Leaders of the United Arab Emirates said on Sunday they were plunging into the field of renewable energy, announcing a joint research venture into green energy with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The announcement comes a few months after the World Wildlife Fund labeled the Emirates the world's biggest per-capita producer of globe-warming greenhouse gases, mainly due to its profligate energy consumption.
The Emirates' early entry into the renewable energy arena comes amid squabbling over whether similar reforms should be embraced in the world's largest energy consumer, the US.
The agreement, signed on Sunday between MIT and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC) created the Masdar Institute of Technology in Abu Dhabi. Masdar will pursue Abu Dhabi's plan to use its oil income to develop a more sustainable renewable energy sector and an economy based on green energy expertise.
We want "talent and innovative technologies to enhance economic development and promote new industries using renewable energy," said Sultan al-Jaber, ADFEC's chief executive.
Solar power in the sun-drenched country is one chief research area. The government of Abu Dhabi emirate has already dedicated US$350 million to a giant solar power initiative.
MIT chancellor Phillip Clay said in a prepared release the MIT faculty and staff will provide "advice, scholarly assessment and assistance."
High energy demand in the Emirates is caused by a reliance on air conditioning, chilled swimming pools and a penchant for gas-guzzling four-wheel-drives. A cavernous mall in neighboring Dubai contains an indoor ski slope.
In the US, renewable energy policy seems far from settled. President George W. Bush said last month that he wants to require the use of 133 billion liters a year of ethanol and other alternative fuels by 2017, a fivefold increase over current requirements.
At a Houston fundraiser on Thursday night Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stated the importance of the energy issue in his plans for the White House. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney said on Friday he is developing his own plan for energy independence.
The Emirates was ranked fourth among Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in 2005 in terms of crude oil production after Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait. As of May last year, it was producing 2.5 million barrels per day, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
But the supplies are expected to gradually run out over the next century or so. The institute's mandate is to fill the gap in the budget that reduced oil sales will leave behind.
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS