PC: The Times of Israel

According to Mariam Almheiri, the United Arab Emirates’ minister for climate change and the environment, the world will continue to receive energy from the country for as long as it needs it.

On the occasion of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to the United Arab Emirates, Almheiri told CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, “We’re going to offer it to them as long as the world needs oil and gas.”

Over the weekend, Scholz travelled to the Gulf region with the goal of obtaining fresh supplies of fossil fuels and reducing Germany’s dependency on imported Russian energy.

The UAE and Germany on Sunday agreed to a delivery of liquefied natural gas, with the first shipment expected to arrive by the end of the year.

Although LNG is not a renewable energy source, it is thought to be a cleaner option to coal and oil.

With an average daily production of 3.2 million barrels of oil and other liquids, the UAE is one of the biggest oil producers in the world.

Purchasing renewable energy
Almheiri nevertheless emphasised the value of making investments in renewable energy.

It’s crucial that we keep the context of economic growth and climate change inside that, she said, adding that dialogues are happening that are all about energy.

It’s not just about the production, she remarked, referring to the UAE’s investments in renewable energy projects. You must consider the distribution, the network, and the storage. It’s a really intricate network.

Economic expansion, energy security, and climate change mitigation must all be prioritised.

Economic expansion, energy security, and climate change mitigation must all be prioritised.

She used Germany as an illustration. Germany said last year that it wanted to phase out coal by 2030, but parliament declared earlier this month that the nation would continue to burn coal to get through the winter.

Water and Food Shortages
According to the minister, there is a serious food problem in the UAE.

Because the food system is responsible for or contributes to a third of greenhouse gas emissions, Almheiri remarked, “Food is actually just as vital as energy.”

Another issue for the UAE is water scarcity, she continued.

In order to satisfy the demands of its population within the next 30 years, the Gulf region will need to increase its water supply by 77%, according to an analysis by Orient Planet Research.

Almheiri emphasised the significance of coming up with new ideas to safeguard the supply of water using renewable energy sources like solar electricity and air humidity.