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OUR TOP CLIMATE STORIES- The UAE’s National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has been named preferred bidder for a long-term district cooling concession for the Hyderabad Pharma City in Telangana and Egypt’s Pathfinder Energy Group is planning to set up 500 EV charging stations in Jordan at a total investment of USD 470 mn in partnership with the country’s Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and Egypt’s East Gas Company.

^^ We have more on these stories in the news well, below.

HAPPENING TODAY- The COP27 Transitional Committee is kicking off today in the Dominican Republic and running until Friday, 1 September. The meeting aims to establish institutional arrangements, modalities, governance structures, and terms of reference for the landmark Loss and Damage Fund while expanding sources for climate funding under the program.

THE BIG CLIMATE STORY OUTSIDE THE REGION- It’s quiet on the climate front, but a move by youths to sue governments over climate change received backing from the UN. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said that all countries have a legal obligation to protect children from environmental degradation, including the climate crisis, Reuters reported yesterday. In an updated document, the UN body described environmental degradation as "a form of structural violence against children," stating countries should give access to justice for children, by “removing barriers for children to initiate proceedings themselves.”

While non-binding, the guidance remains notable with some 16k children from over 100 countries consulted during a broad dialogue during the two-year drafting period. It comes at a time when children are finding themselves at the forefront of climate lawsuits as they become more aware of their rights. Some of the most notable youth-led lawsuits include a recent landmark win to youths plaintiffs in Montana in a climate change case and an upcoming case by six youths from Portugal taking 32 European countries to court after deadly wildfires in their country in 2017.

The finding by the UN body also got coverage from The New York Times.

WATCH THIS SPACE #1- Egypt wants to up green cooperation with BP: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said his country hopes to boost its existing cooperation with oil giant BP on the energy transition, emissions reduction, and the production of green hydrogen, according to a statement. CEO Bernard Looney said BP plans to invest USD 3.5 bn in investments in exploration and development in Egypt in the coming three years, the statement noted.

WATCH THIS SPACE #2- Africa could become the EU’s answer to SAF: The European Union is looking at Africa to support Europe’s clean jet fuel projects under its Global Gateway infrastructure fund, Reuters reports, citing statements by European Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker. The EU plans to launch a EUR 4 mn capacity-building project by 31 December to back sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) feasibility studies and certification in 11 African nations and India, he said, with a possible draw up of funds for selected projects under the Global Gateway later.

REFRESHER- The EU agreed earlier this year to set binding targets for European aviation to boost its use of SAF to decarbonize the industry. The proposal aims to increase the use of SAF by ensuring fuel suppliers have 2% of the fuel accessible at EU airports as SAF in 2025, rising to 6% in 2030, 20% in 2035, and 70% in 2050. The EU carbon market is set to provide about EUR 2 bn to help airlines switch to SAF. Some 1.2% of fuels must also be synthetic fuels starting 2030, rising to 35% in 2050. Aviation is a difficult sector to decarbonize and net zero aircrafts are not expected for another 10 years.

Regional SAF production is heating up: The Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Recycling (ECARU), Qalaa Holdings, and France’s Axens signed a cooperation protocol last month to conduct technical and economic studies for a second-generation biofuel and SAF production project. The US private sector is looking to tap Egypt for SAF production, Regional Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs Keith Kirkham told Enterprise Climate back in June. US companies are currently exploring cooperation pathways with both the private and public sectors of Egypt to jointly produce SAFs.

WATCH THIS SPACE #3- Debate still continues over who should pay up for shipping emissions: Shipping companies want to see oil and commodities traders paying up the financial cost incurred if ships are downgraded under a new carbon indicator introduced in January by the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO), The Financial Times reports. Major commodities groups are holding out against such attempts to force legal obligations on traders for shipping emissions. The shipping industry delivers nearly 90% of all global goods and is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels, accounting for nearly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to the OECD data.

Some fear impacts on the market: Shipping groups are concerned of a market impact resulting from the first mandatory ratings of IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator — a rating system that grades individual ships depending on their operational carbon intensity. Industry giants including Amazon, Unilever, and Ikea have pledged to use zero-emission ships by 2040. The first ratings are set to be recorded next year.

REMEMBER- The IMO’s member countries approved in July a revised greenhouse gas strategy that outlines a net zero emissions goal for the shipping industry by mid century. They agreed to reach net zero “by or around, i.e., close to 2050, taking into account different national circumstances.” They also approved “indicative checkpoints” to help lower total annual greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping industry by at least 20% while aiming for 30% by 2030 compared with 2008 levels. They also seek reducing such emissions by at least 70%, while striving for 80% by 2040.

WATCH THIS SPACE #4- Kerry wants Big Oil to get serious on climate strategies: US climate envoy John Kerry is on a mission to lobby fossil fuel players to lay out strategies aimed at pushing down carbon emissions, reaching out to KSA Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and BP CEO Bernard Looney among others, The Financial Times reports. The US climate envoy has reportedly scheduled a meeting with KSA oil conglomerate Aramco in a bid to explore the corporation’s climate mitigation plans and is urging fossil fuel producers to chart out a course to push down greenhouse gas output throughout their supply chains, nudging them to earmark investments for clean energy. As part of his climate mitigation strategy, Kerry has also been bidding big oil firms to expand carbon capture and storage capacity, the news outlet notes.

NON-CLIMATE REGIONAL HEADLINES:

  • KSA: PIF-backed ADES Holding has announced a plan to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) on Tadawul. (Asharq Alawsat)
  • Egypt: Statistics agency Capmas plans to begin a survey in early 2024 to determine the number of refugees residing in Egypt. (Al Shorouk)

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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Saudi Arabia will host the Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference from Monday, 4 September to Wednesday, 6 September in Jeddah. Organized by KSA’s Transport and Logistic Services Ministry, the event will feature over 50 speakers to spotlight sustainability, new technologies, and digitization efforts in the maritime industry. Speakers will include International Maritime Organization Secretary General Kitack Lim and World Ocean Council CEO Paul Holthus.

Kenya will host the Africa Climate Summit from Monday, 4 September to Wednesday, 6 September in Nairobi. The event will bring together government leaders and investors to share pathways to increasing Africa’s climate resilience and serve as a platform to inform and frame commitments, pledges, and outcomes, ultimately leading to the development of the Nairobi Declaration on Climatic Change.

India will host the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit from Saturday, 9 September to Sunday, 10 September in New Delhi. A G20 Leaders’ Declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the summit, stating commitment towards priorities discussed and agreed upon during previous ministerial and working group meetings through the year, the organizers note. The last meeting of G20 energy ministers in July failed to reach consensus on a fossil fuel phasedown as several major producing nations, led by Saudi Arabia, blocked the move. Among other expected announcements, the Global Biofuels Alliance is scheduled to be launched at the summit.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

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