Latest news with #EnvironmentalPerformanceIndex
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman achieves remarkable progress in several global indices
Muscat: The National Competitiveness Office has released the third annual report on Oman Competitiveness 2024, highlighting the Sultanate's performance in various global indicators. The report reveals that Oman has achieved remarkable progress in several global indices. The most notable leap was in the Environmental Performance Index, where Oman climbed 94 places, securing the 55th rank out of 180 countries. Additionally, Oman has been ranked first globally in several sub-indicators, including marine protection stringency, growth rate of black carbon emissions, and bottom-trawl fishing within the exclusive economic zone. Oman also advanced 39 spots in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index, reaching the 56th rank globally. The country's economy is now classified as 'moderately free,' compared to its previous status as 'mostly unfree.' This improvement is reflected in higher scores in key sub-indicators such as government spending (rising from 59.4 to 70.8 out of 100), investment freedom (from 60 to 70 out of 100), and financial freedom (from 50 to 60 out of 100). Among the most notable advancements is the Network Readiness Index, where Oman moved up four positions, ranking 50th globally. The country excels in sub-indicators such as government promotion of investment in emerging technologies (ranked 9th globally), gender gap in internet usage (ranked 11th globally), and ICT skills in education (ranked 23rd globally). According to the Future Growth Index, Oman scored 50.59 out of 100, surpassing the global average. Furthermore, Oman ranked first globally in sub-indicators such as ICT capital (in US dollars) and electricity access in rural areas. In Global Governance Indicators, Oman made progress in most categories, particularly those aligned with Oman Vision 2040. The country recorded 70.2 out of 100 in the Rule of Law Index, 66.5 in Regulatory Quality, and 62.2 in Government Effectiveness. Dr. Salim bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, emphasised that the National Competitiveness Office continues to monitor Oman's position in key international rankings. He noted that these indicators receive global attention from thousands of individuals and organisations. Speaking to Oman News Agency, Dr. Al Sheikh stated: "The office is actively working with national teams to strengthen Oman's position in global indices through various programs and initiatives, while addressing challenges that may arise." Oman's continued efforts in improving competitiveness reflect its commitment to achieving sustainable economic and developmental progress on a global scale. The report aims to increase awareness among the local community about international rankings, serving as a reference for government and private institutions, as well as researchers interested in Oman's positioning compared to other nations. It also identifies the most advanced countries in specific indicators to guide efforts in enhancing Oman's competitiveness. © Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman achieves remarkable progress in global indices
MUSCAT: The National Competitiveness Office has released the third annual report on Oman Competitiveness 2024, highlighting the Oman's performance in various global indicators. The report reveals that Oman has achieved remarkable progress in several global indices. The most notable leap was in the Environmental Performance Index, where Oman climbed 94 places, securing the 55th rank out of 180 countries. Oman has also been ranked first globally in several sub-indicators, including marine protection stringency, growth rate of black carbon emissions and bottom-trawl fishing within the exclusive economic zone. Oman also advanced 39 spots in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index, reaching the 56th rank globally. The country's economy is now classified as 'moderately free,' compared to its previous status as 'mostly unfree.' This improvement is reflected in higher scores in key sub-indicators such as government spending (rising from 59.4 to 70.8 out of 100), investment freedom (from 60 to 70 out of 100), and financial freedom (from 50 to 60 out of 100). Among the most notable advancements is the Network Readiness Index, where Oman moved up four positions, ranking 50th globally. The country excels in sub-indicators such as government promotion of investment in emerging technologies (ranked 9th globally), gender gap in Internet usage (ranked 11th globally), and ICT skills in education (ranked 23rd globally). According to the Future Growth Index, Oman scored 50.59 out of 100, surpassing the global average. Furthermore, Oman ranked first globally in sub-indicators such as ICT capital (in US dollars) and electricity access in rural areas. Dr Salim bin Abdullah al Shaikh In Global Governance Indicators, Oman made progress in most categories, particularly those aligned with Oman Vision 2040. The country recorded 70.2 out of 100 in the Rule of Law Index, 66.5 in Regulatory Quality, and 62.2 in Government Effectiveness. Dr Salim bin Abdullah al Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, emphasised that the National Competitiveness Office continues to monitor Oman's position in key international rankings. He noted that these indicators receive global attention from thousands of individuals and organisations. Speaking to Oman News Agency, Dr Al Sheikh stated: "The office is actively working with national teams to strengthen Oman's position in global indices through various programmes and initiatives while addressing challenges that may arise." Oman's continued efforts in improving competitiveness reflect its commitment to achieving sustainable economic and developmental progress on a global scale. The report aims to increase awareness among the local community about international rankings, serving as a reference for government and private institutions, as well as researchers interested in Oman's positioning compared to other nations. It also identifies the most advanced countries in specific indicators to guide efforts in enhancing Oman's competitiveness. — ONA
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman achieves remarkable progress in several global indices.
