Developing countries are most at risk from the impact of climate change. EPA
Developing countries are most at risk from the impact of climate change. EPA
Developing countries are most at risk from the impact of climate change. EPA
Developing countries are most at risk from the impact of climate change. EPA

'We can't fail them': Climate fund boss calls for billions to protect poor nations at Cop29


Rachel Kelly
  • English
  • Arabic

The Fund for responding to Loss and Damage is open for business with new executive director Ibrahima Cheikh Diong hitting the ground running at Cop29 – meeting leaders, philanthropists and action groups.

The $700 million fund is tasked with supporting developing countries at risk from the effects of climate change, including extreme weather and slow onset events.

“It is very clear that the needs are in the billions, so therefore pledges are important. Keeping the pledges made is important, but converting the pledges into real money is equally important. My hope is that by the end of Cop, we will get more players to come in,” Mr Cheikh Diong told The National on the sidelines at the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, which runs until November 22.

This will be no easy task as researchers sound the alarm that this year is on track to be the hottest on record and, as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told participants at Cop29, “around the world, we’ve seen record rains and hurricanes, historic fires, and deadly droughts”.

In an interview with The National, Mr Cheikh Diong set out his thoughts on what has been dubbed the “finance Cop”, and what he hopes to achieve in his first year as head of the climate action fund.

“I always say there's a human face to climate change. The priority is millions of people whose life is dependent on what we do, we can't fail them,” he said.

“I think many were doubtful that within nine months, you can set up a board, have pledges, have an executive director, and fast-forward,” Mr Cheikh Diong added. “But here we are. We've done all of that and that's, in my view, a major achievement in the climate finance world.”

The fund was established at Cop27 and operationalised at Cop28 in Dubai, with pledges of $700 million made. However, this falls short of what action groups say is required to pay for the impact of climate change, which they say is in the trillions.

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, executive director of the fund responsible for climate loss and damage, speaks at Cop29. Photo: UN Capital Development Fund
Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, executive director of the fund responsible for climate loss and damage, speaks at Cop29. Photo: UN Capital Development Fund

More to be done

Mr Cheikh Diong has been busy at the climate summit seeking to raise funds. Already a deal has been sealed with Sweden committing an additional $19 million, bringing the size of the fund to $719 million.

The executive director previously served as Special Representative of the President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa on environmental, social and governance, spending three decades in climate change, finance and development. He told The National that he hopes to leverage his experience in the private sector to bring more funds to the table.

“I came from the private sector, so you can rest assured I will reach out to people and find out what they have to offer to us,” he said. “There is a conscious decision made by the board and myself to foster innovations and creativity in the way we do business.”

The fund has a meeting lined up with the Gates Foundation on Thursday, with plans to meet more philanthropic groups in the coming days.

This week Mr Guterres hailed the fund as “a victory for developing countries, multilateralism, and justice” during a high-level dialogue that established co-ordination between funding mechanisms – with participation from The World Bank, Green Climate Fund, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Mr Cheikh Diong told The National that collaboration and co-ordination are vital because the fund “can't do everything alone”. “We invite civil society to have their voice heard, because we believe in transparency and inclusiveness,” he added.

He said listening to all parties is critical to design a fund that is nimble and can implement financial support quickly in response to a disaster. He also said he hopes the fund will have already actioned finance where it is needed most before Cop30, due to be held in Brazil.

“Hopefully by then, we can talk about the impact we've had within a year, and that's, in my view, what matters most to the people we're trying to help,” he said.

Cop29 – in pictures

The biog

Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.

His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.

“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.

"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”

Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.

He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking. 

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

MATCH INFO

Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)

Mumbai Indians won by three runs

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees

Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.

Checks continue

A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.

Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

THE DEALS

Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m

Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m

Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m

Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m

Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m

TOTAL $485m

HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
%3Cp%3E1.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fflags%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Find%20and%20enable%20%3Cstrong%3EExpansion%20pack%20for%20the%20Site%20Search%20starter%20pack%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Restart%20Chrome%20Canary%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fsettings%2FsearchEngines%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20in%20the%20address%20bar%20and%20find%20the%20%3Cstrong%3EChat%20with%20Gemini%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20shortcut%20under%20%3Cstrong%3ESite%20Search%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.%20Open%20a%20new%20tab%20and%20type%20%40%20to%20see%20the%20Chat%20with%20Gemini%20shortcut%20along%20with%20other%20Omnibox%20shortcuts%20to%20search%20tabs%2C%20history%20and%20bookmarks%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS

Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now

if you go

The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.

The trip 

Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Living in...

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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Updated: November 14, 2024, 5:37 PM`