Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 16, 2018. Reuters
Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 16, 2018. Reuters
Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 16, 2018. Reuters
Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation leaves the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 16, 2018. Reuters

Climate

Cop28

Bill Gates tells leaders to use Cop28 for faster path to net zero

Microsoft co-founder shared his hoped outcome from the Cop28 summit in Dubai

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

July 26, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Cop28 will be a critical opportunity for the world’s leaders to come together and take real steps to accelerate the path to net-zero carbon emissions, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said on Wednesday.

In a tweet, the Microsoft co-founder included a link to the key aims of the UN Climate Change conference, hoping to refocus on the issues that need to be addressed at the summit taking place in Dubai this year.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate, has said the conference will be based around four pillars: fast-tracking the energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people and making inclusivity a hallmark of the summit.

READ MORE

Cop28's secret sauce? Call it the UAE effect

This month, at a 26-nation climate summit in Brussels, Dr Al Jaber set out what he called a "science-based, action-oriented" plan.

The summit begins on November 30, when the world will complete a first “global stocktake” of progress to limit climate change.

Climate change around the world - in pictures

Engineers carry solar panels on to the roof of a property in Barcelona in September 2022. Spain and other Mediterranean countries have generated record amounts of power from wind and solar farms. Bloomberg
Engineers carry solar panels on to the roof of a property in Barcelona in September 2022. Spain and other Mediterranean countries have generated record amounts of power from wind and solar farms. Bloomberg
Smoke rises from brick factory stacks in Nahrawan, Baghdad. Tackling emissions from heavy industry is crucial to tackling global warming. Reuters
Smoke rises from brick factory stacks in Nahrawan, Baghdad. Tackling emissions from heavy industry is crucial to tackling global warming. Reuters
A boy stands near a flock of sheep as a sandstorm approaches in the Syrian countryside of Tabqa. Syria is among the countries most vulnerable and poorly prepared for climate change, which is expected to worsen. AFP
A boy stands near a flock of sheep as a sandstorm approaches in the Syrian countryside of Tabqa. Syria is among the countries most vulnerable and poorly prepared for climate change, which is expected to worsen. AFP
Mountains of smouldering rubbish at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, India. Reuters
Mountains of smouldering rubbish at the Bhalswa landfill in New Delhi, India. Reuters
Greenpeace activists take part in a climate change protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in May. AP
Greenpeace activists take part in a climate change protest in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in May. AP
A man carries water bottles across the heavily polluted Negro River in Manaus, Brazil. About 35 tonnes of rubbish are removed daily from the river. AP
A man carries water bottles across the heavily polluted Negro River in Manaus, Brazil. About 35 tonnes of rubbish are removed daily from the river. AP
A helicopter drops water on a brush fire in California. Bloomberg
A helicopter drops water on a brush fire in California. Bloomberg
UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa speaks on the opening day of the Bonn climate change conference in Germany. Getty
UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa speaks on the opening day of the Bonn climate change conference in Germany. Getty
Activists take part in a demonstration to raise awareness of global warming, during an event to mark World Environment Day in Kolkata. AFP
Activists take part in a demonstration to raise awareness of global warming, during an event to mark World Environment Day in Kolkata. AFP
A helicopter drops water on a bushfire near a residential district in Athens. The fire forced residents to flee. AFP
A helicopter drops water on a bushfire near a residential district in Athens. The fire forced residents to flee. AFP
A gauge measures water levels in the Rio Nambe river, in New Mexico. Ninety per cent of the state is experiencing extreme drought. Getty
A gauge measures water levels in the Rio Nambe river, in New Mexico. Ninety per cent of the state is experiencing extreme drought. Getty
Afghan refugees search for recyclable material from heaps of rubbish in Karachi, Pakistan. AP
Afghan refugees search for recyclable material from heaps of rubbish in Karachi, Pakistan. AP
A climate activist ties herself to the net during the semi-final tennis match between Croatia's Marin Cilic and Norway's Casper Ruud at the French Open in Roland Garros in Paris. AP
A climate activist ties herself to the net during the semi-final tennis match between Croatia's Marin Cilic and Norway's Casper Ruud at the French Open in Roland Garros in Paris. AP
A dance group performs at a climate summit in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty
A dance group performs at a climate summit in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty
US climate envoy John Kerry talks to a delegate at the Stockholm 50 climate summit. Getty
US climate envoy John Kerry talks to a delegate at the Stockholm 50 climate summit. Getty
A boat is stranded during low tide at the Chebayesh marsh in Dhi Qar province, Iraq. Reuters
A boat is stranded during low tide at the Chebayesh marsh in Dhi Qar province, Iraq. Reuters
A woman crosses a polluted river in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
A woman crosses a polluted river in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA
A man walks past an abandoned boat in the bed of a drought-affected reservoir on the outskirts of Sana'a, Yemen. EPA
A man walks past an abandoned boat in the bed of a drought-affected reservoir on the outskirts of Sana'a, Yemen. EPA
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Your rights as an employee

The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.

The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.

If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.

Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.

The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.

The%20pillars%20of%20the%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Strategy
%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mica

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi

Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

Panipat

Director Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman

Rating 3 /5 stars

The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman

Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870

Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed PDK

Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km

Cheeseburger%20ingredients
%3Cp%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20burger%20%C2%A30.44%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20bun%20%C2%A30.17%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%20a%20single%20cheese%20slice%20%C2%A30.04%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20Gherkins%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20ketchup%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%20%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20mustard%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3Cbr%3EPrice%20for%2010g%20onions%20is%20less%20than%20%C2%A30.01%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETotal%2068p%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECredit%3A%20Meal%20Delivery%20Experts%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
Updated: July 27, 2023, 3:05 AM`
Cop28Climate changeBill Gates