Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said there were “too many things dividing our world at this moment” and urged everyone to unite at next month's crucial climate conference in Dubai.
Speaking on Monday at the start of crucial pre-Cop talks in Abu Dhabi, Dr Al Jaber urged global action to tackle the climate crisis, with the summit now just weeks away.
More than 100 delegations and about 70 ministers are in the capital for the two-day event which Cop28 organisers said was more than double the normal number of participants.
“There are too many things dividing our world at this moment,” Dr Al Jaber said in the opening session. “We need to show that the international community can deliver and send a clear signal that keeps 1.5ºC within reach,” he said, referring to the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Turning to the future of fossil fuels, which are the primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions, Dr Al Jaber said he was aware of “strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text”.
In referring to the negotiated text and cover decision that is typically published at the end of Cop summits, Dr Al Jaber acknowledged there remained significant debate about “phasing down” or “phasing out” fossil fuels.
“I need you to work together to come forward with solutions that can achieve alignment, common ground and consensus between all parties. We must be pragmatic. And we must leave no one behind,” he said.
Oil and gas sector has a key role to play
Dr Al Jaber said more than 20 oil and gas companies had answered Cop28’s call to end methane emissions by 2030.
“I see positive momentum, as more are joining,” he said. “And we are engaging with all high-emitting sectors, like heavy transportation, aluminium, steel and cement to lay out credible decarbonisation plans.”
Leaders will meet in Dubai from November 30 to December 12 to tackle the escalating climate emergency. Temperatures across the world have reached record highs this year, with extreme weather events becoming common.
The UN has repeatedly warned the world is off track in meeting the goals of the Paris accord, where countries agreed to “pursue efforts” to keep warming to 1.5ºC on pre-industrial levels.
Dr Al Jaber said parties “must do better” in formulating agreements on issues than they had done at previous conferences. “We have no time to waste on disunity,” he said. “We must look beyond short-term thinking, we must end the excuses and delays and redefine our self-interest as common interest.”
Dr Al Jaber urged a robust response to the global stocktake at Cop28 that will assess how the world is measuring up to the Paris deal. He also called for strong outcomes on mitigation and adaptation and “groundbreaking solutions” on finance.
Delivering on pledges
“That includes delivering on the fund and funding arrangements for loss and damage,” he said. “What was promised in Sharm El Sheikh must be delivered in Dubai,” he said, referring to Cop27's loss and damage fund.
He also called for finance to be scaled up to where it is most needed and urged for the $100bn a year climate finance pledge to be delivered.
“Old promises must be kept, like the $100bn pledge. I am grateful for the work of Germany and Canada on this, and their reassurances that things are now on track. But, as I stand here now, I still cannot say with certainty that has been delivered.”
He also outlined the importance of adaptation, which refers to actions that reduce vulnerability to impacts of climate change such as drought-tolerant crops or building flood defences.
“We must end deforestation and preserve natural carbon sinks … it is time for every nation to embed nature-positive investments in national climate strategies.”
The pre-Cop negotiations on Monday and Tuesday aim to drive momentum for the crucial UN summit that is now just four weeks away.
Dr Al Jaber also met ministers and climate leaders at the start of the talks including US climate envoy, John Kerry.
“The world is watching,” said Dr Al Jaber. “Our nations, our communities, our families, our kids, they are all watching. So, let us unite.”
“This process must not fail. We have to come through. We must deliver in Dubai.”
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Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
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
West Indies v England ODI series:
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.
Fixtures:
1st ODI - February 20, Bridgetown
2nd ODI - February 22, Bridgetown
3rd ODI - February 25, St George's
4th ODI - February 27, St George's
5th ODI - March 2, Gros Islet
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Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Third Test
Result: India won by 203 runs
Series: England lead five-match series 2-1
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
(All games 4-3pm kick UAE time) Bayern Munich v Augsburg, Borussia Dortmund v Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin, Wolfsburg v Mainz , Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, Union Berlin v RB Leipzig, Cologne v Schalke , Werder Bremen v Borussia Monchengladbach, Stuttgart v Arminia Bielefeld
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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