Words matter. Most people understand that, but in the past few days a well-known British newspaper columnist tweeted something very odd.
The columnist wondered why people in Britain are worried about climate change when this summer has been miserably rain-filled in England. “They chose the wrong year for climate alarmism, didn’t they?” she wrote.
Hilarious? Not really. The writer chose the wrong year for what some call “climate change scepticism”.
But words matter here too. That sanitised word “scepticism” is often camouflage for science denial. There are still some in positions of influence who choose to confuse, either deliberately or ignorantly, the weather (which varies daily) with climate (long-term weather patterns). Changing weather is normal. Climate change – as most nine-year-olds can explain – is often disastrous.
Words matter again, because those who suggest that scientists are “climate alarmists” are simply unable to understand facts. The findings of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are clear. Climate change is a real and present danger to us all. The IPCC has 195 members and the UN points to thousands of people from all over the world who contribute to its work. Yet in 2023, these international scientists are sometimes derided for “climate alarmism” even though the IPCC is clear that a humanitarian disaster will eventually follow unchecked global warming.
That’s what makes the UAE’s role in hosting Cop28 this year so important. And that’s why the UAE has the most difficult diplomatic task of bringing nations with diverse interests and problems together to reach consensus.
If you are part of a problem, you can also be part of the solution. And we are all part of this problem
Yet again words matter.
I first heard the words “global warming” in the 1990s, but the phrase was coined much earlier. Credit is given to a Columbia University geochemist Wallace Broecker. Back in 1975, he used the phrase to describe an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions. In previous decades, scientists talked loosely of “inadvertent climate modification”. Following Mr Broecker, that phrase became more seriously “climate change” in a landmark 1979 US National Academy of Sciences study on increasing emissions of carbon dioxide.
Then came what is possibly my favourite and most striking phrase about the human effect on weather patterns. The Rocky Mountain Institute co-founder Hunter Lovins linked climate change to new weather patterns by calling it “global weirding”. These “weird” changes included rising sea temperatures, the prospect of flooding and extreme weather of different kinds in different locations.
Prof Lovins pointed out that whatever was happening to the climate did not necessarily mean warmer weather. Instead, historic weather patterns were being disrupted by human activity in “weird” ways. There would be, Prof Lovins predicted, more extremes, more and heavier rain, sometimes greater heat and severe droughts, stronger winds, changes in ocean temperatures, shifting currents and the cracking of the ice shelf.
The “global weirding” phrase is not popular with IPCC scientists, but it does colourfully sum up disrupted weather patterns.
Whatever name you call it, what is striking is that humans have woken up only slowly to the threat. Since phrases such as “global warming” and “climate change” were first coined in the 1970s, we have had half a century to consider what to do about it. As a result some now speak of a “climate emergency”.
News broadcasts over the past two years include those familiar yet frightening tales of wildfires in Canada, Australia and Greece, heatwaves in Europe, floods in Pakistan, drought in the Sahel, and the threat to the existence of low-lying islands in the Caribbean and the Maldives through rising sea levels.
Talk of “climate alarmism” therefore is not just disingenuous. It is dangerous. Alarm is a reasonable response to something that is profoundly alarming. But hope is also reasonable. Those who criticise the very idea of the UAE as an oil-producing state hosting a climate conference are mistaken.
We are all part of the global warming problem, both as consumers and as producers. If you believe the solution is “Just Stop Oil”, as some British climate activists say, then without a clear transition you might as well say stop the economy, stop air traffic, stop automobiles and reinvigorate that old 1960s musical, Stop the World – I Want to Get Off.
True, we have to move faster. But we also need to move on new technologies for transportation, for making concrete, cement, steel, road building, plastics, and many other processes for the things we need and do every day.
Silly talk of “climate alarmism” doesn’t help. Nor does defeatism. And neither does the complacency of those who either do not see the problem, do not care, or prefer cheap jibes to real changes in behaviour. If you are part of a problem, you can also be part of the solution. And we are all part of this problem.
Words, therefore, really do matter. The words that matter most would be those signalling broad agreement in the final communique of the parties at Cop28 at the end of 2023.
Another word also matters a great deal. That word is worth repeating. It is “hope”.
Contracted list
Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
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Read more from Aya Iskandarani
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)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMascotte%20Health%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMiami%2C%20US%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Bora%20Hamamcioglu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOnline%20veterinary%20service%20provider%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.2%20million%20raised%20in%20seed%20funding%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaldoon%20Bushnaq%20and%20Tariq%20Seksek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20100%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20to%20date%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2415%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The five pillars of Islam