The world has a narrow and rapidly closing window to ward off catastrophe caused by climate change, a long-awaited UN report has said.
In the five scenarios put forward by experts, the target of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels would be breached in the 2030s. Already, temperatures have soared by about 1.1°C since the 1850-1900 period.
The study says it is already too late to head off some of the effects of global warming, such as melting ice sheets and rising sea levels.
Valerie Ms Masson-Delmotte, co-leader of the working group behind the report, said that “changes in ice sheets, deep ocean temperature and acidification will continue for centuries to thousands of years, meaning that they are irreversible in our lifetime and will continue for generations to come".
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described the report as a “code red for humanity”.
UN experts say that half a degree of extra warming — 2°C instead of 1.5°C — would have effects on the planet that are far more severe.
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries aim to keep the increase in global temperatures to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and strive to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
Even if 1.5°C is met, there would still be an increase in the intensity and seriousness of heatwaves, storms, droughts and floods.
The report, compiled by more than 200 experts, said tropical cyclones are getting stronger and wetter, while Arctic sea ice is dwindling in the summer and permafrost is thawing. All of these trends will get worse, it said.
Countries are under pressure to agree on ambitious action at this year’s Cop26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
Monday’s report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gives them the first comprehensive update since 2013 on what the science shows.
After the 2013 report said it was extremely likely that humans were causing climate change, this year’s study says the evidence is “unequivocal".
It says that human activity has heated the world at a rate that is unprecedented in at least the last 2,000 years.
Signed off after long negotiations between IPCC delegates, it says that every fraction of a degree counts in preventing climate-related disasters.
Mr Guterres said he was counting on governments to make a success of Cop26 and to meet their promises of climate funding for the developing world.
“The alarm bells are deafening, and the evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel burning and deforestation are choking our planet and putting billions of people at immediate risk,” he said.
“Extreme weather and climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity. That is why this year’s [Cop26] in Glasgow is so important.
“If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But, as today’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses.”
Ms Masson-Delmotte said scientists had a much clearer picture than before of the current and future state of the climate.
“It has been clear for decades that the Earth's climate is changing, and the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed,” she said.
Extreme weather
If global warming reaches 2°C above pre-industrial levels, extreme heatwaves are expected to happen 14 times more often than before.
Droughts would be two to three times more likely, while extreme rainfall would be 70 per cent more common, the report said.
The only way to prevent this, scientists say, is to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero — which leading economies hope to do by 2050.
As well as cutting carbon dioxide emissions, countries could also limit global warming by reducing methane pollution, the report said.
Methane concentration in the atmosphere is estimated to be higher than at any point in the past 800,000 years.
If these reductions do not take place, temperatures will rise by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, scientists believe.
Limiting the increase to 1.5°C could be reached as soon as the 2030s — but it could be prevented from rising further if pollution falls to zero, the report said.
In the five scenarios put forward by experts, the most optimistic is that the 1.5°C limit is temporarily breached but that temperatures then fall slightly.
However, they say that some effects of climate change are already locked in by the warming that has taken place so far.
Even if temperatures stabilise, ice sheets will continue to melt and sea levels are expected to keep rising beyond 2100.
Flooding events that used to take place once a century could become annual occurrences because of rising sea levels, it is feared.
Experts say the challenge of limiting warming to 1.5°C is political rather than physical, with countries facing difficult negotiations over how to cut emissions.
Dozens of countries missed a July 31 deadline to submit their updated climate plans to the UN, which said this was unsatisfactory.
As host of Cop26, the UK is pushing for net zero targets but faces criticism over its own efforts to battle climate change.
The EU faces years of political wrangling over a climate plan put forward last month that aims to halve emissions by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.
Climate change has been widely blamed for recent extreme weather events in Europe, with bushfires in Greece and Turkey, and severe flooding in parts of Germany.
Early drafts of the UN report received more than 80,000 comments from reviewers and government representatives.
Monday’s report is only one part of what will go into the final Sixth Assessment Report, which will be released in 2022.
This will include further chapters on the effects of climate change on societies and on ways of curbing emissions.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Easter%20Sunday
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
