Despite growing signs that major breakthroughs are unlikely, the UN climate summit’s Egyptian hosts are tenaciously clinging to hopes for a “meaningful and robust” outcome.
In a pair of back-to-back news conferences at Cop27, a top official from the Egyptian presidency and the European Union’s point man on climate offered equally cautious scenarios on the outcome of the two-week summit, scheduled to wrap on Friday.
There are reportedly deep divisions over issues including the recommitment to capping the rise of the planet’s temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels as well as the question of loss and damage — a term referring to the responsibility of rich, industrialised countries to bankroll efforts by developing nations to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.
But career Egyptian diplomat Wael Aboulmagd peppered his caution with optimism that breakthroughs can still be made.
“We are making all the efforts at our disposal because we want a meaningful and robust outcome. We still want something meaningful to come out,” he said.
There were, he said, “gaps” among the delegates of the nearly 200 nations participating in the summit on renewing their commitment to the agreement reached seven years ago to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C.
This follows the disclosure made last week by the US climate envoy John Kerry that some unnamed countries did not want to stick to the 1.5°C pledge.
Frans Timmermans, the EU’s top climate official, offered the 27-nation bloc’s view on the issue of loss and damage, saying he was “not sure we will find consensus this week”.
“We want to find solutions that are agreeable to everyone. I hope we can be pragmatic,” he said.
He went on to explain that the needs of countries hit hard by climate change vary.
“We want to tailor-make solutions that suit the needs of each country.”
His comments appeared to align with the general view of many in the rich nations’ camp that existing and new mechanisms to help countries suffering from climate change would be sufficient, rather than creating new ones dedicated to loss and damage.
The US has categorically dismissed the creation of a new entity to channel loss and damage funds.
Not reaching a meaningful compromise on loss and damage will come as a blow to many developing countries whose delegates have spoken passionately in Egypt about the need for an agreement on the issue, citing the devastation wreaked by climate change.
It will also dishearten the Egyptian hosts, who touted as a major diplomatic victory the inclusion of loss and damage on the official agenda — something that had proved elusive for many years.
Already, there is chatter among delegates in Sharm El Sheikh, the Red Sea resort city where Cop27 is being held, that the conference would go into overtime and not finish on schedule on Friday.
Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad acknowledged that big sticking points remain unresolved. She cited the called-for doubling in finance to adapt for future climate disruptions as well as loss and damage.
But she, too, struck a hopeful note, saying she expected much progress to be made when ministers take over from technical delegates.
Delegates, however, said Cop27 in Egypt would not be allowed to go down as a failure, explaining that a string of small victories would be made, such as rich nations making good on past promises of funds for developing nations.
There is also likely to be new targets on gas emissions announced by the world’s major polluters — the US, China, the EU and India — that match the rapid climate deterioration.
Mr Timmermans, also the European Commission Vice President, announced in Sharm El Sheikh that the EU would exceed its original plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030.
The bloc, he said, will be able to cut the emissions by 57 per cent from 1990 levels.
“Europe is staying the course and, in fact, accelerating the course,” he said on Tuesday. “The EU has to look forward, not backward.”
Offering a glimmer of hope for the proceedings in Sharm El Sheikh, Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived at the summit on Tuesday, bringing with him a message that “Brazil is back” in the struggle against climate change.
The left-wing leader is scheduled to meet top US and Chinese climate officials in Egypt as he seeks to restore his country's credibility as a key partner in global efforts to stem global warming.
Last month, Mr da Silva defeated right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, who oversaw mounting destruction of the Amazon rainforest and refused to host the 2019 climate summit originally planned to take place in Brazil.
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FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Which products are to be taxed?
To be taxed:
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
