John Kerry is seeking to galvanise global support to tackle climate change, as the world begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
John Kerry is seeking to galvanise global support to tackle climate change, as the world begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
John Kerry is seeking to galvanise global support to tackle climate change, as the world begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
John Kerry is seeking to galvanise global support to tackle climate change, as the world begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. Victor Besa / The National

John Kerry interview: 'World must raise its ambition to tackle climate threat'


Mina Al-Oraibi
  • English
  • Arabic

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry says the world must work at “raising the ambition” to meet the challenge climate change presents.

In an interview with The National, Mr Kerry praised the UAE for its role in combating climate change.

He stressed “the importance of an oil and gas-producing nation bringing together a group of nations that many people might think were improbably committed to dealing with climate crisis ... you can’t overstate the importance”.

He added that “the UAE is investing significantly in alternative and renewable energy. They have deployed it in this country; they have one of the largest solar fields in the world producing 1,170 or so megawatts, with three million plus solar panels deployed”.

For some the effect of climate still feels remote and far in the future. But the vast majority of citizens of the world see this happening now - they feel it happening

Mr Kerry  visited Noor solar park in Abu Dhabi, the largest single-site facility in the world.

He also toured a number of entities leading the sustainability drive, including the International Renewable Energy Agency, or Irena, and renewable energy company Masdar.

Mr Kerry reflected on his visit saying: “They are involved in hydrogen innovation and technology, research and development, and recognise that we have a lot of work to do. But they want to be part of trying to move in the right direction."

He spoke to The National in Abu Dhabi after the conclusion of the Regional Dialogue for Climate Action that was hosted by the UAE and attended by Mr Kerry and Alok Sharma, the Cop26 President.

“By convening this group, they helped to produce a unified statement today of commitment to making the Glasgow negotiations in November successful, and to increasing the reduction of emissions, and continuing to contribute significantly to the global response to the climate crisis," Mr Kerry said.

"It was very important and extremely welcome.”

Collective action on climate change was possible, he said, as was witnessed when 196 countries signed to the Paris Agreement in 2015, creating a framework for climate action.

Six years on, the international community is expected to convene in November, for Cop26 in Scotland.

“Now we have to come back together and raise the ambition to make that framework work," Mr Kerry said.

However, before Glasgow, there will be an online summit led by US President Joe Biden at the end of this month, bringing together 40 leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Mr Kerry said that the priority for that meeting “very clearly is raising ambition. We have to raise global ambition”.

The US administration thinks  that ambitions are not high enough heading to Glasgow and wants to agree on tangible targets to limit the rise in global temperatures.

“The United States, as President Biden has said many times, will not lead by the example of its power, but by the power of its example," Mr Kerry said.

"And it's going to do a great deal to help hold the Earth's temperature increase in the range of 1.5°C”.

He acknowledged that would mean the US has a lot of work to do reduce its greenhouse emissions.

“The president has already committed to a power sector that will be carbon-free by 2035. He's committed to build 500,000 charging stations for electric vehicles. He's committed to transition 500,000 school buses to electric,” Mr Kerry said.

The former US secretary of state, who has decades of experience in foreign policy, said that climate action could help bring stability to the Middle East because it "demands unity of purpose and co-operation".

"It demands multilateralism and engagement. No one nation can solve this problem,” he said.

Multilateralism will be instrumental as “nations that are threatened by big nations that are emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gas will band together and demand accountability and response. And they have a right to,” Mr Kerry said. “It will change politics for a lot of people [and] a lot of places”.

Mr Kerry predicted that the issue of climate action will increasingly dominate politics and public policy.

“It will concentrate political effort: on survival, on prevention, on adaptation, on building resilience,” he said.

In the lead up to Cop26, countries will have to consider how they will act to bring about this change.

Fires and disasters show climate crisis is here

Mr Kerry spoke at length about the impact of climate change across the world.

“For some, the effect of climate still feels remote and far in the future, but the vast majority of citizens of the world see this happening now. They feel it happening," he said.

"The fires that have decimated millions upon millions of acres and destroyed species in Australia last year, in California and in Russia.

"The floods that are hitting with greater impact and greater frequency ... the ocean is warming, the threat to species, the melting of the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic and rising sea-levels.

"There are climate refugees in the world today. People have had to move because they can't grow their food or live in a certain place."

Mr Kerry reads The National's coverage of his visit in Sunday's edition. Victor Besa / The National
Mr Kerry reads The National's coverage of his visit in Sunday's edition. Victor Besa / The National

With the increase of the frequency of extreme weather "most people now realise that storms have changed in intensity ... the frequency, they're feeling it in their farms, where they've either had a flood, or their crops don't grow the same way.

"So, the evidence is mounting, the science is mounting, the knowledge is mounting ... there's just been a difference. That’s change."

He added that the fact these events are happening should help galvanise action.

“We now know, because the scientists are telling us, that we have a certain amount of time within which to prevent the worst consequences of the climate crisis."

Mr Kerry compared climate action today as insurance for the future.

“Reasonable people would go: 'You know what? We better buy some insurance against this. We insure our cars, we insure our bodies, we insure our homes.'

