A top UN official has warned of a “crisis of political will” holding the world back in the fight against climate change.
Selwin Hart, a special adviser on climate to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, warned current leaders that the fate of climate goals will be settled on their watch.
Diplomats in London were told politics is the last major stumbling block as economic and technological barriers to a cleaner future fall.
“The decisions, the actions and choices made and taken by leaders today will determine the world of tomorrow,” Mr Hart said.
They were urged to get smart about winning political backing for green action and offering a “more positive narrative” about net zero.
The rise of cheap renewable energy such as wind and solar has lifted hopes of cutting carbon dioxide emissions before global warming gets out of control.
But countries are under pressure to put trillions of dollars behind that effort despite economic turmoil and pressing political needs at home.
The US, UK and France are all in the midst of election campaigns while the EU is in a phase of post-election horse-trading after a backlash against green policies.
However, countries were urged to get money flowing in what a German diplomat called a “golden window” in which there are economic benefits to seize.
“Climate-related policies cannot be climate-only policies. Instead, they need to be designed to maximise economic gain and social benefit,” Germany's top climate envoy Jennifer Morgan told a summit in London.
“Only then can we see the pace and scale of transition needed, and to go full realpolitik, limit the opportunity for political point-scoring that threatens to derail or delay the transition.”
Climate deadlines are approaching such as a 2025 date for almost 200 countries to submit new long-term green plans, based on what was agreed at Cop28 in the UAE at the end of last year.
Mr Hart told the event at the City of London's Mansion House that the battle to keep global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – the world's key climate goal – “will be won or lost under their watch”.
“Despite the very clear economic case for urgency and ambition, we're simply not moving fast enough. In my view the climate crisis is a crisis of political will,” said Mr Hart.
“Climate politics and diplomacy is currently taking place against a backdrop of three really important forces: geopolitical divisions, a genuine leadership void, and mistrust between the developed and developing world.”
Finance debate
The split between the global north and south is threatening to burst back into full view at this year's Cop29 talks in Azerbaijan in November.
Tricky negotiations are expected on finance after small island states proposed a new funding goal in the trillions of dollars to be provided by rich countries.
Rich-world budgets are under pressure, with the UK's Labour Party on Tuesday criticising the ruling Conservatives for cutting development aid to the global south.
Labour is promising a renewed focus on clean energy if it wins power at the July 4 general election – which it is widely predicted to do – but has scaled back funding pledges due to economic strife.
Kevin Magron, a French climate ambassador, said politicians should offer a “more desirable future to people” and a “more positive narrative” around tackling climate change.
He said people should not see climate action as “imposed on populations and societies” and “something which we're going to suffer”'.
Nick Mabey, a climate adviser to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, warned green policies could become less popular if they appear not to be working as environmental hazards rise.
“We think that the main barriers to achieving the climate action we need is not economics, it's not tech, it's politics and institutional change,” he said.
“As the technology has become cheaper and better, the pol barriers have become so much more important.
“Unlike most normal political problems, if we don't solve climate change quickly, we don't solve it at all. That's not true for poverty, it's not true for inequality.”
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
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Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
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Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
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TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
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Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
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Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
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Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Results
Male 51kg Round 1
Dias Karmanov (KAZ) beat Mabrook Rasea (YEM) by points 2-1.
Male 54kg Round 1
Yelaman Sayassatov (KAZ) beat Chen Huang (TPE) TKO Round 1; Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) beat Fahad Anakkayi (IND) RSC Round 2; Qais Al Jamal (JOR) beat Man Long Ng (MAC) by points 3-0; Ayad Albadr (IRQ) beat Yashar Yazdani (IRI) by points 2-1.
Male 57kg Round 1
Natthawat Suzikong (THA) beat Abdallah Ondash (LBN) by points 3-0; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Ahmed Al Jubainawi (IRQ) by points 2-1; Hamed Almatari (YEM) beat Nasser Al Rugheeb (KUW) by points 3-0; Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) beat Yu Xi Chen (TPE) by points 3-0.
Men 86kg Round 1
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) beat Mohammad Al Khatib (PAL) by points 2-1
Men 63.5kg Round 1
Noureddin Samir (UAE) beat Polash Chakma (BAN) RSC Round 1.
Female 45kg quarter finals
Narges Mohammadpour (IRI) beat Yuen Wai Chan (HKG) by points.
Female 48kg quarter finals
Szi Ki Wong (HKG) beat Dimple Vaishnav (IND) RSC round 2; Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Nastaran Soori (IRI) by points; Shabnam Hussain Zada (AFG) beat Tzu Ching Lin (TPE) by points.
Female 57kg quarter finals
Nguyen Thi Nguyet (VIE) beat Anisha Shetty (IND) by points 2-1; Areeya Sahot (THA) beat Dana Al Mayyal (KUW) RSC Round 1; Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Ching Yee Tsang (HKG) by points 3-0.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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