Muscat: The National Competitiveness Office has released the third annual report on Oman Competitiveness 2024, highlighting the Sultanate's performance in various global indicators. The report reveals that Oman has achieved remarkable progress in several global indices. The most notable leap was in the Environmental Performance Index, where Oman climbed 94 places, securing the 55th rank out of 180 countries. Additionally, Oman has been ranked first globally in several sub-indicators, including marine protection stringency, growth rate of black carbon emissions, and bottom-trawl fishing within the exclusive economic zone. Oman also advanced 39 spots in the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index, reaching the 56th rank globally. The country's economy is now classified as 'moderately free,' compared to its previous status as 'mostly unfree.' This improvement is reflected in higher scores in key sub-indicators such as government spending (rising from 59.4 to 70.8 out of 100), investment freedom (from 60 to 70 out of 100), and financial freedom (from 50 to 60 out of 100). Among the most notable advancements is the Network Readiness Index, where Oman moved up four positions, ranking 50th globally. The country excels in sub-indicators such as government promotion of investment in emerging technologies (ranked 9th globally), gender gap in internet usage (ranked 11th globally), and ICT skills in education (ranked 23rd globally). According to the Future Growth Index, Oman scored 50.59 out of 100, surpassing the global average. Furthermore, Oman ranked first globally in sub-indicators such as ICT capital (in US dollars) and electricity access in rural areas. In Global Governance Indicators, Oman made progress in most categories, particularly those aligned with Oman Vision 2040. The country recorded 70.2 out of 100 in the Rule of Law Index, 66.5 in Regulatory Quality, and 62.2 in Government Effectiveness. Dr. Salim bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, emphasised that the National Competitiveness Office continues to monitor Oman's position in key international rankings. He noted that these indicators receive global attention from thousands of individuals and organisations. Speaking to Oman News Agency, Dr. Al Sheikh stated: "The office is actively working with national teams to strengthen Oman's position in global indices through various programs and initiatives, while addressing challenges that may arise." Oman's continued efforts in improving competitiveness reflect its commitment to achieving sustainable economic and developmental progress on a global scale. The report aims to increase awareness among the local community about international rankings, serving as a reference for government and private institutions, as well as researchers interested in Oman's positioning compared to other nations. It also identifies the most advanced countries in specific indicators to guide efforts in enhancing Oman's competitiveness.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Daily Record
Why Scottish tap water is 'best in the world' to drink from geography to weather
Scots might take the tap water for granted but when you compare it to other major cities, we are very lucky Scots are extremely passionate about their tap water. Drinking an ice cold glass of fresh, clean H20 is so much part of our daily lives that we may not think twice about it - until we go abroad and taste a marked difference. Scots have been known to engage in light-hearted banter about where in the country offers the best pour. Of course, we all have our biases - but why is Scottish tap water often considered the best in the world? In the 2022 Environmental Performance Index, the UK was one of just six countries worldwide that achieved the highest achievable score for their tap water - tied with Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Finland. People may raise an eyebrow about this considering the quality of the water in some cities down south. In fact, just this week, North Yorkshire homes have been urged to boil their tap water "until further notice". This is after routine tests showed higher than usual levels of bacteria. However, the UK's score is brought up by the quality of Scottish water which, in rural areas like the Highlands or lowlands, is crystal clear. Tap water is, ultimately, largely down to personal taste and preference as different mineral contents change the taste and 'feel' of the water. Glasgow boasts 'soft water' due to its exceptionally low mineral content, meaning it's more tasteless than most water. Conversely, places like London have 'hard water' which is rich in minerals