For nearly three decades, the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for Cop meetings – which stands for Conference of the Parties.
In that time, climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority.
In previous meetings, countries have forged significant partnerships to combat the major global issues, including plans to reduce emissions through traffic management and green building certifications.
Progress has been slow - and the world is in a far more desperate situation today than it was in 1995, when Cop1 was held.
One of the most memorable to date was Cop21 in Paris in 2015.
There, for the first time, something momentous happened. Every country agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2ºC and to aim for no more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
Known as the Paris Agreement, countries committed to bring forward national plans setting out how much they would reduce their emissions – known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs.
Here, The National takes a look at the achievements of the Conference of the Parties in years gone by.
Cop1 - Berlin, Germany (1995)
This year marked the first real global commitment to tackle climate change.
The signatories agreed to meet annually to maintain control over global warming and reduce emissions of polluting gases.
Cop3 - Kyoto, Japan (1997)
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted based on the scientific consensus that global warming was occurring and that human-made CO₂ emissions were driving it.
World leaders agreed to commit to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in industrialised countries and laid the foundation of the carbon market.
Cop13 - Bali, Indonesia (2007)
The Bali Roadmap set a timetable for negotiations for a new international agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol and include all countries, not only the developed ones.
Cop15 - Copenhagen, Denmark (2009)
A significant year. Delegations from around the world validated the objective of keeping global warming below 2ºC and several countries committed to financing developing countries in the long term.
Cop17 - Durban, South Africa (2011)
This time, all countries agreed to start reducing emissions, including the US and emerging countries such as Brazil, India and South Africa.
Cop21 - Paris, France (2015)
After 20 years of negotiations, the Paris Agreement was unanimously adopted to keep global warming below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels and continue efforts to limit it to 1.5ºC.
Cop23 - Bonn, Germany (2017)
At the UN Climate Change Conference this year, nations of the world met to advance the aims and ambitions of the Paris Agreement and achieve progress on its implementation rulebook, with the aim of concluding it in 2018.
Facilitative dialogues, known as the Talanoa Dialogue, were created and set out a process allowing countries to share experiences and good practices in order to achieve the agreement objectives.
Cop26 - Glasgow, Scotland (2021)
This was one of the most important Cops of recent years, as countries assessed progress on commitments made in Paris in 2015.
Ahead of the event, a number of Gulf nations made pledges to reach net zero, with the UAE making a commitment to achieve it by 2050.
However, the Glasgow Climate Pact that 197 countries agreed to at the end of the conference was weaker than many had hoped, with a commitment to "phasing down" and not "phasing out" coal use.
Cop28 - UAE (2023)
To be held at Dubai Expo City, Cop28 will be the most important since Paris in 2015, according to Majid Al Suwaidi, the event's director general.
Mr Al Suwaidi has said countries will come back with updated and more ambitious commitments to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, something seen as vital as the world struggles to limit global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Richard Jewell
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
