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Mariam Almheiri urges G20 to back ‘Global Framework on Agriculture, Food Systems’


Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and G20 Ministers of Agriculture met in Hyderabad, India, between June 16–17 to discuss the inclusive food and agriculture systems of the future. The group worked to finalize the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Declaration 2023, a document that reiterates the group’s collective commitment to ensure food security and nutrition for all.

In the declaration, the G20 Agricultural Track highlighted their concerns about intensifying malnutrition rates and worsening global food insecurity in developing nations. They recognized that these challenges have been compounded by poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating climate change, ongoing conflicts, and biodiversity loss worldwide. The declaration emphasises the importance of creating sustainable agriculture and food systems that will be resilient to changes in climate and biodiversity loss.

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According to Mariam Almheiri, the G20 Agricultural Track meeting discussed a number of issues that significantly impact people’s lives and livelihoods worldwide. It addressed the challenges of climate change and ensuring food security, which requires the unity of the global community.

In the meeting, the G20’s Agricultural Track highlighted their concerns about rising malnutrition rates and the exacerbation of global food insecurity in developing countries. They acknowledged that poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating climate change, ongoing conflicts, and biodiversity loss worldwide have compounded these challenges. The statement emphasized the importance of establishing sustainable agricultural and food systems capable of adapting to climate change and biodiversity loss.

In her address, Mariam Almheiri thanked the Republic of India for organizing the event that brings together the G20 and hosting the Agriculture Ministers’ Group Meeting. She also acknowledged that this was the UAE’s third invitation to join the G20 meetings, affirming that cooperation between the UAE and the member states is evolving in various fields and that the UAE is keen to enhance this cooperation in various economic fields, with particular attention to strengthening food security and dealing with global climate change issues.

Almheiri explained that the G20 Agricultural Track meeting discussed a range of issues that significantly affect people’s lives and livelihoods worldwide. Addressing climate change challenges and reiterating food security requires the unity of the global community.

During her speech before the G20, Mariam Almheiri said: “The current global food systems are the biggest contributors to biodiversity loss, deforestation, drought, and freshwater pollution in the world, as well as being the second-largest generator of greenhouse gas emissions.”

She affirmed that the G20 could cooperate more on transforming the agricultural food systems, taking on that responsibility and leading the world by reaching a consensus on transforming these systems as quickly as possible.

Mariam Almheiri said: “The UAE will host the COP28 in November, and we will focus on stimulating the global response to many issues arising from climate change, from food systems to clean energy and biodiversity.”

In this context, Mariam Almheiri called on the G20 member countries to support the Global Framework on Agriculture, Food Systems, and Climate that will be announced next month during the United Nations Food Systems Summit.

Almheiri said: “We are putting the final touches on the framework that aims to enhance agricultural food systems within the global climate action.”

Mariam Almheiri highlighted during her speech that Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and COP28 President-Designate, will focus on the file of transforming food and agricultural systems as part of his main agenda as the appointed President at the upcoming Conference of Parties in the UAE. This will help accelerate action and investment towards pro-climate and sustainable agricultural and food systems, referred to technically as “agrifood systems.”

During the meeting, the group expressed concern over the rise in food prices, ongoing disruptions in global supply chains, and the volatility in the prices of food and fertilisers. They also called for an increased focus on enhancing the resilience of supply chains due to their importance in achieving food security, where the reliability of supply chains is particularly crucial for those living in environments with low food security, especially women and girls in emergencies and humanitarian crises.

The joint statement, signed by the agriculture ministers of the G20 on enhancing global food security, emphasized the importance of continuing to exchange knowledge between countries to support innovation efforts in the future.

All representatives at the G20 Agricultural Track meeting stressed the urgent need referred to in the statements of G20 leaders at the Matera and Bali summits. The ministers pledged to assist low-income countries, especially net food-importing developing countries, in tackling the multiple challenges they face due to climate change. The group also welcomed the decision of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) on climate change entitled “Joint Action in Sharm El-Sheikh on Implementing Climate Action for Agriculture and Food Security.”

Initiative on Millet and Ancient Grains

The G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Statement for 2023 includes an annexe on the Global Research Initiative on Millet and Ancient Grains. This vital project aims to diversify and improve sustainable food sources, focusing on underutilised grains that can adapt to climate change. The goal is to enhance the efficiency of grain research by enabling scientists to publish results effectively, create online platforms to facilitate researcher communication and organise knowledge exchange processes under mutually agreed terms.

