The system was developed in collaboration with 386 Sky Solar Energy Systems LLC, bringing together Globalpharma’s focus on operational optimisation with specialised expertise in industrial-scale renewable energy deployment.

Fully operational, the solar installation has been implemented under Dubai’s Shams Dubai programme, enabling both on-site energy consumption and the export of surplus power to the grid through a bi-directional metering system. The project represents a significant step in integrating clean energy within Globalpharma’s manufacturing operations while enhancing overall operational performance.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Basem Albarahmeh, Chief Executive Officer of Globalpharma, said: “This initiative builds on a broader set of measures we have been implementing to strengthen efficiency and sustainability across our manufacturing operations. The integration of solar energy is a natural extension of our efforts to optimise resource utilisation, enhance energy efficiency and progressively reduce the environmental footprint of pharmaceutical production. As we continue to scale our capabilities, our focus remains on embedding sustainable practices within core operations, supporting a more resilient and future-ready manufacturing platform that aligns with evolving industry and regulatory expectations.”

Commenting on the partnership, Ahmad Al Khayyat, Chairman of Three Eight Six, said: “Partnership is a statement of intent. Global Pharma has chosen to embed clean energy” into their manufacturing operations, and that is exactly the kind of leadership that moves an entire industry forward. UAE’s Net Zero ambition will be built on decisions like this one.”

The initiative also aligns with broader national priorities, including the UAE’s clean energy transition and Net Zero 2050 strategy, supporting the progressive decarbonisation of industrial operations within the healthcare manufacturing sector.

Dubai, UAE, 9 November 2025: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that Al Rayyan Mosque in Hatta has become the world’s first place of worship to be awarded the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Zero Carbon certification from the US Green Buildings Council. The mosque achieved this by offsetting 175% of its yearly carbon emissions, allowing it to actively contribute to environmental recovery – a global model for sustainable architecture.

The milestone is the mosque’s third world record in energy leadership and environmental design. Back in 2021, it became the first mosque globally to receive LEED Platinum certification under LEED v4, scoring an impressive 83 points for its sustainable design. Then, in 2024, it earned the LEED Zero Energy certification, producing 150% of its energy needs through highly efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and sending the surplus back to the grid. The cloud base monitoring system’s PV panels have a total capacity of 158kWp. Moreover, the 2025 certification stands as a pioneering example of how places of worship can lead in environmental restoration and climate-positive design.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his pride in this new global achievement, highlighting how it reinforces DEWA’s leadership in sustainable building design, supports the UAE’s and Dubai’s strategic vision for urban sustainability and advances national and global goals to achieve net zero by 2050.

“Under the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we work to reach a greener future. At DEWA, we are proud to translate this vision into reality – advancing climate action, sustainable urban development and the UAE’s journey towards net zero. Al Rayyan Mosque contributes to creating a positive and sustainable impact on the environment, making it a model for sustainable, environmentally friendly buildings worldwide,” said Al Tayer.

“Our efforts align with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the comprehensive and sustainable development plan in Hatta. We are keen to fulfil all our economic, social and environmental commitments, and to support efforts to make Dubai an advanced and sustainable future city that relies on the latest technologies to preserve natural resources, enhance electricity and water efficiency, and improve quality of life. DEWA is among the first organisations in Dubai to adopt the concept of green buildings. Today, we have 10 green buildings with an LEED rating and are committed to increasing the number of sustainable buildings that take into account environmental aspects in their design and are powered by clean and renewable energy,” Al Tayer added.

Built to the highest international standards, the mosque ensures no leakage of air, water or heat. Its high-performance heatproof glass and efficient facade minimise air conditioning demand and carbon emissions while the extensive use of daylight reduces overall energy consumption. Roofing and non-roofing materials were selected based on their Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) to mitigate the heat island effect. All water heaters are solar powered.

Spanning 1,050 square metres and accommodating more than 600 worshippers, the mosque exemplifies environmental sustainability. It has a 25-metre minaret, car and bike parking, accessible facilities for People of Determination, a green charger station, solar panels and a water treatment unit for irrigation and cleaning. DEWA applied international best practice to ensure a healthy indoor environment by installing advanced air purification systems and using recycled construction materials.

A recent Nature study urges the use of bio-based materials to cut construction emissions, but energy efficiency experts warn that even carbon-neutral buildings will keep wasting energy when they start operating.

November 6, 2025. A new Nature Communications study indicates even if all other sectors went net-zero today, emissions from construction alone would still push the world beyond the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 °C target by 2050. The sector produces roughly a third of global CO₂ emissions, mostly from manufacturing cement, steel, and bricks.

