For the first time, a UN climate summit is to allocate a full day to health. A sense of urgency is justified by the experience of recent months, which leaves no doubt that the climate crisis is not an abstract scientific projection but a present – and personal – danger.
The UAE Presidency of Cop28 has described this as a “human moment” because we have arrived at the point where climate change affects everyone, everywhere much faster than anticipated. The consequence is accelerated global heating, as evidenced by record-high temperatures during the northern hemisphere summer this year.
It was the warmest summer on record, averaging 16.77°C (0.66°C above average). That may not sound like much, but it reflects record-breaking extremes exceeding 50°C in parts of China and the US, as well as 40°C in Africa, or exceeding that across large parts of Europe. The southern hemisphere winter was also warmer while the average global ocean surface temperature broke records at 20.98°C. The cyclical El Nino phenomenon is a contributing factor but the underlying causes are heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from unsustainable human activity.
By last year, the average global temperature increment had reached 1.15°C above the baseline 1850-1900 period. This year, the planet momentarily breached the Paris Agreement’s threshold of 1.5°C. A repeat of this is almost certain. Projections anticipate a one-in-three chance of overall temperature rise exceeding 1.5°C between now and 2027.
That limit could be routinely surpassed by 2029, making progression towards the consequential 2°C rise more likely. Prevention requires a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030, and reaching net zero by 2050. Greater and faster action from all – especially major greenhouse gas producers – is needed. But that is not evident from current voluntary Nationally Determined Contributions.
A hotter environment expands air and water. The huge quantities of trapped thermal energy must go somewhere. And so, we see shrinking glaciers and melting ice sheets. They lead to rising sea levels and coastal inundations, risking immense economic and social disruption because 40 per cent of the world lives within 100 kilometres of coasts.
Other consequences are frequent and intense storms, rain, flooding and landslides alongside droughts, heatwaves and wildfires. Reduced freshwater availability and soil erosion with reduced carbon storage and productivity are also included. As plants and animals struggle with habitat and biodiversity changes, human food insecurity follows.
The human effects are evident in the increased frequency and intensity of weather-related disasters. The five-fold rise over 50 years has caused two million deaths and $3.64 trillion in losses, according to the World Metereological Organisation. Recent Canadian and European forest fires, drought in Somalia, floods in Pakistan and Australia, and hurricanes in the Caribbean indicate the vulnerability of all continents.
Trends project a 40 per cent increase in major disasters, from 400 in 2015 to around 560 by 2030. More than two billion people are affected as the climate crisis collides with conflict, with increasing disasters occurring in fragile, war-torn contexts.
This is serious enough but more alarming is the direct impact of elevated temperature on the human body. Thanks to our evolutionary origin in Africa, our thermal comfort zone is at ambient temperatures of 21°C and 27°C while clothed. That allows an optimal skin surface temperature of 33°C while the hypothalamus in our brain regulates our core at about 37°C.
Thanks to our evolutionary origin in Africa, our thermal comfort zone is at ambient temperatures of 21°C and 27°C while clothed
But as the planet heats, billions of people risk falling out of our natural temperature zone. How that effects human physiology depends on humidity because that dictates our sweating and cooling abilities. Ambient wind speed and solar radiation also make a difference, that is – if sun-exposed or shaded.
Studies of heat-and-humidity combinations measure the "wet bulb temperature" at which the body cannot maintain its core temperature. That critical survival limit for young, healthy, fit people is about six hours at 35°C in 50 per cent humidity. That's why humid heat is less bearable than dry heat. The old, very young, and pregnant women are less robust. As are those with non-communicable diseases, which kill 70 per cent of adults, the commonest cause of global mortality.
Such factors are worrying because recent heatwaves have exceeded the maximum safe wet bulb limits in several places such as Iran and India with significant numbers of heat-related deaths that, in Europe, were estimated at over 60,000.
People die or fall sick from heat because of direct organ effects. Dehydration causes dizziness or fainting, leading to concentration loss, sleep problems, fatigue and accidents. Our blood vessels dilate, lowering blood pressure, forcing the heart to work harder – leading to potentially fatal heart attacks and stroke, especially amongst the 0.5 billion people with cardiovascular disease.
A secondary consequence of disrupted blood and oxygen supply is kidney disease from which 0.85 billion people suffer worldwide, including agricultural and other outdoor workers. Another 0.45 billion have respiratory conditions including asthma and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, that are aggravated by hot air and high particulate pollution that accompanies climate change and causes multi-organ inflammation.
Further consequences include premature and low birth weight as heat affects placental blood and nutrient supply to the foetus. Heat also influences the mood hormone, serotonin, increasing mental illness and suicide risks.
