Azerbaijani minister Mukhtar Babayev is president-designate of the Cop29 climate summit in Baku this November. AP
Azerbaijani minister Mukhtar Babayev is president-designate of the Cop29 climate summit in Baku this November. AP
Azerbaijani minister Mukhtar Babayev is president-designate of the Cop29 climate summit in Baku this November. AP
Azerbaijani minister Mukhtar Babayev is president-designate of the Cop29 climate summit in Baku this November. AP

'Invest today to save tomorrow': Focus on finance as Cop29 countdown begins


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Azerbaijan will urge wealthy nations and companies to "invest today to save tomorrow" when it takes over from the UAE as chair of global climate talks.

Finance will be a key focus of the Cop29 summit taking place in Baku in November, said its president-in-waiting Mukhtar Babayev.

Speaking at preliminary talks in Berlin on Thursday, he said Cop29 needs to "put in place the right conditions to enable action".

The UAE's Cop28 team said it was "engaging in discussions" at the Berlin talks on energy, finance and "accelerating implementation" of what was agreed in Dubai last year.

Almost 200 countries agreed at Cop28 to move away from fossil fuels and expand renewable energy in a quest for rapid emissions cuts.

The text of the Dubai deal is the basis on which countries must now update their national climate plans, due by 2025.

In the updated plans due by Cop30 "we will see whether we have turned the Dubai commitments into reality", German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

However, it is estimated that poorer countries will need almost $6 trillion to make this happen and finance is a regular sticking point of summits.

A key objective for Cop29 will be to set a new funding target to replace a long-delayed pledge of $100 billion a year for developing countries.

"We know that the world needs to increase overall flow of climate finance by several multiples," said Mr Babayev, who is Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources.

"We invest today to save tomorrow," he said. "We want everyone to focus on our collective interest to confront the climate crisis."

The Azerbaijani Cop29 team is working in a "troika" with the UAE and Cop30 host Brazil to ensure a common approach from summit to summit.

One theme being picked up from Cop28 is giving the private sector a key role in providing the necessary funds.

Private companies will be asked to "come to Cop29 ready to show how they are allocating capital and ensuring investment decisions are aligned with our climate goals", Mr Babayev said.

He said financial markets should help make climate action economically viable so that "protecting the planet pays".

Calls for major lenders such as the World Bank to adopt more climate-minded policies have been growing but there has not yet been "adequate and sufficient action", he said.

Anticipating further tough talks, he admitted that finance "has been one of the most challenging topics of climate diplomacy over the years".

The two-day Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin is an early round of talks before Cop29 in Azerbaijan in November. Getty Images
The two-day Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin is an early round of talks before Cop29 in Azerbaijan in November. Getty Images

"We are listening to all parties to understand their concerns ... so that we can deliver a fair and ambitious new goal," he said.

With finance as one "pillar" of Cop29, a second will be encouraging more ambition from the 195 countries signed up to the Paris Agreement.

The agreement's goal is to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above a pre-industrial benchmark.

The troika of Azerbaijan, UAE and Brazil is working to ensure that countries "receive all the support they need" to design new plans, Mr Babayev said.

"Last year we set many historic global targets ... it is time for everyone to make the contribution on the basis of equity," he said.

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Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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The specs
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Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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While you're here
Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETamer%20Ruggli%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENadine%20Labaki%2C%20Fanny%20Ardant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Score

Third Test, Day 2

New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)

Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings

Specs

Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Hydrogen: Market potential

Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.

"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.

Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.

The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.

Specs
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Scorecard:

England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)

South Africa 361

England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Healthy tips to remember

Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:

Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast

Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits

Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day

Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet

Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder

Started: October 2021

Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Industry: technology, logistics

Investors: A15 and self-funded 

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
War and the virus
Updated: April 25, 2024, 2:31 PM`