Faith added a powerful voice to efforts to save the planet on day four of Cop28 when Pope Francis and Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, signed a declaration of support for climate action.
Both Pope Francis and Dr Al Tayeb signed the Call of Conscience declaration on Sunday which intends to draw in interfaith dialogue to introduce measures to combat climate change.
The Pope said the document reflected the intention of religious leaders to stand together in the interest of peace and to protect the planet.
“Today the world needs alliances that are not against someone but for the benefit of everyone,” he said in a video message.
Let us safeguard creation and protect our common home, live in peace and promote peace
Pope Francis
He spoke of the urgency for the world’s religions to set a good example by working together “not for own interests of those of particular groups but for the interests of our world”.
“Among these the most important right now are peace and climate,” he added.
The Pope deeply regretted not being at Cop28 due to ill health and called on religious representatives to show that change is possible by demonstrating respectful and sustainable lifestyles.
Calling for peace, he urged world leaders to “safeguard creation and protect our common home.”
The Grand Imam also joined in the plea for peace and urged an end to the violence in Gaza.
He appealed for a halt to “atrocious, criminal wars,” and warned that if these persisted the world would be left with “neither a viable environment nor a liveable climate for our children or future generations.”
Respect the environment
Dr Al Tayeb also cautioned that climate change was one of the most serious challenges facing humanity with a growing number of natural disasters.
“This threat is embodied in natural disasters including an unprecedented rise in temperature, sweeping floods, devastating wildfires, severe drought and extinction of numerous living species and the spread of epidemics and diseases,” he said.
Dr Tayeb said the teaching of the Quran embodied being mindful of the environment.
“The noble Quran abounds with verses that urge respect for the environment and its elements,” he said adding that “humans are responsible for the environment, just as they are responsible for themselves and for their fellow human beings.”
The document has been signed by several religious leaders during Cop28 and reaffirms their support to communities impacted by climate change.
The leaders have pledged to change their consumption patterns, promote sustainable choices and join their voices in the fight to conserve wildlife and protect biodiversity, support equality and the rights of indigenous people and vulnerable communities.
In an earlier message to Cop28 leaders, he compared the destruction of the environment to “an offence against God” while cautioning countries from putting self-interest before the needs of the planet.
“The destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin that is not only personal but structural, one that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable,” he said.
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.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine 2.4L four-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
