Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of undermining the Cop26 president Alok Sharma. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of undermining the Cop26 president Alok Sharma. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of undermining the Cop26 president Alok Sharma. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of undermining the Cop26 president Alok Sharma. Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Cop26: Boris Johnson accused of undermining climate president at 'every turn'


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

The Cop26 president is being “undermined at every turn” by Boris Johnson, Glasgow’s council leader has said.

Addressing the SNP conference, Susan Aitken accused the prime minister of only being interested in environmental projects for “wacky photo" opportunities.

The SNP councillor said she believed the Conservative minister responsible for Cop26, Alok Sharma, was working hard to secure an agreement to tackle the climate emergency at next month’s conference in Glasgow, but was being hindered by Mr Johnson.

COP26 President Alok Sharma at Whitelee Windfarm, Glasgow, Scotland. Reuters / Russell Cheyne / Pool / File Photo
COP26 President Alok Sharma at Whitelee Windfarm, Glasgow, Scotland. Reuters / Russell Cheyne / Pool / File Photo

“Cop26 President Alok Sharma is, I believe, doing his level best to secure a Glasgow agreement worthy of the name, but he’s undermined at every turn by his party leader who’s only really interested in green infrastructure as something to stick a union flag on and pose beside for a wacky photo op," she said.

“But Glasgow, Scotland and the SNP can lead the way, and Cop26 can give us a pivotal moment to do so.

“We know what the prize is: clean air, local food security, an end to fuel poverty, better, cheaper public transport, green spaces for all and sustainable high-value skills and jobs in a resilient modern economy.”

The UK is hosting the Cop26 climate summit in November in Glasgow.

Ms Aitken said it will showcase Scotland's work to the world.

“We still have an incredible opportunity to put Glasgow and Scotland in the global front window for sustainability, to showcase not only our climate ambition but also our practical plans to lead the world and delivering a just transition to zero-carbon economy and society," she said.

“Scotland’s climate action, ambitions and policy agenda, our growing international reputation for business and technological innovation, the challenges from our past that we’re overcoming, our incredible wealth of natural assets, I don’t think any other region on Earth has such a platform to showcase ourselves and our ambitions, this year, as Scotland does.”

The council leader said an early estimate of the cost to decarbonise Glasgow was £30 billion.

“We need to be clear that this is not only necessary, it’s worth it," she said.

“Not only because if we don’t respond to the climate emergency now, the cost later, and not just the financial cost, will be so much higher.

“But also because we understand that, done well, every pound spent on these interventions will also deliver multiple benefits for Scotland’s people and communities.”

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 two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

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Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

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

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

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

The specs

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: September 11, 2021, 1:19 PM