU towards the creation of a circular economy, establishing a framework that promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the maximisation of resource value. By putting the principles of the AlUla Sustainability Charter into action, AlUla is employing a holistic approach to sustainability – one that considers four pillars (social, environmental, cultural and economic components) and integrated into all levels of development in AlUla, whether it’s a master plan or a standalone project.

A necessary part of securing AlUla’s longevity is revitalising nature through regreening and rewilding, with sustainable agriculture and water management supporting the development of a cultural hub for visitors, and home to a local community – all in synergy with nature, not in competition.

RCU has taken its first steps: planting tens of thousands of seedlings, releasing native animal species, and beginning to restore balance to nature. The next phase – to become a carbon neutral destination – requires even greater effort.

AlUla’s goal

By 2035, AlUla’s tourism sector will have matured to the point where visitor numbers are maintained at two million per year – an optimum level that is economically beneficial and environmentally and culturally sustainable. By that year, RCU has set targets to make AlUla carbon-neutral on local emissions.

By 2035, tourists spending 24 hours in AlUla will experience a reduced carbon footprint of up to 62% compared to conventional experiences3. Contributing to this will be sustainable aviation fuels adopted by airlines connecting to AlUla, green-label certified hotels, electric transportation between destinations, amongst other solutions.

These milestones represent the goals of RCU and Saudi Arabia’s sustainability, conservation, and economic diversification strategies.

RCU has developed a city-wide 360-Mobility Plan to increase the use of zero-emission transport, encompassing an electric tram connecting the airport, city, and heritage sites, public electric and hydrogen buses, and e-buggies and e-bikes at hotels and around Old Town.

We are working to support hotels in choosing renewable energy options, while natural AC systems in some hotels will keep temperatures cool year-round, leveraging natural ventilation in our designs to provide fresh air and regulate indoor comfort.

RCU will enforce strict environmental criteria for eco-luxury hotels, homes, offices, and other buildings in AlUla, including the mandate to achieve certification from globally recognised labels (i.e., LEED, EarthCheck, and KSA’s sustainable building rating system, Mostadam). Further, infrastructure will be expected to be certified by Envision.

RCU will soon launch a specialised programme of water conservation and management, which will ensure the sustainable use of this valuable resource across agriculture, tourism, and other key sectors. While unused food, much of which will be locally grown, and other waste will be collected by zero-emission municipality trucks and recycled.

On the ground

RCU is already adopting a holistic approach to sustainability within our eco-tourism plan, centring on integrated social, economic, cultural, and environmental pillars.

The recently opened Dar Tantora by The House Hotel represents an important example of our sustainable tourism and hospitality targets. The upscale eco-lodge in Old Town will feature 30 guest rooms in repurposed traditional mud-brick buildings. The latest low-impact engineering ideas are being activated alongside materials and techniques used locally for generations.

Dar Tantora reflects RCU’s work to regenerate the Old Town. Using eco-tourism as a driver for development powers the creation of new jobs with far-reaching economic, social, and environmental results that will positively affect our community.

The AlUla Centre of Excellence in Earthen Architecture and Sustainable Construction supports our work in advancing carbon-neutral construction, bioclimatic architecture, and heritage conservation. Reusing local materials and adopting tried and trusted techniques complements the basis of an essential circular economy.

RCU’s efforts on the ground to create a sustainable destination centre on including, engaging, and benefitting our community; creating appealing job opportunities in a diverse hospitality sector, launching careers within heritage arts and crafts, celebrating local customs and traditions, supporting a blooming agricultural industry – all to sustain, and grow AlUla’s eco-tourism economy.

Meeting targets

When AlUla reaches its 2035 environmental, sustainable development, and tourism targets, the city will have matured into an enhancement of its cultural and natural landscapes. The holistic approach to sustainability, conservation of AlUla’s water, land, and biodiversity, and RCU’s embrace of light-touch tourism, will have helped to define our achievements.

