The EU’s climate chief nominee Wopke Hoekstra on Monday told the European Parliament that he wanted to tax aviation fuel and fossil fuels as he faced a tough hearing in front of members.
“I want to explore an international kerosene tax, a maritime levy, a fossil fuel tax and even a share of ETS proceeds,” Mr Hoekstra, 48, told European politicians in Strasburg, referring to the EU’s “cap and trade” system to reduce emissions through a carbon market.
The former Dutch foreign affairs minister needs approval from at least two thirds of the parliament's environment committee to be confirmed in his new role as the EU’s next head of climate change policy.
A final vote will take place in a plenary session on Thursday.
Mr Hoekstra promised during a three-hour hearing that he would “use all instruments available” to enable the EU to reach the recommended target of 90 per cent net reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2040.
“Fossil fuels must become history, the sooner, the better,” he said.
If he is confirmed, Mr Hoekstra will succeed fellow Dutch politician Frans Timmermans, who quit the job this summer in a bid to become his country’s next prime minister.
“I aim to swiftly conclude all pending negotiations, but I will not be a caretaker. It simply would not do justice for the scale of the challenge,” Mr Hoekstra said.
He hopes to “work together in full equality with our friends from the Global South”, including at the coming UN climate negotiations, or Cop28, in Dubai, where discussions “will centre on ambition and finance".
“The harsh reality is that the Paris goals are far from fulfilled,” Mr Hoekstra said, referring to the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
This entails greenhouse gas emissions peaking before 2025 and declining by 43 per cent by 2030.
“Public expectations for Cop28 are high and rightly so, and time is running out,” Mr Hoekstra said.
“We must get the world on track [for] 1.5ºC . I still see avenues of success in Dubai and I will work non-stop to make it happen.”
Cop 28 must be about putting into operation a controversial loss and damage fund that was agreed on during the Cop27 in Egypt, but which remains subject to debate, he said.
“It is do-able if we find an agreement on the governance and operating rules,” Mr Hoekstra said. “I will talk to all partners to build a global loss and damage coalition.”
But some MEPs were sceptical of his promises, because of his former employment at oil company Shell and his role in financially supporting Dutch flagship airline KLM during his 2017-2022 tenure as finance minister.
Some of the sharpest criticism came from Dutch politicians.
“Looking at your CV, you have not exactly been a climate champion and that’s putting it mildly,” said Dutch Green politician Bas Eikhout. “We want more concrete promises.”
Mohammed Chahim, vice chairman of the socialist and democrats group, accused Mr Hoekstra of drawing on his past consultant skills from his 2006-2017 career at McKinsey & Partners to tell members what they wanted to hear on financing the green transition.
But Mr Hoekstra said he was convinced of its value.
“For the Global South, there’s a lot at stake here for them. It’s a question of trust and the best way we can achieve that trust is to put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
Anja Hazekamp, from the left group, pressed Mr Hoekstra to take a position on a flagship climate conservation law, which was nearly ended this summer by his political group in the European Parliament.
The European People’s Party said it would cause a food crisis – a claim described as “fake news” by Ms Hazekamp.
Mr Hoekstra did not directly answer the question on the nature conservation law, but said that with 60 to 70 per cent of its soil in a poor state, Europe’s biodiversity was in danger.
“We can’t draw a false distinction between people, climate and health. In the real world, all these things are linked,” he said.
Others, such as German member of the socialist and democrats group Tiemo Wolken, raised Mr Hoekstra’s past refusal to support EU countries financially during the Covid19 pandemic, which caused a dispute at the time with countries such as Portugal.
“Will you support future distributive tools to enable a just transition in all member states?” Mr Wolken asked.
Mr Hoekstra responded: “It is up to us to be the guardian angel for the vast majority that we call the middle class and those the most in need."
In his introductory remarks, he acknowledged the Covid-19 controversy.
"At the start of the pandemic, I showed insufficient regards for the difficulties faced by some member states and I would like you to know that I feel that I should have done differently," Mr Hoekstra said.
Climate action is facing political opposition in Europe as tensions mount with China and the US over the race to make green technology, and as countries adapt to record-breaking floods, drought and deadly heat as a result of human-caused global warming.
EU officials say members are unlikely to reject Mr Hoekstra, in part because that could mean the EU has no new climate policy chief at Cop28.
The specs
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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MATCH INFO
Bayern Munich 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Bayern: Zirkzee (26'), Goretzka (86')
Gladbach: Pavard (37' og)
Man of the Match: Breel Embolo (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
England 12-man squad for second Test
v West Indies which starts Thursday: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (captain), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Jack Leach
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Points tally
1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3
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