Tag Archives: president
Carbon Market Challenges & Opportunities
London, 29 May 2013 Short-term intervention in the EU IETA members would overwhelmingly support intervention by the European Commission in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) within 12 months to improve the functioning of the market from its current record lows. Almost all (96%) respondents back structural reform of the EU ETS, with almost half (45%) thinking an ambitious emissions target and cap would be the most effective option. The outlook for price recovery remains weak according to members with low carbon prices expected up to 2020. EUAs are currently trading at around €3.50, only 7% of the value needed globally to shift economies onto a low carbon pathway (€47). 56% of respondents expect EUAs to trade at €5-10 between now and 2020, a 47% fall from last year’s expectations for the same time period, and a 68% fall from those in 2011. • Expectations that EUAs will trade below €10 and CERs below €5 to 2020 • Domestic or regional policies will be more important that international negotiations over the next few years Dirk Forrister, President and CEO, IETA said: “The agreement in Doha to extend the cap and trade schemes will emerge elsewhere before 2020 in Brazil (37%), Japan (36%), and Mexico (36%). Four out of five now feel that domestic or regional policy initiatives are likely to be more important than international negotiations over the next five years. Respondents particularly highlighted that linking domestic or regional carbon markets will help stimulate the growth in a global market. 94% expect that the EU and Australian carbon markets will be linked before 2020, as well as 35% for New Zealand and around a25% believe that both California and South Korea will eventually link with the EU. Dirk Forrister, President and CEO, IETA said: “Carbon Markets are the preferred policy tool for addressing greenhouse gas emissions around the world. As new systems emerge, market actors and policymakers need to work together to design these systems in a harmonized way – and to make them “linking-ready.” That way, it will be easier to create a more globally connected system and a commonly traded carbon commodity, which will allow nations to meet emissions targets and preserve economic growth.” Amongst other key findings: The new Californian carbon market, launched at the start of the year, is expected to increase its share of the global market in terms of value, with California Carbon Allowances expected to continue trading at US$10-20 over the first three years of the programme. Only 62% believe that ICAO will propose an approach to global aviation emissions regulation before 2018, and more than one respondent in ten believes that they never will. Only 1% of respondents expect the outcome of COP21 in 2015 to result in legally binding targets for all major economies that are aligned with limiting climate change to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. Despite the collapse of carbon prices, all regulated entities surveyed said that the carbon price is still relevant to their capital investment decisions, with four out of five saying it is an important factor. Jonathan Grant, Director, PwC , who performed analysis on the survey said: “The outlook for a global deal is for a mix of binding targets and voluntary pledges; IETA members expect that the global deal in 2015 will look more like Cancun than Kyoto, but at least it won’t be Copenhagen.” “With a sustained period of low prices expected for EU carbon permits, business looks set to face a patchwork of climate regulation over the coming years which may raise concerns about competitiveness and high administrative costs.” Ends — Continue reading
Al Ahli clinch President’s Cup for 8th time
Al Ahli clinch President’s Cup for 8th time James Jose / 29 May 2013 Ten-man Al Ahli beat Dubai rivals Al Shabab in a seven-goal thriller to win the prestigious President’s Cup for a record eighth time at a packed Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday night. In a top quality game, where no quarter was given nor taken, Al Ahli eventually won 4-3 to finish the season with silverware. Their eighth title tied them with Al Sharjah, who too have won eight times. Al Ahli were in the inaugural winners in the 1974-75 season. The last time they won it was in the 2007-08 season. General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, gave away the Cup. Al Ahli started strongly, while surprisingly, Al Shabab looked nowhere near a team that was playing a Cup final. Except for a wayward Ciel attempt in the fifth minute, it was Al Ahli all along right until the half-hour mark. Ciel had the first chance of the match when he came up with a fine solo down the right but shot across even though there was no one in support upfront. Al Ahli broke the deadlock in the next minute through Adnan Hussein Al Balooshi. Adnan Hussein darted down the right, drew goalkeeper Salem Abdulla out before slotting it over him. Grafite could have added a second on nine minutes when he sprinted in from the left but defender Walid Abbas, who had tailed