Latest news with #climateemergency
Arab News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
A new national climate vision for Arab youth
For young people across the Arab world, the climate emergency is deeply alarming. In the cradle of civilization, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are at their lowest levels in recorded history. Deserts are spreading; saltwater from rising sea levels is seeping into the Nile and Shatt Al-Arab, threatening farmers and food systems; city-dwellers toil under debilitating heatwaves, the intensity of which is magnified by their concrete surroundings. For those touched by conflict, the prospects are even more terrifying. And these generations are bulging — over half of those living in the region are under the age of 25. This means a future with more demand on resources, more pressure on ecosystems and more demand for jobs that can withstand a changing climate. That young people are anxious about all of this is not only understandable; it is justified. Young people want — and deserve — a new vision for the future. Fortunately, young people are determined to be a force for good. During COP27 in Egypt, the first youth envoy was appointed and given a seat at the table. At COP28, the UAE advanced these efforts by institutionalizing the Presidency Youth Climate Champion role, ensuring the voices of children and youth were amplified in high-level climate discussions. As the COP29 Presidency Youth Climate Champion team, we helped ensure that negotiations in Azerbaijan on a new finance deal for developing countries addressed youth priorities. The Baku Finance Goal specifically addressed youth financial inclusion, committing donors to financing the well-being of future generations on the frontlines of the climate crisis. This year is pivotal. Under the Paris Agreement, countries must submit their updated national climate plans — known as Nationally Determined Contributions — by September. These must plot, in detail, how all sectors of national economies will cut carbon emissions over the next decade. In addition, countries must lay out how they will adapt to the relentless consequences of a warming world. Together, these NDCs form the backbone of our global climate efforts. First, these documents are our last best chance to keep the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement in reach and stave off the worst effects of climate change. Second, by highlighting priority industries of the future, setting timelines and targets and demonstrating government commitment, they send powerful market signals which serve as green lights to green investment. This is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss. And third, today's young generation is not simply inheriting these plans; we will carry them out. We stand ready and determined to meet this responsibility. In the next round of climate plans, young people want to see a new vision for our future. Leyla Hasanova As governments enter the final few months before submission, they must focus on three essential pillars: consultation, integration and education. Consultation underpins all effective policymaking, and youth inclusion is no exception. We have proved we can help deliver better outcomes with the Baku Finance Goal at COP29. Now we believe governments must act on the concerns and priorities of their young people. Last year, our team led numerous consultations with youth groups across the world. This experience reaffirmed that meaningful engagement with youth fosters a stronger sense of ownership over the processes we are expected to deliver. Next, climate plans must be fully integrated into national development strategies and policy frameworks. Across the Arab world, governments are rolling out ambitious national programs — Qatar's National Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 are just two examples which emphasize environmental stewardship. However, as countries prepare to submit their updated climate plans to the UN, we cannot let them sit on the sidelines — they must be embedded at the heart of national missions. Only then can we turn pledges into progress. Of course, not all countries have sufficient resources or policy know-how. As COP29 host, Azerbaijan is working closely with the UN as COP29 host to ensure every country has the support necessary to produce the best version of their plans. And finally, education and skills will be critical. Climate literacy is essential to help young people understand and navigate the challenges ahead. Equally, possessing skills in the industries of the future, from clean energy to regenerative agriculture, will help them seize tomorrow's opportunities. At COP29, we launched the Baku Initiative on Human Development for Climate Resilience, spotlighting the importance of integrating education, capacity building and skills into national climate strategies. If governments are truly committed to their pledges, they need to equip the next generation that will be doing the work. Our generation may have our whole lives ahead of us, but we are in a race against time. In the next round of climate plans, young people want to see a new vision for our future. We want something positive. And we want plans that we can work towards. • Leyla Hasanova is a COP29 presidency youth climate champion
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Wiltshire Council rejects motion to end carbon neutral aims