The decarbonisation of tourism infrastructure will foster diversity within the wider sustainability economy, opening opportunities in areas including agri-tourism, supporting local farms and other specialist sectors.

At the heart of our tourism ambitions will remain AlUla’s unique role as a global cultural and heritage hub. RCU’s challenge is to grow AlUla into a new kind of destination for a new kind of tourism industry – one that is sustainable, environmentally, and culturally focused, inclusive, eco-friendly, and which values nature as a partner rather than a competitor.

By Waleed Aldayel, Chief Strategy & Digital, RCU

March 14, 2024 0 comments

Developing Environment

UNEA-6: Unite to fight triple planetary crisis, world leaders told

by Madaline Dunn March 1, 2024

written by Madaline Dunn

In a fractured world, against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, war and crisis, the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) called for unity and cooperation to tackle the triple planetary crisis.

Indeed, with attendance from over 7,000 delegates from 182 UN Member States, UN Executive Director Inger Andersen urged Assembly members to “put aside regional differences” and focus on a common purpose: protecting people and the planet.

The week-long deliberations at the Assembly meeting concluded with the adoption of 15 resolutions, two decisions, and a Ministerial Declaration aimed at halting the triple planetary crisis, but weren’t without disagreement.

The resolutions, which are not legally binding, include the environmental aspects of minerals and metals, hazardous pesticides, air pollution, water policy and land degradation, among others.

ESG Mena runs through some of the key highlights from the Assembly meeting, spotlighting important conversations, agreements, and initiatives.

Tackling land degradation

This week saw the adoption of the first-ever UNEA resolution on land degradation, which called for a strengthening of international efforts to:

Combat desertification and land degradation,
Restore degraded lands,
Promote land conservation and sustainable land management,
Contribute to land degradation neutrality and enhance drought resilience.

At the high-level event on combating land degradation for climate and biodiversity, UNEA 6 President and Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development for the Kingdom of Morocco, Leila Benali, said: “Land is the only common denominator among the three Rio conventions, and it is only through land restoration that we can achieve their objectives. We need to build on what unites us rather than what divides us and start with working and credible solutions when it comes to land and soil health.”

The global plastic problem

A salient issue across the week was tackling the global plastic problem, with environmental experts and advocates highlighting the interconnection of the triple planetary crisis and plastics.

This week, Greenpeace Africa, Powershift Africa, and the Fossil-Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative called for UNEA-6 member states to formulate and adopt a comprehensive and binding Global Plastic Treaty, one that addresses “the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal.”

Hellen Kahaso Dena, Project Lead of the Pan-Africa Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, said: “Our planet is drowning in plastic, a crisis intricately linked to the fossil fuel industry. Member states are allowing fossil fuel interests to drive the treaty negotiations and water down its ambition. Ending the corporate addiction to plastic is an important part of moving away from fossil fuels, combating climate change, pollution and protecting communities.”

Meanwhile, Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns and Advocacy for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, highlighted the need for a binding Global Plastics Treaty as well as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that “can tackle the root cause of both crises — fossil fuels.”

Today, at the closing plenary, Andersen called for “everyone to do what they can in their own sphere of influence” to engage fully in the processes ahead, including on the negotiations for an instrument to end plastic pollution.

Negotiations are ongoing but could be reached next month in Canada, it has been shared.

Tackling unsustainable resource consumption

The world’s staggeringly unsustainable resource consumption also came into view this week, with a report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Resource Panel (IRP), titled, Global Resources Outlook 2024 – Bend the trend: Pathways to a Liveable Planet as Resource Use Spikes.

The report found that while increasing resource use is the main driver of the triple planetary crisis, material resource use has increased over three times over the last 50 years and continues to grow by an average of more than 2.3 per cent a year.

Further, without a course correction, the report notes that material resource extraction could increase by almost 60 per cent from 2020 levels by 2060, from 100 to 160 billion tonnes.

When it comes to who is driving this, there’s a huge disparity between high-income countries and low-income countries.

