Few people have a longer history of attending UN climate change conferences than German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was president of Cop1 in Berlin when she was environment minister in 1995.
But she will soon hand over power to a government that will be under pressure to take more radical action to cut Germany’s carbon emissions.
Activists say Germany, as Europe’s richest country and one of history’s biggest emitters, should be doing more than Mrs Merkel has done to tackle the climate crisis.
The new government will take on the presidency of the G7 in 2022 and be expected to build on what is achieved at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow.
“Germany not only has a huge opportunity here to lead the way but also a huge responsibility, especially a historical debt it needs to pay,” climate activist Greta Thunberg said on a podcast with her German colleague Luisa Neubauer.
“If Germany would suddenly change and start treating the climate crisis like the crisis it is, that could change everything, the whole global narrative.”
An opinion poll carried out during the Glasgow summit showed 67 per cent of Germans believing their politicians should do more to tackle climate change.
This included not only 97 per cent of Green party voters, but most supporters of all other major parties, except the far-right Alternative for Germany.
Germany has sought to expand its climate ambition since its constitutional court criticised its existing policies for shifting the burden on to young people.
During the Cop26 talks, Germany was one of 46 countries which promised on Thursday to steer away from coal power by the 2030s.
The three parties that hope to form a coalition by next month have set a goal of achieving this by 2030 if possible, faster than Mrs Merkel’s 2038 date.
Lisa Goeldner, an activist with environmental campaign group Greenpeace in Germany, raised concern about an open-pit coal mine that energy giant RWE hopes to expand.
Critics say expanding the mine in Luetzerath, western Germany, contradicts Berlin's promises to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“While speeches are given in Glasgow, the RWE coal excavators are getting ever closer to Luetzerath,” Ms Goeldner said.
“The incoming coalition must finally set 2030 in stone as the date for the coal exit, and guarantee that all villages are protected.”
The coalition talks between the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) come after an initial agreement to invest in renewable energy.
However, the pro-business FDP secured pledges not to increase taxes to pay for investments and to rule out a speed limit on German motorways.
Speaking in Glasgow, Maria Flachsbarth, a junior economy minister in the outgoing government, said she expected the new coalition to make climate change a priority.
“I’m very certain that Germany’s upcoming G7 presidency will be putting climate action at the top of the agenda next year,” she said.
“The new government, they will be able to build on the outcomes of the British G7 presidency this year and of these climate negotiations in Glasgow.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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'Dark Waters'
Directed by: Todd Haynes
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, William Jackson Harper
Rating: ****
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
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