him all along, made a fine clearance. They did increase the lead though on 15 minutes through Grafite. Amir Mubarak sent in a clever through pass and Grafite broke the off-side trap before tapping it into goal. Al Ahli kept at it and could have added another five minutes later but Grafite headed over the cross bar after a Abdulaziz Hussein cross from the right. Al Shabab had a chance in the next minute but Dawood Ali shot it over the cross bar, from range. Al Ahli, then had a couple of chances but Grafite hit the side netting from an acute angle after he had won the ball from Salem Abdulla. Then, Adnan Hussein sent in a beautiful cross from the right but Ismail Hammadi was a touch too late on it, despite lunging forward. Al Shabab earned a corner after captain Azizbek Haydarov’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected away by Majed Hassan. And Al Shabab put themselves on the scoresheet from that Ciel corner with Edgar Bruno Da Silva sending a powerful header home. That brought the spring back into Al Shabab’s game and they started looking more and more lethal thereafter. Dawood Ali came up with two fine assists before the end of the first half. Ali floated in a brilliant cross from the right but Edgar’s shot went just whizzed over the cross bar, on 41 minutes. Two minutes later, he made his way in from the right of the box and crossed but goalkeeper Majed Nasser made a collection before Hassan Ibrahim could get to it. And in the three minutes of stoppage time, Esam Dhahi’s header just whizzed over the woodwork, off a Ciel corner. Al Shabab came back into the game with Edgar finding the equaliser, four minutes after the restart after a clever piece of work by Ciel. Ciel smartlt took a short freekick and gave it to Luiz Henrique, who went in and passed for Edgar, who slotted it home with ease. Al Ahli were awarded a penalty by referee Fahad Al Qasar in the 53 rd minute after Adnan Hussein was brought down inside the box by goalkeeper Salem Abdulla. But Salem Abdulla atoned for that mistake by diving to his right to block Grafite’s penalty and keep Al Shabab in the game. But Al Ahli did take the lead with Luis Antonio Jimenez firing in a beautiful freekick into goal, from the left of the box. Al Shabab were then given a penalty on 80 minutes after Luiz Henrique was brought down by Abdulaziz Hussein inside the box. And Ciel made no mistake from the spot on 81 minutes, for the equaliser. It seemed to be heading into extra-time but Al Shabab’s Edgar contrived to deflect it into his own goal to give the match-winner to Al Ahli. With five minutes of regulation time left, Al Ahli earned a corner and Ismail Al Hammadi shot it goalward from the right. But the ball took a deflection off Edgar and went into goal. james@khaleejtimes.com Al Ahli were down to 10 men with a minute left after captain Grafite was sent off for a second booking, after fouling Hassain Ibrahim. james@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Women education is a basic right
Women education is a basic right (Wam) / 28 May 2013 General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Monday received at Al Bahr Palace Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, who was attacked last year in her village of Mingora, over calling for girls’ education. On her way to perform Umrah, Malala stopped over in Abu Dhabi to thank the UAE and General Shaikh Mohammed for their assistance and support during her ordeal, noting that Gen. Shaikh Mohammed’s role highlights the humanitarian aspects of Islamic religion teachings. Gen. Shaikh Mohammed appreciated the determination exhibited by Malala to overcome difficulties so that she would continue her noble mission, adding that it was a duty of all people to standby Malala, while she is spreading the principles of love and peace. He hoped that Malala would be a paradigm shift in spreading the education worldwide. General Shaikh Mohammed said that the education of women was a basic right in accordance with the Islamic religion teachings, indicating that the UAE was well ahead regarding the empowerment of women in the area of education so as to discharge their roles in accordance with the legacy outlined by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He reiterated the interest of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in empowering women to play their pivotal role in comprehensive development. General Shaikh Mohammed said Emirati women scored many achievements in all fields, citing the efforts of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood, in supporting the women and contribution to the nation-building, as well as catapulting Emirati women to occupy the leading and executive posts in the country. He also referred to Shaikha Fatima’s humanitarian role, especially in the areas of women and childhood. Malala was shot on the head on October 9, 2012, while returning home from school in Wadi Swat, Pakistan, because of her defence of women’s right for education. She was rushed to the UK for the treatment upon the efforts exerted by the UAE. She got recovered and now back at school. Continue reading
