The UAE wants the private sector to get serious with its drive to decarbonize the economy, yesterday launching its Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge which aims to increase companies’ engagement with the government’s 2050 net zero strategy.

** We talked to UAE Climate Change and Environment Minister Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri ⁠— who launched the pledge ⁠— for our inaugural issue of Enterprise Climate on Monday. You can check out the interview here.

Saudi Arabia signed a power-purchase agreement for an 80 MW solar plant in the town of Layla which lies 300 km south of Riyadh, according to Arab News. The value of the agreement was not disclosed.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• South Korea’s Hydro and Nuclear Power Company will participate in the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, El Dabaa in Matrouh governorate, according to a statement.
• Egyptian IT consulting and service providing company Giza Systems won a tender for the development of Egypt’s first smart transportation system in the country’s new administrative capital, according to a statement picked up by Zawya.
• The Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company completed construction of a 4-km long, USD 70 mn rain water drainage project in the Al Hamra and Dakhliyah governorates in Oman, according to a statement picked by Zawya.

• Jordan is still working on cleaning the 11 tonne oil leak in the Gulf of Aqaba, according to The National.
• The Jordan Valley Authority will allocate more water for agricultural purposes to ensure crops do not fail in the wake of extreme heat waves, officials told Jordan News.
• Iran’s Department of Environment drafted a new law for the protection and sustainable exploitation of wildlife in the country, according to Iranian publication Tehran Times.