Every breath we take, every sip of water we drink, and every meal we enjoy owes a debt to nature. Today in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, we are reminded of how the natural world supports us daily. Our survival hinges on the intricate web of life consisting of biodiversity and ecosystems down to the plants, creatures and microorganisms that sustain us.
Yet this incredible natural system is under incredible strain. According to scientific estimates, up to one million species face extinction due to deforestation, pollution, climate change and overexploitation. This crisis places entire ecosystems in jeopardy, which in turn threatens food and water security, human health and livelihoods.
We cannot lose the invaluable contributions that nature provides. Bees and other pollinators are crucial for sustaining agriculture, wetlands naturally filter water and prevent storm surges, and forests store vast amounts of carbon.
But without committed and urgent action, we risk the collapse of our ecosystems.
Thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom. Around the world, people, governments and organisations are taking action. In the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, all nations agreed to protect 30 per cent of their land and seas by 2030.
We cannot lose the invaluable contributions that nature provides
This is why the efforts, negotiations and decisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are so significant.
In Dubai last December, the presidencies of the Cop28 climate conference (hosted by the UAE) and Cop15 biodiversity meeting (held in China) called for aligning biodiversity action plans with national climate strategies into one unified approach. Governments were urged to consider ecosystems, biodiversity and carbon stores when developing stronger climate action plans. This alignment aims to create comprehensive action plans that integrate both climate and biodiversity strategies.
The UAE Consensus – the set of negotiated outcomes agreed upon at Cop28 – emphasised halting deforestation by 2030, restoring degraded ecosystems and recognising the vital role of nature in climate solutions. It included a pledge to eliminate 14 per cent of global emissions by reducing deforestation, supported by a total of $2.7 billion in funding to protect and restore nature. Modelling by example, the UAE also committed $100 million specifically for forest preservation, reinforcing the need for immediate and effective global efforts.
Climate action and biodiversity protection are not just about signing diplomatic agreements. They must be addressed at all levels.
Consider the fact that indigenous peoples and local communities have long been custodians of our natural world and their intergenerational knowledge and contributions must be recognised. Their role in forest management, conservation and protecting vulnerable communities is invaluable.
Here in the UAE, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has implemented several initiatives to engage citizens in mangrove reforestation, while the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi partners with Emirates Nature-WWF and local businesses for sustainable coastal management.
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Globally, organisations associated with regional conservation, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, play a pivotal role in bringing together countries and partners. The IUCN’s seven expert commissions, with 15,000 scientists, create tools and standards such as the Red List of Threatened Species and Key Biodiversity Areas that inform national strategies.
Across various sectors, the path forward demands shared knowledge and practical solutions.
Businesses need to adopt sustainable practices, whether through responsible waste management, ensuring sustainable supply chains, or investing in climate-critical technologies. Governments should ensure that environmental policies account for the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the global impacts of local actions. Civil society can amplify voices for change, educating the public on the importance of biodiversity and advocating for greener choices.
These actions and networks are so important as we approach crucial meetings such as the Bonn Climate Conference, the Cop29 climate conference in Azerbaijan and Cop16 biodiversity conference in Colombia.
Each represents a milestone where diverse stakeholders align their strategies and update commitments towards safeguarding biodiversity and mitigating climate impacts.
Political will, inclusive engagement, multilevel action, financial support and disciplined execution will be critical in the months and years ahead. The frameworks and plans are in place, but real change requires our collective commitment. On this International Day for Biological Diversity, we must all, as this year’s theme suggests, “Be Part of the Plan”.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
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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.
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
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Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE CARD
2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m
3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m
3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m
4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m
4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m