The project of the Global Research Initiative on Millet and Other Ancient Grains aims to support efforts within the International Year of Millet 2023 program announced by the United Nations. The ministers also called for new initiatives to boost innovations in the production and consumption of crops, as well as more research on the biological enhancement of crops.

During the event, Mariam Almheiri participated in a side session on how the agricultural sector can keep up with the changing world. She showcased the UAE’s experiences in this field, from its successes in vertical farming to its ambitious national strategy for Food Security 2051.

The UAE’s participation in the G20 agricultural track, hosting the upcoming COP28 conference, and declaring a year of sustainability exemplify the country’s commitment to international cooperation to tackle climate change. This is in addition to launching the ‘Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate’ (AIM4C) initiative in collaboration with the United States, which seeks to encourage investment in climate-smart agriculture and support the development of food systems over five years.

Read more: G20 EMPOWER Alliance discusses experience of UAE women in science sector

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Abu Dhabi Overtakes Oslo for Sovereign Wealth Fund Capital in Global SWF’s First City Ranking

Today, industry specialist Global SWF published a special report announcing a new global ranking of cities according to the capital managed by their Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs). The findings show that Abu Dhabi is the leading city that manages the most SWF capital globally, thanks to the US$ 1.7 trillion in assets managed by its various SWFs headquartered in the capital of the UAE. These include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala Investment Company (MIC), Abu Dhabi Developmental
Holding Company (ADQ), and the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA). Abu Dhabi now ranks slightly above Oslo, home to the world’s largest SWF, the Government Pension Fund (GPF), which manages over US$ 1.6 trillion in assets. Abu Dhabi and Oslo are followed by Beijing (headquarters of the China Investment Corporation), Singapore (with GIC Private and Temasek Holdings), Riyadh (home to the
Public Investment Fund), and Hong Kong (where China’s second SWF, SAFE
Investment Corporation, operates from). Together, these six cities represent two thirds
of the capital managed by SWFs globally, i.e., US$ 12.5 trillion as of October 1, 2024.
For the past few decades, Abu Dhabi has grown an impressive portfolio of institutional
investors, which are among the world’s largest and most active dealmakers. In addition
to its SWFs, the emirate is home to several other asset owners, including central banks,
pension funds, and family offices linked to member of the Royal Family. Altogether, Abu
Dhabi’s public capital is estimated at US$ 2.3 trillion and is projected to reach US$ 3.4
trillion by 2030, according to Global SWF estimates.
Abu Dhabi, often referred to as the “Capital of Capital,” also leads when it comes to
human capital i.e., the number of personnel employed by SWFs of that jurisdiction, with
3,107 staff working for funds based in the city.
Diego López, Founder and Managing Director of Global SWF, said: “The world ranking
confirms the concentration of Sovereign Wealth Funds in a select number of cities,
underscoring the significance of these financial hubs on the global stage. This report
offers valuable insights into the landscape of SWF-managed capital and shows how it is
shifting and expanding in certain cities in the world.”

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AM Best Briefing in Dubai to Explore State of MENA Insurance Markets; Panel to Feature CEOs From Leading UAE Insurance Companies

AM Best will host a briefing focused on the insurance markets of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on 20 November 2024, at Kempinski Central Avenue in Dubai.
At this annual regional market event, senior AM Best analysts and leading executives
from the (re)insurance industry will discuss recent developments in the MENA region’s
markets and anticipate their implications in the short-to-medium term. Included in the
programme will be a panel of chief executive officers at key insurance companies in the
United Arab Emirates: Abdellatif Abuqurah of Dubai Insurance; Jason Light of Emirates
Insurance; Charalampos Mylonas (Haris) of Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company
(ADNIC); and Dr. Ali Abdul Zahra of National General Insurance (NGI).
Shivash Bhagaloo, managing partner of Lux Actuaries & Consultants, will his present
his observations in an additional session regarding implementation of IFRS 17 in the
region. The event also will highlight the state of the global and MENA region
reinsurance sectors, as well as a talk on insurance ramifications stemming from the
major United Arab Emirates floods of April 2024. The programme will be followed by a
networking lunch.
Registration for the market briefing, which will take place in the Diamond Ballroom at the
Kempinski hotel, begins at 9:00 a.m. GST with introductory comments at 9:30 a.m.
Please visit www.ambest.com/conference/IMBMENA2024 for more information or to
register.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics
provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United
States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in
London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.

