Dr Sultan Al Jaber, President-designate of the Cop28 UN climate conference, has urged more countries to join a pledge to deliver more sustainable cooling solutions.
The UN Environment Programme and the Cop 28 Presidency announced in January the development of a 'Global Cooling Pledge', which provides incentives to governments and stakeholders to act on sustainable cooling in five areas: nature-based solutions, super-efficient appliances, food and vaccine cold chains, district cooling and National Cooling Action Plans.
More than 20 nations to date have signed up to the pledge.
Sustainable Energy for All, an independent organisation with close ties to the UN, said almost 2.5 billion people do not have access to climate-friendly cooling solutions.
In addition, more than one billion people are at high risk from extreme heat due to a lack of cooling access – the vast majority of whom are living in Africa and Asia.
This pledge aims to improve energy efficiency and increase access to sustainable cooling
Dr Sultan Al Jaber
Standard cooling solutions, such as air conditioning, are responsible for more than seven per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the current usage rate continues, energy needs for space cooling will triple by 2050, together with associated emissions.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial, alongside the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting, Dr Al Jaber, who is also UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, urged countries to join the global cooling pledge.
“We cannot expand cooling on a business-as-usual basis,” said Dr Al Jaber.
“Without strong policy action, emissions from the sector will rise between 7 to 10 per cent from today. To solve this dilemma, we need a rapid transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling.”
He thanked Dan Jorgensen, Danish Minister for Development and Global Climate Policy, and Dr Jitendra Singh, India's Minister of Science and Technology, for their commitment as Cool Champions promoting global action on sustainable cooling.
The Global Cooling Pledge aims to expand cooling to protect the most vulnerable communities from extreme heat, keep food fresh and vaccines safe, especially in the global south, small island states and least developed countries.
Dr Al Jaber said the world can provide cooling access to those who need it without undermining the energy transition.
He said cooling was a matter of climate justice for the most vulnerable states
“Food and medicine all depend on cooling. It is a topic of critical importance across climate mitigation and adaptation,” he said.
“Cooling is also a matter of climate justice – with heat disproportionately impacting lower-income communities and families.
“In a warming world, sustainable cooling is critical for reducing GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions, protecting against heat stress, enabling productivity, reducing food loss and enhancing access to healthcare,”
“We have a unique opportunity to deliver a significant, collective response to the cooling challenge via the Global Cooling Pledge.
“This pledge aims to improve energy efficiency and increase access to sustainable cooling.
“It is gaining momentum with more than 20 early supporters – including India and Denmark. But there is more to be done. I call on all countries to join the Global Cooling Pledge in the lead up to Cop28.”
Earlier this month, Dr Al Jaber outlined the UAE's four-pillar plan for Cop28 – fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people and making inclusivity a hallmark of the summit in Dubai.
He set out what he called a “science-based, action-oriented” plan at a 26-nation climate meeting in Brussels.
Cop28, which will be hosted at Expo City Dubai in November, will be the first “global stocktake” of progress in limiting climate change.
Speaking in Brussels, Dr Al Jaber called on countries to update emissions plans by September to ensure they were aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C – a target he said was the “north star” of his plan for Cop28.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
