The United Nations is working on creating a space network that countries can tap into for technology and capabilities.
The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs announced last week at the UN-UAE High Level Forum on space that it would also develop a space solution catalogue to help countries further the targets of their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDGs are a series of 17 goals made by 194 countries of the UN General Assembly in September 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.
“We’re testing now [how] to work at a country level, consult with government authorities and try to assess what are their needs in space technologies and capabilities in terms of space development for the SDGs,” said Luc Saint Pierre, from the UN office.
“Once we assess, we think we can develop a long-term five to 10 year-plan where we want to go with these technologies and what the necessary steps are. Once the understanding is done, we’ll mobilise new resources.”
A space solution catalogue will also be developed, which the UN is working with the European Space Agency on, to package solutions for the SDGs.
“We want to open that catalogue to others,” Mr Saint Pierre said. “It can be anything - we have experiments in solutions for disaster management, the policy level, legal level, environmental monitoring, the impact of climate change, and we’re looking at other issues where space solutions are useful.”
The monitoring system will work towards achieving the SDGs, serving as a portal which countries can look at to find out what is available and accessible to them.
The UN will also set up a network of universities, institutes and NGOs that can help provide capacity-building at local and regional levels.
“It would be guided by the SDGs or different climate change agreements that are put in place,” Mr Saint Pierre said.
“We’d like this network to report on their activities and outcomes. We will also submit an annual report on their achievements and we’d like this global compact for space to be some kind of entry point to work through these different tools.”
_______________
Read more:
Space holds the key for humanity's future, officials say at Dubai forum
Images from UAE satellites used to fight climate change
How to reach the sustainable development goals, two at a time
_______________
Experts said the network would mean greater co-operation between countries ahead of Space 2030 to achieve their SDGs.
“Over the past few days, we have together developed policies that serve the future of the global space industry and we have proposed solutions to current and future challenges to the peaceful uses of outer space,” said Salem Al Marri, assistant director general for scientific and technical affairs at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC).
“We at the centre have adopted a strategy that has paved the way for Emirati space projects which will achieve long-term sustainability and growth in the space sector here in the UAE. Our strategy stems from the UAE’s guidance and policy, which looks forward to achieving a centennial plan to create a bright and prosperous future for our future generations.”
The UAE is focusing on space and using it to drive innovation. Over the past two years, the government has been working on shifting towards a knowledge-based economy.
“We want, as a country which produces and depends a large extent on oil, to celebrate the export of the last oil barrel from the UAE,” said Amer Al Sayegh, senior director of space engineering at the centre, who is also among the pioneers of the development of DubaiSat's manufacturing.
“If we want to celebrate that event, we have to prepare from today. There is a lot of focus on space and the fourth industrial revolution this year - it’s happening all over the world and in the UAE, we put space as an enabler for this revolution.”
Mr Al Sayegh, who is now director of the remote sensing Earth observation satellite KhalifaSat which is due to launch next year, said space was driving the whole nation towards a bright future. “The impact of space didn’t only reach politicians, the youth and the industry here, but many other sectors,” he said. “We normally think space focuses only on science but I found it surprising to see the impact of space even on sectors like literature.”
Blue%20Beetle
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20Manuel%20Soto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXolo%20Mariduena%2C%20Adriana%20Barraza%2C%20Damian%20Alcazar%2C%20Raoul%20Max%20Trujillo%2C%20Susan%20Sarandon%2C%20George%20Lopez%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Chris%20Jordan%20on%20Sanchit
%3Cp%3EChris%20Jordan%20insists%20Sanchit%20Sharma%20will%20make%20an%20impact%20on%20the%20ILT20%2C%20despite%20him%20starting%20the%20campaign%20on%20Gulf%20Giants'%20bench.%3Cbr%3EThe%20young%20UAE%20seamer%20was%20an%20instant%20success%20for%20the%20side%20last%20season%2C%20and%20remained%20part%20of%20the%20XI%20as%20they%20claimed%20the%20title.%3Cbr%3EHe%20has%20yet%20to%20feature%20this%20term%20as%20the%20Giants%20have%20preferred%20Aayan%20Khan%20and%20Usman%20Khan%20as%20their%20two%20UAE%20players%20so%20far.%3Cbr%3EHowever%2C%20England%20quick%20Jordan%20is%20sure%20his%20young%20colleague%20will%20have%20a%20role%20to%20play%20at%20some%20point.%3Cbr%3E%22Me%20and%20Sanchit%20have%20a%20great%20relationship%20from%20last%20season%2C%22%20Jordan%20said.%3Cbr%3E%22Whenever%20I%20am%20working%20with%20more%20inexperienced%20guys%2C%20I%20take%20pleasure%20in%20sharing%20as%20much%20as%20possible.%3Cbr%3E%22I%20know%20what%20it%20was%20like%20when%20I%20was%20younger%20and%20learning%20off%20senior%20players.%3Cbr%3E%22Last%20season%20Sanchit%20kick-started%20our%20season%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20with%20a%20brilliant%20man-of-the-match%20performance.%3Cbr%3E%22Coming%20into%20this%20one%2C%20I%20have%20seen%20a%20lot%20of%20improvement.%20The%20focus%20he%20is%20showing%20will%20only%20stand%20him%20in%20good%20stead.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
more from Janine di Giovanni
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
