Concerns have been raised over the cancellation of a series of UN regional climate events viewed as crucial to efforts to cut emissions and protect nations most at risk from the pressing global crisis.
The UNFCCC, organiser of the global Cop climate change summits, said it was unable to deliver the forums this year “due to a lack of funding”.
Four “regional climate weeks” were held around the world last year attracting tens of thousands of people and bringing together policymakers, scientists and, crucially, those on the front lines of climate change, to galvanise the world to act before the annual Cop meeting.
Additionally, they serve as vital listening posts for everyone at the forefront of the climate fight.
Experts warned it could lead to “vital conversations” being lost as the international community seeks to come together to protect the planet.
“Due to lack of funding, UN Climate Change is unable to deliver the regional climate weeks in 2024 and has put them on pause until further notice,” the UNFCCC report said.
Climate experts have reacted with concern to the development with some hoping the decision can be reversed.
Blow for climate co-operation
“Without these events taking place we’re missing vital conversations about how regions in the Global South can reduce emissions and prepare for climate impacts – a big dent for climate co-operation at a time when it’s needed most,” said Tom Evans, policy adviser on climate diplomacy at British think tank E3G.
The lack of funding is worrying and governments need to step up, he added.
Moustafa Bayoumi, research fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi, said putting the events on pause would represent a “setback” to climate awareness and capacity building.
“It would also come at the expense of inclusion as this limits the participation of a wider audience who might not be able to attend Cops,” he said.
Funding fears
The development comes as UNFCCC chief, Simon Stiell, made an urgent plea at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial meeting last month to address the body’s funding gap, stating that it is facing “severe financial challenges” that could leave it struggling to help governments tackle global warming.
“Our budget is currently less than half funded,” said Mr Stiell, stating it needed contributions totalling more than €150m over the next two years. Funds typically come from a mix of government and voluntary contributions.
“This is me once again ringing that alarm bell,” said Mr Stiell. “I urge you to respond as soon as possible, to ensure you get the support you need and have requested from us.”
Anne Rasmussen, lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States also expressed concern about the news, saying the climate weeks are an important avenue for the convention process to reach the local level, which is where our people are, while climate campaigner Harjeet Singh, said the revelation was not just disappointing but “a damning indictment of the world's skewed priorities in the fight against climate change”.
“Wealthier nations, whose prosperity has been fuelled by the very practices endangering our planet, have a moral obligation to ensure that these vital dialogues are not only sustained but amplified,” said Mr Singh.
Last year saw four regional climate weeks staged by the UNFCCC and its partners: Africa Climate Week in Kenya; Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Saudi Arabia; Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week in Panama; and Asia-Pacific Climate Week in Malaysia.
In Riyadh for example, the event heard important stories of how drought and heat-tolerant crops were giving hope to water-stressed countries, while in Africa the “Nairobi declaration” cemented African states’ unified position on climate issues ahead of the historic Cop28 that saw countries agree to transition away from fossil fuels.
“Progress like this wouldn’t have been possible without key players across the continent coming together for the regional climate week,” said Dulce Marrumbe, head of partnerships and advocacy at WaterAid’s regional office for Southern Africa.
“This was an historic instrument for us as African citizens to hold the global community responsible to delivering the climate financing needed to address the the damage done to our communities through climate change, as well as hold our own governments accountable to our national climate plans."
She also pointed to the African event’s importance in bolstering the participation of communities on the front line of the crisis at last year’s Cop28.
"This included representatives from African Youth organisations, women’s groups, African Civil Society organisations, among others to discuss and bring a collective African voice on climate action," she said.
"Regional platforms provide unique opportunities for communities most affected by climate change from Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to come together and discuss climate issues on the global stage."
It is not clear yet if the UNFCCC will decide to stage the events if funding was secured but Ms Marrumbe said the issue should not be allowed to slip through down the ranks.
She urged the African Union and regional bodies across different continents to lead the charge in re-establishing regional climate weeks.
"If the world’s most vulnerable are not at the table, then UN climate talks are no longer fit for purpose.”
Nations at risk due to climate change – in pictures
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Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Naga
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
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In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile
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ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
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SPECS
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