The withdrawal of a significant American scientist from an international climate change event this week has cast a political cloud over the talks in China.
Dr Kate Calvin, Nasa’s chief scientist and senior climate adviser, was scheduled to co-chair the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) discussion. However, CNN reported that she will no longer be attending the talks in Hangzhou as part of a 'stop work order' issued to scientists in the US working on the report.
In a statement to The National, a Nasa spokesperson confirmed "Dr Calvin will not be traveling to this meeting."
Established in 1988, the IPCC is the UN's body for assessing the science related to climate change. Its reports are designed to help political leaders and policymakers make decisions about mitigation strategies. The meeting taking place this week is set set to involve timelines and budgets for the next synthesis report due in 2029.
At the opening of the meeting in China, Inger Anderson, executive director of the UN's environment programme, emphasised the urgency of action needed to tackle global warming.
“Science is physics, not politics. Science cannot be politicised because science will always remain science,” she said. “The IPCC has the clout to take this message to the world and show us what must be done, starting with the decisions taken at this session.”
What impact has Trump's presidency had?
Dr Calvin's withdrawal from this week's discussions is the latest in a series of setbacks for the climate change community following US President Donald Trump's decision last month to pull his country out of the Paris Agreement on his first day in office. He made the same decision during his first four-year presidency in 2016.
The Paris Agreement, also known as the Paris Accords or Paris Climate Accords, is an international treaty on climate change signed in 2015. The treaty covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance. It is aimed at limiting long-term global temperatures to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The agreement is voluntary and allows nations to provide targets to cut their own emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Trump argues that these agreements “steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people”.
Recent decision by the new Trump administration have created confusion and frustration within the climate science community. “Trump has already attacked multilateral climate forums, kick-starting the process of pulling the US out of the Paris Agreement and blocking financial contributions to the UN’s climate body and the Green Climate Fund,” Prof Horton, director of Singapore's Earth Observatory, told The National.
Climate and sustainability expert Wai-Shin Chan added that Washington's actions could “embolden other countries to consider the same path”. Mr Chan, former managing director and head of the climate change centre of excellence at HSBC, emphasised that a domino effect could “weaken the global vision to keep temperature rises in check and would slow the pace of transition to a lower carbon economy”.
Job cuts in environmental sector
Thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs in the first month of President Trump's second term. While there is no official figure on the total number of layoffs, sectors such as education, defence and those in the climate space are all feeling the heat.
Shortly after removing the US from the Paris Agreement, President Trump signed another executive order to “evaluate” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). This is the country's main disaster relief agency, employing more than 20,000 people nationwide.
The agency on Friday was issued with an immediate stop-to-work order connected to climate change and the elimination of climate-related terms across the agency. Experts say dismantling or downsizing the agency could leave the US open to the effects of climate change, which is exacerbating the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
Fema is not alone, either. Staff from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) have reportedly been on the ground at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), which falls under the US Department of Commerce. Staff members at the agency, which provides daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring, are expecting “mass firings”, according to The Hill.
Dr Juan Declet-Barreto, senior social scientist for climate vulnerability at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said he can think of “nothing worse” than turning this “scientific powerhouse into a skeletal operation”. “If President Trump moves forward with demolishing Noaa, he will jeopardise most people’s access to life-saving information, while only the rich might be able to afford private data sources,” he said.
Meanwhile there have been reports of about 400 terminations at the Environmental Protection Agency, and team members at the National Science Foundation (NSF) say about 10 per cent of staff were let go last week.
In a public post on LinkedIn, Raleigh Martin, a programme director at NSF, shared that his division had lost about 20 per cent of its staff. “The firing was completely arbitrary, with no actual plan to achieve efficiency, but instead picking off anyone with the fewest job protections,” he wrote.
“Science is the goose that lays golden eggs,” Mr Martin added, noting that “right now the science goose is being strangled” and that “our society will be poorer, sicker, and weaker as a result”.
From job cuts, to bringing back plastic straws, halting climate grants, to shifts in energy standards, the list of climate backtracking under the new Trump administration is extensive.
Individuals and agencies drive progress
The shifts in political policy on climate are not deterring nature groups in the US, though. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a global environmental organisation headquartered in Virginia, highlighted that the first US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement led to stronger commitments from the country when it re-entered the agreement under Joe Biden in 2020, as well as the creation of federal policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which created hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean energy and construction.
“More than 1,000 scientists at TNC are leading the way to conserving the lands and waters that all life depends on. So, when scientists tell us that limiting the global temperature from rising more than 2°C will help protect the diversity of life on earth, we listen and we act,” Jennifer Morris, TNC chief executive, said. The TNC has called on organisations, businesses, states, tribes and local governments in the US to stay committed to climate goals.
Prof Horton went one step further, arguing that the climate challenge, rather than being a burden on the American taxpayer as President Trump claims, actually presents an economic opportunity. “By tackling this problem now, we can grow our economy and transform our nation into a clean energy superpower,” he said. “The US can choose to continue to lead it or be left behind.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
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ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)
Company%20profile
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Concrete and Gold
Foo Fighters
RCA records
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Zombieland: Double Tap
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone
Four out of five stars
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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.
