Cop28 President Sultan Al Jaber speaks at a press conference on Monday. EPA
Cop28 President Sultan Al Jaber speaks at a press conference on Monday. EPA
Cop28 President Sultan Al Jaber speaks at a press conference on Monday. EPA
Cop28 President Sultan Al Jaber speaks at a press conference on Monday. EPA

Cop28 presidency 'respects the science', Dr Sultan Al Jaber says


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Dr Sultan Al Jaber has said he and the Cop28 presidency “respect the science” and understand the urgent need for climate action.

Dr Al Jaber spoke at a press conference on Monday following media reports that he had, at an online debate several weeks ago, questioned to what extent phasing out fossil fuels would have an impact on climate change.

“Let’s remember why we’re all here. We’re all here because we’ve made a very clear call to action,” Dr Al Jaber said.

I am quite surprised with the constant and repeated attempts to undermine the work of the Cop28 presidency
Dr Sultan Al Jaber

“The UAE takes this task with humility and responsibility and fully understands the urgency behind this matter. We are here because we fully believe and respect the science.”

In an online session hosted by former Irish president Mary Robinson in November, Dr Al Jaber was asked about the need to tackle fossil fuels as a major source of climate change.

Speaking on Monday, he said the suggestion that he said there was “no science” to support demands for phase-out of fossil fuels had been taken out of context.

“I am quite surprised with the constant and repeated attempts to undermine the work of the Cop28 presidency,” he said.

Emissions must be reduced by 43 per cent by 2030 to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels within reach, he said.

“And we need to make that happen to keep 1.5°C within reach.”

A series of major agreements on the first five days of the summit had shown that the Cop28 presidency was serious about tackling climate change, he said.

“In the first four days at Cop28, I believe we have already set a high bar for delivery,” Dr Al Jaber said.

“There is a real sense of momentum, traction, positivity and excitement. I can also tell you that there is real hope out there, across the site and across everyone I came across.

“There is real hope and optimism that this is a major inflection point and we cannot miss the opportunity. This is our opportunity to deliver a real and tangible paradigm shift that will course correct and put us on the right track of keeping 1.5°C within reach.”

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

Mountain Classification Tour de France after Stage 8 on Saturday: 

  • 1. Lilian Calmejane (France / Direct Energie) 11
  • 2. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) 10
  • 3. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Quick-Step) 8
  • 4. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) 8
  • 5. Warren Barguil (France / Sunweb) 7
  • 6. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 6
  • 7. Guillaume Martin (France / Wanty) 6
  • 8. Jan Bakelants (Belgium / AG2R) 5
  • 9. Serge Pauwels (Belgium / Dimension Data) 5
  • 10. Richie Porte (Australia / BMC Racing) 4
What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

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In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari

The biog

Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos

Favourite spice: Cumin

Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

'The Batman'

Stars:Robert Pattinson

Director:Matt Reeves

Rating: 5/5

Updated: December 05, 2023, 7:17 AM