On June 1, just days after his first official visit to the Middle East and Europe, Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate accord. By ending US commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025, Mr Trump broke a promise that nearly every other government in the world has kept – one popular with policymakers, business leaders and the general public, and one that could ensure a better future for mankind. Such a move is likely to weaken Washington’s leadership on a fundamental issue affecting the future of our planet. The US now finds itself in the company of countries such as Syria and Nicaragua, which are also not signatories to the accord.
Mr Trump’s decision forced many local officials, policymakers, non-state actors, businessmen and companies to position themselves on this debate, and also further galvanised consensus on climate change. China, the world’s biggest emitter, India, which is expected to experience some of the fastest emission growth in the coming decades, and the European Union have all jumped in to fill the leadership void created by Mr Trump’s decision.
The fact that more nations have not come out strongly against Washington’s withdrawal from the accord, however, has sparked fears that some countries might now feel discouraged to ramp up their own efforts to cut back greenhouse gas emissions, or, worse, might themselves withdraw from the Paris agreement. A first step in that direction was the decision by Russia – the fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases – to delay the ratification of the Paris agreement until January 2019, after the 2018 Russian presidential election.
Any other withdrawal from the Paris climate accord will affect the goal of containing global warming to the +2° Celsius threshold.
In fact, the US withdrawal could raise global emissions by 3 per cent, and could add up 0.3°C to global temperatures by the end of the century, in the worst-case scenario. Any further withdrawal from the Paris agreement could lead to more drought, famine, refugee flows, political instability, and conflict. The remaining countries, therefore, must come together, strengthen their efforts and deepen their emission cuts in a joint effort to cap the rise of global temperatures.
The UAE, which has the world’s sixth-largest oil reserves and fifth-largest natural gas reserves, is already way ahead in its efforts to combat climate change.
The country is home to the world’s first sustainable city, Masdar, the largest solar energy project, Shams 1 and the International Renewable Energy Agency. The UAE is now developing what will be the largest independent solar plant, Noor Abu Dhabi, as well as its first nuclear energy plant, Barakah. It has ambitious plans to boost clean energy and slash dependence on natural gas. It aims to curb carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent, increase clean energy use by 50 per cent and improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent by 2050.
Mr Trump’s decision represents a considerable opportunity for the UAE to lead by example, and encourage other regional oil producers to carry the torch of climate action and climate innovation. The country can contribute to unlock new avenues of technological development and knowledge sharing with global, local and regional actors. The UAE may also be in a position to replace financial incentives the US had to offer to developing countries in the region and those most vulnerable to climate change such as Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan. It could become a hub of energy innovation in the region.
As the former US president John Kennedy once said, the word “crisis”, when written in Chinese, is composed of two characters: one represents danger, and the other opportunity. The US withdrawal from the Paris agreement might be cataclysmic if we do not act. It could also be a wake-up call for the rest of the world to speed up efforts to fight climate change, and for the UAE to lead the change in the region and beyond.
Mylene Tisserant is a senior analyst at the Delma Institute, an international affairs research house located in Abu Dhabi
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
NINE WINLESS GAMES
Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)
Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal (Oct 30, EFL)
Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal (Nov 6, Europa)
Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)
Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)
Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
more from Janine di Giovanni
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
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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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
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
PROFILE BOX
Company name: Overwrite.ai
Founder: Ayman Alashkar
Started: Established in 2020
Based: Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
Sector: PropTech
Initial investment: Self-funded by founder
Funding stage: Seed funding, in talks with angel investors
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
