The EU's new climate chief Wopke Hoekstra on Thursday said he aimed to “increase the level of ambition” at the upcoming Cop28 in Dubai.
In his first public comments after receiving the European Parliament's final approval as EU commissioner for climate action, Mr Hoekstra said his priorities would be geared towards “making sure the world’s community comes together at the Cop to take another tremendously important step”.
Lawmakers in Strasbourg voted overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Hoekstra, a 48-year old Dutch politician, with 279 votes for him, 173 against and 33 abstentions.
A positive vote had been expected after the EU parliament's environment committee earlier this week agreed to back Mr Hoekstra as the bloc's new international climate negotiations lead.
After a three-hour question-and-answer session on Monday evening, Mr Hoekstra was asked to answer further queries in writing, including clarifications on how the EU would reduce carbon emissions by more than 95 per cent by 2040.
On Wednesday, he obtained the support of two-thirds of the committee's coordinators, paving the way for a vote in a plenary session.
Mr Hoekstra told reporters in Strasbourg that he wanted to break “the financial deadlock” at Cop28, in an apparent reference to earlier statements in which he expressed a strong desire to set up a loss and damage fund for developing countries.
The fund, which was approved at Cop27, has faced hurdles in implementation.
Mr Hoekstra said: “All the conversations I will be having … in the weeks and in the months to come will be geared towards making sure that we break the financial deadlock, increasing the level of ambition and making sure the world’s community comes together at the Cop to take another tremendously important step.”
The EU will finalise its negotiating position at Cop28, which starts in the UAE next month, at a meeting of environment ministers on October 16 in Luxembourg. Mr Hoekstra has said that he would argue for dropping or limiting the reference to “unabated fossil fuels”.
The EU Commission argues that fossil fuels need to be phased out as fast as possible and that carbon capture technology should be focused on covering a limited amount of emissions in the sectors where it is hard to abate them.
“We have some two months to make the Cop into a success,” said Mr Hoekstra. “That is a very steep climb. It is something I am anxious to get started.”
EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who will lead the implementation of the EU's ambitious green laws that aim to make the continent carbon-neutral by 2050, also obtained the backing of the European Parliament on Thursday, with 322 votes in favour, 158 against and 37 abstentions.
Before the final vote, Mr Sefcovic also had to answer further questions in writing to explain how he would push through with the EU's green policies before the Commission's mandate ends next June.
He now heads the so-called European Green deal – in addition to his previous portfolio as interinstitutional relations commissioner.
Both candidates needed a simple majority in the parliament to receive the final approvals for their new roles. They replace Dutch politician Frans Timmermans, who used to oversee both portfolios but quit in August in a bid to become The Netherlands's next prime minister.
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica
Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
6025 - Dh 20
2252 - Dh 50
2208 - Dh 100
6020 - Dh 200
*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km
Scoreline
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')
Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Race card
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m.
The National selections:
1.45pm: Galaxy Road – So Hi Speed
2.15pm: Majestic Thunder – Daltrey
2.45pm: Call To War – Taamol
3.15pm: Eqtiraan - Bochart
3.45pm: Kidd Malibu – Initial
4.15pm: Arroway – Arch Gold
4.35pm: Compliance - Muqaatil