In fact, the former use six times more materials per capita and are responsible for ten times more climate impacts per capita than low-income countries.

Here, the report notes bold policy action is required to phase out unsustainable activities, speed up responsible and innovative ways of meeting human needs and promote social acceptance of the necessary transitions.

Read the full report here.

Solar geoengineering rejected

Switzerland’s push to create a UN expert group on solar radiation modification (SRM) was rejected this week by a vocal opposition of the African Group, supported by Pacific Island States, Colombia, Mexico, and the EU.

Solar radiation modification (SRM) technologies are a controversial and unproven set of technologies aimed at dimming the sun to cool the Earth.

There are a number of ethical, environmental and geopolitical concerns surrounding these technologies, and there is currently a de facto moratorium on geoengineering.

Amid contentious debate, Switzerland withdrew its draft resolution.

Push for collective action and collaboration

The connection between the health of humans, animals and the environment was also in the spotlight this week.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of the “inextricable, yet fragile,” bond between the three, noting that we have “forgotten or ignored” that when we harm our environment, we harm ourselves.

“Now we are paying the price, with a triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” he said, noting that the planet’s condition is “deteriorating rapidly.”

The WHO Director-General added that “collectively, we got ourselves into this mess” and “collectively, we must get ourselves out of it.”

Indeed, this was an underlying theme of this week’s UNEA-6: the need for united action. In a video address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued words of warning: “Our planet is on the brink. Ecosystems are collapsing. Our climate is imploding. And humanity is to blame. The fallout – from poisoned rivers to rising seas – harm us all. Yet, those least responsible suffer most – a burning injustice. We must work together to combat these crises – recognising the links between them to put the world on a sustainable path and turbocharge sustainable development.”

Demonstrating the coming together of different parties, this week also saw the unveiling of Al-Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth, a document drafted by leading Islamic scholars from around the world, presenting guidelines on environmental protection drawn from the principles of Islam.

Elsewhere, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a call for nominations for its Young Champions of the Earth award, an award that spotlights youth efforts and potential to lead environmental protection.

In closing UNEA-6 today, Andersen said: “The world needs action. The world needs speed. The world needs real, lasting change.”

To access a full breakdown of UNEA-6 resolutions and decisions and more details on the Ministerial Declaration, head over here.

March 1, 2024 0 comments

Environment Latest News

The UAE’s 44th Planting Week commences this week to plant 50,000 mangrove seedlings

by Madaline Dunn February 27, 2024

written by Madaline Dunn

The UAE’s 44th Planting Week began yesterday under the theme “Together, Let’s Plant the UAE.”

With the aim of planting 50,000 mangrove seedlings by March 1st, the initiative seeks to encourage people to contribute to preserving the environment and biodiversity and address environmental and climate-related challenges.

For the initiative, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) supplied seedlings to participating entities, supporting the UAE’s pledge to plant 100 million mangrove trees by 2030.

Speaking on the mission behind the initiative, H.E. Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Trees function as complete ecosystems, offering not just an aesthetically pleasing environment and cooler temperatures but also serving as habitats for various birds and other creatures. Additionally, they play a crucial role in reducing carbon dioxide levels, producing oxygen, and yielding numerous agricultural crops.”

H.E explained that during Planting Week, the aim is to educate the community about the significance of tree planting and the wide-ranging benefits it brings, encouraging greater participation in tree planting, preservation, and development activities

Adding: “The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan held a strong passion for planting efforts since the formation of the nation. His vision and focus on engaging the community in tree planting efforts laid the foundation for our current approach. I urge community members to participate in Planting Week activities, aiming to make it an opportunity for continuous year-round planting.”

The 44th Planting Week, it was shared, focuses on integrating innovative technologies and practices, involving diverse sectors, including People of Determination, to contribute to green space preservation and expansion.

Organisers said the primary goal is to maintain and enhance green spaces by promoting native plants and raising awareness about the significance of planting.

February 27, 2024 0 comments

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