"But we insure those for percentages that are way below the percentage of guarantee that these things can happen.

"In many cases, some of these net damages are at 100 per cent. So that's why I think things are changing."

Green jobs and opportunity 

Mr Kerry said: “That's what makes this meeting in Glasgow so important in November. Because the world will come back together and have an opportunity to move us all together in a direction that is responsible and preserves this planet, and hopefully in better shape for our kids for the future and for their kids.”

Mr Kerry seemed upbeat about the potential climate action could bring to the economy.

  • US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • Alok Sharma, President of Cop26, attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi.
    Alok Sharma, President of Cop26, attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi.
  • The pledge issued at the end of the Regional Climate Dialogue vowed to help the most vulnerable.
    The pledge issued at the end of the Regional Climate Dialogue vowed to help the most vulnerable.
  • Delegates at the talks in Abu Dhabi.
    Delegates at the talks in Abu Dhabi.
  • Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and John Kerry, US climate envoy at the dialogue.
    Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and John Kerry, US climate envoy at the dialogue.
  • Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at the Regional Climate Dialogue.
    Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at the Regional Climate Dialogue.
  • The dialogue comes during a critical year in the global fight to halt rising temperatures. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    The dialogue comes during a critical year in the global fight to halt rising temperatures. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • The UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, at the Regional Climate Dialogue. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    The UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, at the Regional Climate Dialogue. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • US climate envoy John Kerry is given a helicopter tour of Noor solar park, outside Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    US climate envoy John Kerry is given a helicopter tour of Noor solar park, outside Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • John Kerry speaks with Dr Sultan Al Jaber at Abu Dhabi's Shams 1 solar park on Saturday. The National
    John Kerry speaks with Dr Sultan Al Jaber at Abu Dhabi's Shams 1 solar park on Saturday. The National
  • This is John Kerry's first visit to the Middle East since being appointed US climate envoy. The National
    This is John Kerry's first visit to the Middle East since being appointed US climate envoy. The National
  • Mr Kerry has vowed to make up for the 'lost years' of the Donald Trump presidency and put the US at the forefront of efforts to protect the environment. The National
    Mr Kerry has vowed to make up for the 'lost years' of the Donald Trump presidency and put the US at the forefront of efforts to protect the environment. The National
  • John Kerry meets Francesco La Camera, director general of International Renewable Energy Agency, which has its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The National
    John Kerry meets Francesco La Camera, director general of International Renewable Energy Agency, which has its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The National
  • US climate envoy John Kerry visits Jubail Mangrove Park. Courtesy Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
    US climate envoy John Kerry visits Jubail Mangrove Park. Courtesy Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
  • An aerial image of Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Its 3.2 million panels make it the largest single-site solar park in the world. Courtesy: Noor Abu Dhabi
    An aerial image of Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Its 3.2 million panels make it the largest single-site solar park in the world. Courtesy: Noor Abu Dhabi
  • Arrayed panels at Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Pawan Singh / The National
    Arrayed panels at Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Pawan Singh / The National

“The biggest opportunity is an economic opportunity. An extraordinary amount of jobs will be created," he said.

"I mean, if you have to make electric cars, not the old kind of cars, we've got to change a whole fleet all around the world.

"There are millions of jobs to be created in the making of those cars, in the building of a grid for our country, for instance, or the refurbishment of a grid somewhere else.

"Construction workers, iron workers, pipe fitters, electricians, technicians, all kinds of different people will be involved."

Mr Kerry said that Mr Biden “sees this opportunity as the best jobs programme possible, because there is all kinds of work to be done in the implementation of this transition."

He highlighted the importance of using that transition to create a more equitable world.

“We'll be put to work in this endeavour to make the world fairer, to deal with equity, environmental justice, and to respond appropriately to the adaptation, resilience and the mitigation required."

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Scoreline

UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia

UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’

Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’

Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

 

Company: Instabug

Founded: 2013

Based: Egypt, Cairo

Sector: IT

Employees: 100

Stage: Series A

Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors

UAE rugby season

FIXTURES

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers v Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Division 1

Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II

Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II

Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens

Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II

Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II

 

LAST SEASON

West Asia Premiership

Winners – Bahrain

Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership

Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners – Dubai Hurricanes

Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference

Winners – Dubai Tigers

Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Results

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).

7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m

Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m

Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.

9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

RESULT

RS Leipzig 3 

Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'

Emil Forsberg 87'

Tottenham 0

 

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

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

The specs

Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Power: 160hp

Torque: 385Nm

Price: Dh116,900

On sale: now

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Basquiat in Abu Dhabi

One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier. 

It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.  

“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

NINE WINLESS GAMES

Arsenal 2-2 Crystal Palace (Oct 27, PL)

Liverpool 5-5 Arsenal  (Oct 30, EFL)

Arsenal 1-1 Wolves (Nov 02, PL)

Vitoria Guimaraes 1-1 Arsenal  (Nov 6, Europa)

Leicester 2-0 Arsenal (Nov 9, PL)

Arsenal 2-2 Southampton (Nov 23, PL)

Arsenal 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (Nov 28, Europa)

Norwich 2-2 Arsenal (Dec 01, PL)

Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Dec 05, PL)

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5