Expo 2020 Dubai – focus on climate change and biodiversity

Experts tackle the pressing issues of biodiversity loss and climate ‎change at Expo 2020’s first World Majlis

Biodiversity’s critical role in the survival of the planet, and the importance of listening to and learning from nature, dominated discussion at Expo 2020 Dubai’s first World Majlis at the Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion.

Held as part of Climate and Biodiversity Week, the Majlis featured seven thought leaders and experts from around the world, who traded ideas on everything from using birds of prey to deal with rodents destroying crops in Israel, Jordan and Palestine, to overhauling educational curricula in a lively 90-minute session.

World-renowned ecological expert and founder of the Eden Project in the UK, Sir Tim Smit, who was pivotal in developing Expo 2020’s cutting-edge Terra Pavilion, praised the World Majlis concept.

Expo 2020 Dubai has exceeded a number of its sustainability-focused targets in 2020 and during the opening months of this year, as the mega-event continues its site-wide commitment to host one of the most sustainable World Expos in history. For the 15-month period ending 31 March 2021, Expo reduced the energy demand of its permanent buildings by 33 per cent when compared to international standards, beating the 20 per cent reduction target that was set.

The figures come as Expo 2020 released its third annual sustainability report for the period 1 January 2020-31 March 2021, outlining its ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability across its entire lifecycle, create a meaningful impact that extends beyond the site and its 182-day run, and inspire all who visit to embrace a more sustainable future.

Malaysian businesses sign three MoUs in its opening week at Expo 2020 Dubai

Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) makes its debut for Malaysia Pavilion’s opening week programmes at Expo 2020 Dubai with an MoU with Ztartup Village to promote entrepreneurial development and boost start-up activities within the technology intensive sectors. TPM and Ztartup will offer soft landing and co-incubation programmes that focus on 4th Generation Incubation, Co-incubation, Early Adopter/Open Innomart and Stargazer Mentoring.

The second MOU was signed between budding Malaysian tech start-up, De TMax Engineering and ADV Fusionex. De TMax specialises in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) solutions, thermal and ultrasound technology which include NDT inspection, training and consultancy services. ADV Fusionex is an US-based company providing consultancy services, education & training, commercialization of e-Commerce, big data analytics and blockchain.

The third agreement was between AM Zaideen Ventures with Purely B is on strategic R&D of products for commercialization in the areas of herbal extraction technologies of selected favoured herbs. AM Zaideen Ventures is an R&D, consultant and service provider in the areas of herbal extraction technology, and distributor for HALEA Skincare. Meanwhile, Purely B is an established brand as consultant of healthcare and wellness therapist, and distributor of botanical products.

Malaysia has also launched a virtual tour of its pavilion at Expo 2020 and this can be accessed here.

Majid Al Futtaim joins SAP Cares’ ESG Network during Expo 2020 Dubai’s Climate and Biodiversity Theme Week

Majid Al Futtaim has joined the launch of the SAP Cares Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) Network, during Expo 2020 Dubai’s Climate and Biodiversity Theme Week at the SAP House on the Expo site.

“Leading UAE organizations, such as Majid Al Futtaim joining the SAP Cares ESG Network, reflects Dubai’s ambitions to be a global leader in sustainability and exploring humanity’s most critical challenges,” said Carlos Diaz, Chief Sustainability Officer, SVP, EMEA South, SAP, the event’s Innovative Enterprise Software Partner. “We are bringing together organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to drive a sustainable future and climate action.”

Grupo ISA offsetting the carbon footprint of the Colombia pavilion

In its 2030 strategy, ISA Group has set a goal to apply innovation and entrepreneurship to the service of sustainability. At the Colombia pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the company will showcase the world its leadership in the Latin American energy sector and its role in the energy transition. It will also present its cutting-edge initiatives in sustainable development, with which it is making a tangible and relevant contribution to major causes of global interest, such as climate change mitigation and the construction of social fabric.

In line with its commitment to protect the planet, and as an example for other companies, the company, in alliance with Ecopetrol, will offset the carbon footprint of the entire Colombia Pavilion during the week of October 3-9, in order to become Net Zero Carbon. This will be registered through EcoRegistry, the carbon market platform based on blockchain technology developed by XM, an affiliate of Grupo ISA in Colombia, which allows the issuance, transfer, and retirement of carbon credits.

Another of the global impact projects with which Grupo ISA will be presenting at Expo Dubai 2021 is Conexión Jaguar, the sustainability program with which, together with its technical partners, South Pole and Panthera, contributes to the conservation of biodiversity, climate change mitigation, the development of rural communities and the connectivity of the jaguar's natural habitats in Latin America.