The authors call for a global “material revolution,” suggesting a shift to bio-based, circular, and reused materials. Their analysis found that of the 12.2 Gt CO₂ emitted in 2022, cement, clinker, bricks, and clay made up 40% of the total, with metals adding another 15%. These materials together have become more carbon-intensive over time – their combined share of construction emissions rose from 39% to 57% since 1995.

While the paper recommends replacing concrete and steel with bio-based materials, experts from Exergio, a company that develops AI-based tools for energy efficiency in commercial buildings, caution that the problem doesn’t stop at the construction site – even buildings made from carbon-neutral materials keep wasting energy after they start operating.

“When buildings become operational, energy waste happens quietly: we see that heating and cooling systems start working against each other, sensors give inaccurate readings, and rooms stay heated or cooled long after people leave. Those losses add up fast,” explains Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio. “The same inefficiency that starts in material production continues in operation. It just changes form.”

Karčiauskas says the focus on carbon-neutral materials overlooks what’s right in front of us.

“Switching the world’s building stock to new materials will take decades and cost trillions – and even then, buildings would still waste 40% of global energy,” he said. “We already have a faster fix. Optimising how systems run can cut up to 30% of that waste now, without rebuilding anything.”

That’s the approach Exergio has used in its own projects.

Its AI-based platform links to existing building-management systems and continually adjusts heating, cooling, and ventilation. By analysing live data such as occupancy, outdoor weather, and temperature shifts, it corrects setpoints automatically before waste builds up.

“Our approach is a soft, or a digital, retrofit,” Karčiauskas adds. “We don’t replace equipment, but make it think. For example, the system keeps air at comfort levels where people actually are and trims what’s not needed elsewhere.”

While the Nature study centres on material emissions, Exergio points out that the same logic applies to deep renovations, which are often suggested as another alternative to reduce emissions in buildings.

Replacing façades, windows, or HVAC equipment at scale demands carbon-intensive materials the study links to rising emissions. Such upgrades may improve efficiency in the long run but add new emissions today, Karčiauskas said. He warns this risks repeating the same cycle under a different name.

“Both embodied and operational emissions are growing,” added Karčiauskas. “We see the highest potential for cutting waste not in new projects but in existing buildings, especially across Asia, where demand and energy intensity are soaring. Optimising those systems could cut emissions immediately, without producing another wave of materials.”

The study claims that Asia now produces over 70% of construction-related CO₂. China emits about six gigatons, India just over one – together, more than the rest of the world combined.

North America and Europe build less but still rely on concrete and steel. Africa and the Middle East, meanwhile, expand faster each year as cities grow. The study concludes that emerging regions must use fewer materials, while developed ones need to make existing buildings run smarter.

“Europe doesn’t need more concrete, but smarter energy management systems. Asia needs to stop locking in waste from day one. Both sides can act now, no new tech required. If policymakers ignore operational waste, they risk repeating the same blind spot until 2050. Renovations and material swaps remain essential, but AI-enabled building management can reduce waste immediately, and with minimal cost.”

Carbon consumption remains one of the defining challenges of our era, with nations, industries, and innovators seeking ways to balance economic growth with urgent climate goals. From energy-intensive sectors to everyday consumption patterns, the global community is under pressure to accelerate solutions that reduce emissions while supporting sustainable development.

One area showing significant promise is carbon capture and storage (CCS), which directly targets emissions from industrial processes and power generation. Recently, Britain signed agreements for new carbon capture projects, a move expected to create 500 jobs and further position the UK as a leader in climate technology. These projects are designed not only to capture emissions before they enter the atmosphere but also to stimulate economic activity in regions transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Globally, governments are investing billions into renewable energy, electrification of transport, and energy efficiency. However, experts note that these measures must be complemented by systemic changes—such as reducing overconsumption, adopting circular economy models, and introducing stricter carbon pricing mechanisms to hold polluters accountable.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that current global consumption levels are incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C. To stay on track, carbon intensity per unit of GDP must fall by 5% annually until 2030—a target requiring unprecedented cooperation between policymakers, industries, and citizens.

Looking ahead, breakthroughs in direct air capture technologies, nature-based solutions such as large-scale reforestation, and innovative financial mechanisms like green bonds could redefine the carbon economy. Still, experts emphasize that progress depends as much on political will and social behavior as it does on technology.

Carbon consumption is no longer just a climate issue—it is a social, economic, and ethical one. Each ton of carbon emitted represents a choice, and the urgency of today’s climate crisis demands that these choices align with a sustainable future.