and alkalinity - so much so that it'll leave a residue on your kettle once boiled. Scotland's drinking water is largely derived from 'surface water' - lochs, rivers and reservoirs. Glasgow's water supply, for instance, comes from Loch Katrine Waterworks. In the 1800s, a dam was established at the east end of the loch to raise the natural level of Loch Katrine, with an aqueduct network using gravity to flow the loch water from the lower highlands into a reservoir at Mugdock. Meanwhile, most of England depends on aquifers, also known as 'groundwater,' which can give the water a different kind of taste depending on the region and number of time spent underground, which could run into the millennia. In Scotland, the public water supply is provided by Scottish Water. Supplies are taken from a number of sources and all need to be treated before they are of sufficient quality to be used by consumers. The extent and type of treatment required depends on the nature of the supply, its quality and any potential risks to quality that are present. Scottish Water undertakes about 350,000 tests every year on samples of water taken at water treatment works, storage points and consumers' homes to verify that the water quality meets these standards. The quality of water is then checked and standards are enforced by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator. Incredibly, there is also a team of 23 professional water tasters based in a specialist unit at Heriot-Watt University. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Scotland is also helped by geography. The country gets more rain and is less densely populated with less intensive agriculture with lower run-off from fields, plus faster run-off from its rivers. according to the BBC. In stark comparison, only 14 per cent of lakes and rivers in England were found to be in a good ecological condition. Scots can search for the water quality in their area on the Scottish Water website. Simply enter your postcode and you can view the number of aluminium, iron, E. coli and other substances in your water. You can also view a water quality map to compare your area to others and find your water hardness. So, while parts of the world including the US are blighted by water issues, arguably the most well-known of which was the water crisis in Flint Michigan, caused by lead contamination in the city's drinking water supply between 2014 and 2019, Scotland holds strong. Good quality drinking water is a gift, and we should never take it for granted.
Observer
22-04-2025
- General
- Observer
Oman marks Earth Day under the theme 'Our Power, Our Planet'
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman is joining global celebrations of Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, under the theme 'Our Power, Our Planet', emphasising collective efforts to drive change and protect the Earth as a shared responsibility. This occasion brings together over 190 countries to raise awareness among individuals, communities and organisations about the importance of safeguarding the environment, its natural resources and the ecological challenges facing the planet. It also aims to promote sustainability values and advance climate action. In this context, the Environment Authority is implementing sustainable environmental policies with a growing focus on protecting ecosystems through natural reserve management, pollution control and climate change adaptation. The Authority is also developing strategic plans, projects and qualitative initiatives, including programmes for ecosystem restoration, clean energy innovation and scaling up carbon capture projects. Efforts are underway to boost investment in natural reserves, green hydrogen, blue carbon and the enforcement of environmental policies. These measures seek to balance modern demands for environmental, economic and social projects — such as reducing carbon emissions and expanding green spaces — to secure a prosperous and sustainable future, prioritising environmental and natural resource conservation. Oman aims to make significant progress in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, currently ranking first among Arab countries and 22nd globally for least polluted nations in 2025, according to Numbeo. Earth Day serves as a global call to unify international efforts in environmental protection and addressing climate challenges threatening the planet. It also inspires action towards a cleaner, fairer and more sustainable future by accelerating renewable energy adoption, transitioning to green and circular economies, and raising awareness about the necessity of environmental commitments. - ONA
