UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has promised to make Britain a “clean energy superpower” as he prepares for the Cop27 climate summit.
Mr Sunak said he would put Britain at the head of efforts to replace Russian gas with cheaper renewable energy.
He said he would tell leaders at Cop27 in Egypt not to backslide on commitments made when Britain hosted the Cop26 summit last year.
Cop26 president Alok Sharma will on Sunday formally hand over that role to Egypt's government.
It came as US climate envoy John Kerry said the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine had added difficulty to the green transition.
“Because of the war in Ukraine, because of the inflation, because of the challenge of energy in Europe particularly, there are hurdles,” Mr Kerry told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday.
“There are people within the fossil fuel industry who are using the crisis in Ukraine, frankly, as leverage to be able to say, well, we need to be pumping a lot more.”
Like other European countries, Britain has set its sights on more renewable energy output since the war began, while also moving to extract more oil and gas.
Mr Sunak took a step back from the drive for more fossil fuels by cancelling plans to revive fracking, but more North Sea drilling licences are planned.
Nonetheless, he said Russia's manipulation of energy markets had “reinforced the importance of ending our dependence on fossil fuels”.
Preparations for Cop27 — in pictures
“Fighting climate change is not just a moral good — is it fundamental to our future prosperity and security,” Mr Sunak said.
“We need to move further and faster to transition to renewable energy, and I will ensure the UK is at the forefront of this global movement as a clean energy superpower.”
Mr Sunak had said he would skip Cop27 while he dealt with the economic turmoil he inherited from predecessor Liz Truss.
But under pressure from MPs, including in his own Conservative Party, he announced this week that he would travel to Sharm El Sheikh after all.
King Charles III, a lifelong environmentalist, is not attending the summit. He instead hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for business leaders and policymakers, including Mr Sunak.
Mr Sunak will host an event on deforestation at Cop27, after more than 100 countries pledged in Glasgow to turn the tide on damaging land use.
The two-week summit is meant to rally further action to reduce carbon emissions and keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5ºC about pre-industrial levels in sight.
Rich countries will once again feel pressure from developing nations, especially in Africa, to provide more funding for environmental damage already taking place.
Britain is expected to announce more funding for conservation in tropical rainforests and support for vulnerable countries.
Another country caught in an energy squeeze, Germany, is likewise calling for green policies to be maintained despite the energy crisis.
Germany has big ambitions for solar and wind energy but has had to reactivate old coal plants and build new gas terminals after Russian supplies were ended.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz will use Cop27 to canvass support for his “climate club” project and hold an event on green hydrogen with Egypt's president.
A German official said of the climate negotiations this week: “It’s clear that many are asking for more time because of global events.
“But in our view, the pace has to be maintained and further bold and ambitious steps have to be taken in order to reach the 1.5ºC goal.”
The biog
Age: 30
Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology
Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging
Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi
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
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
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What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
Key developments in maritime dispute
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
The view from The National
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