Heat stress was once called a "silent killer" but no longer. The World Health Organisation projects 250,000 additional deaths each year from 2030 onwards, from heat stress and other health consequences with cost estimates approaching $4 billion.
They include the secondary consequences of environmental disruption affecting over half of human pathogens and bringing animal disease vectors closer to us. Familiar examples include malaria, cholera, dengue and the Zika epidemic, as well as Ebola and expected future pandemics.
Foodborne diseases that already cause around 600 million cases and 420,000 deaths risk augmentation, as also waterborne diseases that kill 3.4 million annually. Greater antimicrobial resistance is inevitable as our antibiotics and antivirals become less effective. The malnutrition that accompanies food insecurity has direct health impacts.
As global heating becomes an existentialist personal threat, grand macro initiatives for future carbon reduction must be accelerated. But, on their own, they are insufficient. Climate adaptation and mitigation strategies must open a track specifically geared towards the urgent daily survival of the most vulnerable among us.
For example, keeping cool and managing over-heating is a basic life skill that should be taught alongside other first aid essentials. Work, school, and commercial activity patterns must change to prevent undue heat damage to human health and well-being. Physical infrastructure that creates heat islands could be tackled through more shade and vegetation.
When extreme heat disruptions occur, cool spaces and cooling technologies such as air conditioning, fans and water-soaked ventilation must be universally accessible, even as they increase energy demand and carbon emissions. Over-burdened health systems must adapt as medical research identifies better anti-heat life-preserving approaches.
Wider changes across all sectors must be anticipated as an over-heated world derails the Sustainable Development Goals and undermines poverty reduction and equity objectives. Challenges for the organisation, governance, security and stability of society are possible. But they are not inevitable if global heating is recognised – not just as one part of the wider climate crisis – but as a perilous emergency in its own right. That is why the health discussions at Cop28 are vital.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
MEYDAN CARD
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
The National selections:
6.30pm AF Alwajel
7.05pm Ekhtiyaar
7.40pm First View
8.15pm Benbatl
8.50pm Zakouski
9.25pm: Kimbear
10pm: Chasing Dreams
10.35pm: Good Fortune
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20LEAGUE%202
%3Cp%3EMannofield%2C%20Aberdeen%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAll%20matches%20start%20at%202pm%20UAE%20time%20and%20will%20be%20broadcast%20on%20icc.tv%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2C%20Aug%2010%20%E2%80%93%20Scotland%20v%20UAE%3Cbr%3EThursday%2C%20Aug%2011%20-%20UAE%20v%20United%20States%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20Aug%2014%20%E2%80%93%20Scotland%20v%20UAE%3Cbr%3EMonday%2C%20Aug%2015%20%E2%80%93%20UAE%20v%20United%20States%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAhmed%20Raza%20(captain)%2C%20Chirag%20Suri%2C%20Muhammad%20Waseem%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20CP%20Rizwan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Zawar%20Farid%2C%20Kashif%20Daud%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Sabir%20Ali%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20(top%20three%20teams%20advance%20directly%20to%20the%202023%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Oman%2036%2021%2013%201%201%2044%3Cbr%3E2.%20Scotland%2024%2016%206%200%202%2034%3Cbr%3E3.%20UAE%2022%2012%208%201%201%2026%3Cbr%3E--%3Cbr%3E4.%20Namibia%2018%209%209%200%200%2018%3Cbr%3E5.%20United%20States%2024%2011%2012%201%200%2023%3Cbr%3E6.%20Nepal%2020%208%2011%201%200%2017%3Cbr%3E7.%20Papua%20New%20Guinea%2020%201%2019%200%200%202%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Kanye%20West
%3Cp%3EYe%20%E2%80%94%20the%20rapper%20formerly%20known%20as%20Kanye%20West%20%E2%80%94%20has%20seen%20his%20net%20worth%20fall%20to%20%24400%20million%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20That%E2%80%99s%20a%20precipitous%20drop%20from%20Bloomberg%E2%80%99s%20estimates%20of%20%246.8%20billion%20at%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3Cbr%3EYe%E2%80%99s%20wealth%20plunged%20after%20business%20partners%2C%20including%20Adidas%2C%20severed%20ties%20with%20him%20on%20the%20back%20of%20anti-Semitic%20remarks%20earlier%20this%20year.%3Cbr%3EWest%E2%80%99s%20present%20net%20worth%20derives%20from%20cash%2C%20his%20music%2C%20real%20estate%20and%20a%20stake%20in%20former%20wife%20Kim%20Kardashian%E2%80%99s%20shapewear%20firm%2C%20Skims.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support