A United Nations chief has called on global leaders to show the "same determination" exerted to tackle the coronavirus crisis to address ongoing concerns over climate change.
On the 50th Earth Day - an annual event to highlight the importance of protecting the planet - the world is facing unprecedented challenges.
Strict measures imposed to stem the spread of Covid-19 have forced a third of the world's population into lockdown.
This has offered a sliver of a silver lining for the environment, as skies, seas and rivers have become cleaner and quieter and highways have emptied, leading to a dramatic drop in air pollution across the globe.
However, the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said the improvements were only temporary and long-term plans still needed to be developed to address the issue.
Organisers of Earth Day said the many events planned to promote this year’s theme of climate change would instead take place online.
“Covid-19 may result in a temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but it is not a substitute for sustained climate action,” said the organisation.
Its secretary general, Petteri Taalas, said Covid-19 caused a severe international health and economic crisis, but failure to tackle climate change may threaten human well-being, ecosystems and economies “for centuries”.
UAE pupil and environmental campaigner Sainath Manikandan said the pandemic has resulted in positive benefits that the world now needs to build on.
"Because of the global shutdown, we have seen carbon emissions dropping," said Sainath, 11, an active member of Emirates Environmental Group who developed a robot to devour waste clogging the oceans.
He is taking part in two digital Earth Day events in the UAE, including one hosted by his school, Gems United Indian School, in Abu Dhabi and another he organised himself that uses art to promote awareness of climate change.
“We have also realised that a few of us can actually work from home, which greatly reduces carbon emissions," he said.
"In short, all governments and leaders need to take these factors into account and focus on creating new environmental laws and policies to encourage a sustainable environment by reducing the pollution or similar activities and save our earth.”
The WMO said a new global temperature record is likely to occur in the next five years if nothing was done to reverse climate change.
It has warned it would make it more difficult to tackle weather, climate and water-related hazards, which are becoming more acute because of climate change.
Extreme weather events, which have increased, would not go away because of the coronavirus, said Mr Taalas.
“On the contrary, the pandemic exacerbates the challenge of evacuating people and keeping them safe from tropical cyclones, as we saw with category five strength Harold in the South Pacific.
“And there is a risk that over stretched health systems may not be able to cope with an additional burden of patients due to, for example, heatwaves,” he said.
“We need to show the same determination and unity against climate change as against Covid-19. We need to act together in the interests of the health and welfare of humanity not just for the coming weeks and months, but for many generations ahead.”
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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Ireland (15-1):
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
HOW TO WATCH
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Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Leeds United 0
Brighton 1 (Maupay 17')
Man of the match: Ben White (Brighton)
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
