Amazon Indigenous people take part in a Global Climate Strike to demand action against global warming, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Reuters
Amazon Indigenous people take part in a Global Climate Strike to demand action against global warming, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Reuters
Amazon Indigenous people take part in a Global Climate Strike to demand action against global warming, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Reuters
Amazon Indigenous people take part in a Global Climate Strike to demand action against global warming, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Reu

Poorer countries use UN stage to demand climate action and justice


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Countries on the front lines of the climate crisis are using the annual UN gathering in New York this week to focus on combating global warming and call for a fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty.

“The time is up — action is required now,” Nikenike Vurobaravu, President of the low-lying Pacific island of Vanuatu, told the General Assembly on Friday.

The non-proliferation treaty would aim to scale down coal, oil and gas production to limit the rise in temperatures to the globally agreed 1.5° Celsius.

It would also “enable a global just transition for every worker, community and nation with fossil fuel dependence”, Mr Vurobaravu said.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that emissions are on track to push global warming past the 1.5ºC limit to about 3.2ºC by the end of century.

Vanuatu, a carbon-negative country, has also asked the International Court of Justice to issue an opinion on the right to be protected from the adverse impacts of climate change, a move that Mr Vurobaravu said “is not a silver bullet for increasing climate action, but only one tool to get us closer to the goal of a safe planet for humanity”.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has suffered floods that killed more than 1,500 people and caused damage estimated at $30 billion, asked world leaders why his people were paying the price of warming.

“Pakistan has never seen a more stark and devastating example of the impact of global warming. Life in Pakistan has changed forever,” Mr Sharif told the General Assembly on Friday. “Nature has unleashed her fury on Pakistan, without looking … at our carbon footprint.”

Mr Sharif said that since countries like Pakistan have emitted less than 1 per cent of the greenhouse gases that have contributed to the planet’s rapid warming, it was “entirely reasonable” for his country to expect “some approximation of justice for this loss and damage, not to mention building back better with resilience and strength”.

Around the world on Friday, young campaigners rallied for climate action, staging protests from New Zealand and Japan to Germany and the streets of New York to demand that rich countries pay for global warming damage to the poor.

The protests take place six weeks before Egypt hosts this year's UN climate summit, known as Cop27, where vulnerable countries plan to push for compensation for climate-related destruction to homes, infrastructure and livelihoods, not just funding for adaptation and mitigation.

The Paris Accord called for wealthy nations to give $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing nations cope with climate change. That year, $83.3bn was committed, including through private sources, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures.

“The rich countries, the developed countries, this is their responsibility. They should come forward. But we are not getting that much response from them. That is the tragedy,” Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in an interview with AFP in New York.

President David Kabua of the Marshall Islands called for “total war” on climate change.

After all these years, the world has failed to break our addiction to fossil fuels
David Kabua,
President of the Marshall Islands

“We renew our call to the world to declare total war on this century's greatest challenge: the climate change monster. And yet, after all these years, the world has failed to break our addiction to fossil fuels,” Mr Kabua told the General Assembly on Tuesday.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the least responsible for climate change were suffering the most.

“The Philippines is a net carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than we emit. And yet, we are the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change,” he told the UN gathering.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that the world was “not even close” to making enough progress on climate change, telling a meeting of Pacific Island leaders: “Those who did nothing to create this crisis are paying the highest price.”

Mr Guterres has also urged rich countries to tax windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and to use that money to help countries harmed by the climate crisis and people who are struggling with rising food and energy prices.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the climate war was being fought with “apathy, denial, and a lack of courage to do what we all know what must be done”, and appealed for the world to step up its efforts.

“Fiji is ready to make the coming years count for our people and for the planet — our question to you is this: Are you with us? Don't tell us yes unless you plan to show it.”

— With reporting from agencies.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The biog

Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.

Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella

Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)

Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)

Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)

Muguruza's singles career in stats

WTA titles 3

Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)

Wins / losses 293 / 149

Racecard:

6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres

7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m

7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m

8.15pm: Meydan Trophy | Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m

8.50pm: Balanchine | Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m

10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m.

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Packages which the US Secret Service said contained possible explosive devices were sent to:

  • Former first lady Hillary Clinton
  • Former US president Barack Obama
  • Philanthropist and businessman George Soros
  • Former CIA director John Brennan at CNN's New York bureau
  • Former Attorney General Eric Holder (delivered to former DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
  • California Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices)
Updated: September 24, 2022, 8:30 AM`