A major regional event to discuss commitments to tackling climate change began in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
US climate envoy John Kerry is among the dignitaries attending the Regional Climate Dialogue.
The UAE’s special envoy for climate change, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, and the Cop26 President Alok Sharma also spoke about the need for action to tackle climate change.
It is Mr Kerry’s first visit to the Middle East since being appointed to the role.
The veteran politician was made climate envoy by US President Joe Biden and vowed to swiftly make up for America’s “lost years” in the battle to protect the environment.
The dialogue comes during a critical year in the global fight to halt rising temperatures.
Mr Biden has called a virtual summit of 40 leaders, including those of India and China, on April 22 and 23. It will be streamed publicly.
In November, the Cop26 climate change summit will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
“We face an enormous global challenge and it’s growing in intensity,” Mr Kerry said in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
He also visited Abu Dhabi’s Noor and Shams 1 solar parks, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Jubail Mangrove Park in the heart of the capital.
He will later travel to India and Bangladesh – two countries badly hit by climate change-linked natural disasters.
Cop26 in Glasgow has been described as the most important summit since Paris in 2015. Agreed the same year and now signed by 195 countries, including the UAE, the deal aims to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
But experts say the world faces increases of more than 1.5°C within 10 years if countries fail to act.
One of Mr Biden’s first acts in office was to announce the US would rejoin the Paris accord.
Mr Sharma warned of the destruction that will be unleashed if the world fails to tackle rising temperatures. Already, seas are rising and freak climate events are becoming commonplace.
Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit in January, Mr Sharma said choices made today would determine the world’s fate.
“It is vital we act now,” said Mr Sharma, who serves in the Cabinet of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The UAE has ambitious plans to rapidly increase the amount of energy it generates from green and renewable sources.
At the end of 2020, the country’s renewable capacity reached 2.3 gigawatts.
That is forecast to leap to nine gigawatts by 2025.
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
SPECS
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Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