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Future of Automotive Mobility 2024: UAE Leads the Charge in Embracing Digital Car Purchases and Alternative Drivetrains

-UAE scores show highest percentage among the region in willingness to purchase a car
completely online
– Openness to fully autonomous cars has grown to 60% vs previous 32%.
– More than half of UAE respondents in the survey intend to move to hybrid cars during
next car purchase, while less than 15% intend to move to fully electric car.
– UAE sees strong use of new mobility services such as ride-hailing (Uber, Careem, Hala
Taxi)
– The perceived future importance of having a car is not only increasing in UAE but is
higher than any other major region globally, even China

Arthur D. Little (ADL) has released the fourth edition of its influential Future of Automotive Mobility (FOAM) report, presenting a detailed analysis of current and future trends in the automotive industry. This year’s study, with insights from over 16,000 respondents across 25 countries, includes a comprehensive focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report examines car ownership, electric vehicles,
autonomous driving, and new mobility services within the UAE.

“The UAE is at the forefront of automotive innovation and consumer readiness for new mobility
solutions,” said Alan Martinovich, Partner and Head of Automotive Practice in the Middle East
and India at Arthur D. Little. “Our findings highlight the UAE’s significant interest in
transitioning to electric vehicles, favorable attitudes towards autonomous driving technologies,
and a strong inclination towards digital transactions in car purchases. These insights are critical
for automotive manufacturers and policymakers navigating the evolving landscape of the UAE
automotive market.”
Key Findings for the UAE:
1. Car Ownership:
o Over half of UAE respondents perceive that the importance of owning a car is
increasing, with the study showing the increase higher than any other major
region, including China.
o Approximately 80% of UAE respondents expressed interest in buying new (as
opposed to used) cars, above Europe and the USA which have mature used
vehicle markets

2. Shift to Electric and Hybrid Vehicles:
o While a high number of UAE respondents currently own internal combustion
engine (ICE) vehicles, more than half intend that their next vehicle have an
alternative powertrain, with significant interest in electric and plug-in hybrid
(PHEV) options. Less than 15% plan to opt for pure battery electric vehicles
(BEVs).

3. Emerging Mobility Trends:

o Ride-hailing services are the most popular new mobility option among UAE
residents, with higher usage rates than traditional car sharing and ride sharing.
The study indicates a strong openness to switching to alternative transport modes
given the quality and service levels available today.

4. Autonomous Vehicles:
o UAE consumers are among the most open globally to adopting autonomous
vehicles, with a significant increase in favorable attitudes from 32% in previous
years to 60% this year versus approximately 30% in mature markets. Safety
concerns, both human and machine-related, remain the primary obstacles to
broader adoption.

5. Car Purchasing Behavior and Sustainability:
o The internet has become a dominant channel for UAE residents throughout the car
buying process, from finding the right vehicle to arranging test drives and closing
deals. UAE car buyers visit dealerships an average of 3.9 times before making a
purchase, higher than any other region in the world, emphasizing the need for
efficient integration of online and offline experiences.
o Upwards of 53% of respondents from the region would prefer to ‘close the deal’
and complete the purchase of their car online, which is the highest for any region
in the world.
o Sustainability is a key factor cited by UAE consumers as influencing car choice.
The UAE scored among the top half of regions, highlighting the importance of
environmental considerations.

“Our study confirms the promising market opportunities for car manufacturers (OEMs) and
distributors in the UAE” commented Philipp Seidel, Principal at Arthur D. Little and co-Author
of the Global Study. “Consumers in the Emirates show a great and increasing appetite for cars
while being among the most demanding globally when it comes to latest vehicle technologies
and a seamless purchase and service experience.”
The comprehensive report, “The Future of Automotive Mobility 2024” by Richard Parkin and
Philipp Seidel, delves into global automotive trends and their impact on various regions,
including the UAE. This study is an invaluable tool for industry stakeholders seeking to navigate
and leverage the dynamic changes driving the future of mobility.

 

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