We welcome Faisal Ali Rashid, Sr. Director at the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, to learn from Dubai's ambitious drive toward achieving net zero by 2050. Faisal, a leader in energy strategy and sustainability, oversees programs transforming Dubai’s approach to energy, water, and waste management, setting a new standard for urban sustainability in the region.

We were also joined by our friend on the podcast, Tushar Narula - a sustainability advisor and a climate change expert whose work has spanned different continents, industries, and top institutions like UC Berkeley, MIT, Harvard, & Imperial College London.

In this episode, Faisal shares Dubai’s comprehensive strategies for renewable energy and demand-side management, revealing key milestones like achieving 25% renewable energy in the total energy mix and aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2050. He explains not only the WHAT but HOW Dubai plans to achieve these in detail.

We also discuss the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy’s regulatory framework, incentive programs, and innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) that fund green projects, including the groundbreaking Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. Faisal highlights the role of community involvement and youth leadership in advancing sustainability, describing how the Advancing Net Zero initiative empowers the next generation to contribute to Dubai’s climate goals.

All the topics covered in the episode:

-Dubai’s Renewable Energy Goals: Achievements and future targets toward 100% renewable energy.

-Demand-Side Management: Reducing consumption and increasing energy efficiency.

-Policy and Financial Incentives: How Dubai fosters sustainable development through strategic regulations and PPPs.

-Innovation and Technology: Cutting-edge projects in solar, smart metering, and energy storage.

-Community and Youth Engagement: The role of education and volunteerism in driving net-zero progress.

Join us as we dive into Dubai’s pioneering efforts to build a sustainable, net-zero future with one of its leading energy strategists.

Follow our host, Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(02:30) - Faisal’s background and Dubai’s sustainability journey

(03:58) - Demand-side management and green building initiatives

(05:47) - Dubai’s renewable energy milestones and 2050 goals

(09:38) - Policy and incentives driving green transition in the middle east

(18:43) - The role of PPPs in funding sustainability projects

(24:12) - Dubai’s innovation in energy storage and technology

(32:33) - Key lessons for global cities on climate action

(38:33) - Youth and community involvement in net-zero goals

(41:28) - Outro

We're joined by Dr. Denis Noble, Professor Emeritus of Cardiovascular Physiology at the University of Oxford, and the father of 'systems biology'. He is known for his groundbreaking creation of the first mathematical model of the heart's electrical activity in the 1960s which radically transformed our understanding of the heart.

Dr. Noble’s contributions have revolutionized our understanding of cardiac function and the broader field of biology. His work continues to challenge long-standing biological concepts, including gene-centric views like Neo-Darwinism.

In this episode, Dr. Noble discusses his critiques of fundamental biological theories that have shaped science for over 80 years, such as the gene self-replication model and the Weissmann barrier. He advocates for a more holistic, systems-based approach to biology, where genes, cells, and their environments interact in complex networks rather than a one-way deterministic process.

We dive deep into Dr. Noble's argument that biology needs to move beyond reductionist views, emphasizing that life is more than just the sum of its genetic code. He explains how AI struggles to replicate even simple biological systems, and how biology’s complexity suggests that life’s logic lies not in DNA alone but in the entire organism.

The conversation covers his thoughts on the flaws of Neo-Darwinism, the influence of environmental factors on evolution, and the future of biology as a field that recognizes the interaction between nature and nurture. We also explore the implications of his work for health and longevity, and how common perspectives on genetics might need rethinking. All the topics we covered in the episode:

-The critique of Neo-Darwinism and the future of evolutionary theory.

-Systems biology: Understanding life beyond the gene.

-The complexity of biology: Why reductionism falls short.

-Evolution and inheritance: The role of environment in shaping species.

-Health implications of Dr. Noble’s work: Longevity, lifestyle, and the limits of genome-based predictions.

Join us for a thrilling discussion on the future of biology, evolution, and the practical implications for health and science.

Follow our host, Waheed Rahman (@iwaheedo), for more updates on tech, civilizational growth, progress studies, and emerging markets.

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(03:04) - Why Was The Last 80 Years of Biology Wrong?

(08:17) - Where does Logic come from?

(13:03) - Is Evolution Truly Random or Driven by Purpose?

(22:05) - Is Nurture more important than Nature?

(29:06) - Denis Noble calls for a rewrite of all Biology textbooks

(32:48) - Is Neo-Darwinism Just a Model? Understanding the Difference Between Evolution and the Creationism Debate

(39:22) - Natural Selection vs. Lamarckian Evolution: How Darwin Changed Our Understanding of Survival Traits

(46:03) - Reductionism vs. Integrationism in Science: How the 'Third Way' Challenges Neo-Darwinism

(49:43) - What Does Epigenetics Mean for the Average Person? How Denis Noble's Paradigm Shift Impacts Everyday Health and Life?

(69:29) - Is Western Science Facing a Paradigm Shift? Rethinking How We Determine Truth and Health in Light of Eastern and Western Influences

(75:21) - Why Reductionism Dominates Science: The Political and Practical Challenges of Embracing a Systems Biology Approach

(82:49) - Can We Trust AI to Behave Ethically? The Need to Connect Philosophy with Technology in AI Development

(86:46) - Outro