Live updates: Follow the latest news on Cop28
1995 Cop1, Berlin
Environmental worries have been creeping up the political agenda since the UN organised the first Earth Summit in 1972. After forming the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988, the first COP, or Conference of the Parties, was a result of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), coming into force. Negotiations began for what would be known as the Kyoto Protocol, with what is now 198 parties agreeing to meet every year.
1997 Cop3, Kyoto
This COP created, for the first time, an agreement on binding targets for the reduction of seven greenhouse gas emissions by 37 industrialised countries by an average of 5.2 per cent between 2008 and 2012, based on 1990 levels. No restrictions were placed on developing countries, and a system of international emission trading, also known as carbon trading was introduced. It would take another seven years to come into effect, with several countries resisting, notably the US, Australia, and Canada, which later withdrew.
2005 Cop11, Montreal
Montreal saw the start of the Kyoto Protocol coming into force after being ratified by at least 55 countries. accounting for over half of CO2 emissions in 1990. Discussions focused on the technical aspect of implementing Koyoto, while an action plan saw negotiations begin to extend the life of the Protocol beyond 2012 and deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. However, non-binding talks about further reducing emissions involving all parties were accepted.
2010 Cop16, Cancun
The previous COP, in Copenhagen, had ended in rancour and disagreement. At Cancun, in Mexico, governments finally put aside the issues that had led to deadlock in the past. COP16 formalised the agreements set out the previous year and finally accepted a target of limiting temperature rises to 2ºC based on pre-industrial levels. For many, the biggest achievement of Cancun was demonstrating that negotiations through the UN could still produce real results.
2015 Cop22, Paris
This is regarded as a breakthrough gathering, with the Paris Agreement replacing Kyoto and 194 countries, plus the EU, accepting a legally binding treaty to submit climate action plans known as nationally determined contributions (NDC) by 2020. Coming into force a year later, the treaty covered all aspects of climate change, including mitigation, adapting to the effects, and funding. The target of keeping temperature increases to under two per cent, and ideally, 1.5 per cent, became a goal, along with a commitment to net zero by the middle of the century.
2021 Cop26, Glasgow
Delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Glasgow COP finally agreed on the Paris rule book, with the signing of the Glasgow Climate Pact, designed to turn the 2020s into a decade of decisive climate action. It was agreed to reduce the gap in emission reduction plans which would limit the global average rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees. For the first time countries were urged to stop using coal-fired power stations and end inefficient subsidies on fossil fuels. It was accepted that carbon emissions would have to fall by 45 per cent by 2030 if the 1.5 per cent goal was to be reached.
2022 Cop27, Sharm El Sheikh
The war in Ukraine and the resulting global energy crisis focused minds in Egypt, although a proposal to expand the phasing out of coal to include oil and gas was defeated. The most significant achievement was an agreement to create a Loss and Damage Fund, to support vulnerable countries in the developing world most affected by climate change. How much money would be in the fund was another matter. As the UN Environment Program put it “no decisions have been made on who should pay into the fund, where this money will come from and which countries will benefit”.
2023 Cop28, Dubai
Over 200 governments have been invited to the global summit at Expo City Dubai. Developing the Loss and Damage Fund will be one of the priorities of the first meeting in the UAE, along with a comprehensive Global stock take that will look at climate targets and the prospects of meeting the 1.5ºC temperature rise target in what is said by Nasa to be the hottest year on record. It will take an inventory of progress towards the goals of Paris and COP22, and seek to fast track progress towards sources of clean energy to meet the targets of 2030.
HAJJAN
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
SPECS
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Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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.