A motion to change carbon reduction targets has been rejected by a council, as progress to reduce emissions Tuesday, Wiltshire Council rejected a motion that called for the authority not to be "constrained by unachievable county-wide 2030 carbon reduction targets".In February 2019, the council passed a motion acknowledging a climate emergency and to seek to make the county carbon neutral by 2030. This latest decision suggests the council still has faith in its existing strategy, and remains confident that its current trajectory will meet the set climate goals. 'Demanding' target The new motion sought to replace the 2019 vote, but it was rejected by 45 votes to 23, with 19 proposal stated: "This council should not be constrained by a motion demanding unachievable county-wide 2030 carbon reduction targets as set out in the 'climate emergency motion', and so repudiates it." Cllr Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said he was "delighted" the motion had not succeeded."Our programme of climate action has made demonstrable financial savings since its introduction, so it is disappointing that this motion was brought forward," he said."We are on track to become carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030, and our 2025 Climate Delivery Plan is already delivering significant climate-related benefits, while also saving money for Wiltshire taxpayers."The climate emergency affects us all and that is why it is essential that we do all we can to continue to reduce carbon emissions throughout Wiltshire."The council's existing strategies include investing in energy-efficient LED lighting for streetlights, improving energy efficiency in council buildings, and using "cleaned carbon dioxide" from landfills to grow food.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood alerts stepped up for East Sussex village
Households in an East Sussex village are to get a new flood warning service. Pett, near Hastings, is at risk of flooding from both the sea and the Marsham Sewer drainage ditch, according to the Environment Agency (EA). The village already has a flood warning service which covers the coastal risk, but not for the risk from the sewer. "This will make the flood warnings they receive more targeted and enable the homeowners to take the steps they need to respond in good time," said an EA spokesperson. Henry Bethell, from the EA's flood resilience team, said floods could have a "devastating impact". "However, the climate emergency means we cannot prevent all flooding – so we're working to make communities resilient to future flooding," he said. The new flood warning service area has been created to target groups of households where the chances of flooding might be greater than the larger surrounding area, said the EA. Flood warnings tell people about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and help people make informed decisions about how to respond, said the EA. There are three types of warning – flood alert, flood warning and severe flood warning. Home and business owners in Pett will be automatically enrolled to the flood warning service via their mobile network. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Flood warnings issued due to expected high tides Swathes of Sussex flooded after heavy rainfall Related internet links Environment Agency - Sign up for flood warnings
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform-led Durham county council scraps climate emergency declaration
A Reform-led council is thought to have become the first in the UK to rescind its climate emergency declaration, a move condemned as 'a very dark day' for the authority. Durham county council, which has had an overwhelming Reform majority since the May local elections, passed a motion to rescind a declaration made in 2019. More than 300 local authorities have declared a climate emergency. It voted instead to declare a County Durham care emergency, a move described as 'cynical and insulting' by the Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes. He said there was a financial case as well as an environmental case for keeping the declaration. Wilkes said the council's climate action had helped save more than £13m in the last year alone. He added that stopping work on tackling the climate crisis would risk the loss of external funding. It ran the risk of less money to invest in social care, he said. 'This is not an either-or.' During a sometimes fractious and bad-tempered debate on Wednesday, the Reform council leader, Andrew Husband, said the authority was now driven by data and common sense. 'During the Roman-occupied era not far away from County Durham, around 45AD, there is evidence of Roman vineyards along Hadrian's Wall. This is because the Roman period in Britain is known for having a relatively warm climate which would have been conducive to growing grapes. Mind, how the climate has changed,' he said. Kenny Hope, a Reform councillor, accused the Lib Dems of being in favour of adult and child slave labour. He said the mining of material for lithium batteries was 'rife with child slavery' as was the production of solar panels in China. 'I do not believe in child or adult slave labour and I believe the guys on this side of the house also do not believe in it. But I believe the guys on the other side must believe in adult or child slave labour because they have not took that into consideration,' he said. Darren Grimes, a former GB News presenter, prolific tweeter and now deputy leader of the council, proposed the motion and accused his opponents of wanting to make local residents 'colder and poorer … shame. Shame. Shame.' He said Durham was done 'with expensive virtue-signalling tripe' and said the 2019 declaration was 'a feel-good' one chasing 'net-zero rainbows while the likes of China belch out coal more than Sauron's Mordor'. Afterwards, Jonathan Elmer, one of the council's two Green members, described some of what he heard in the debate as 'bonkers'. He said the vote represented 'a very dark day' for the council. 'Eighty per cent of the population do believe in the climate emergency and want to do something about it. Durham has an administration that doesn't. They've got a head-in-the-sand, don't-look-up approach,' Elmer said. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Wilkes said he was concerned for his nine-year-old son. 'I want to know he can grow up and live in a country and on a planet that is safe. There is a personal aspect to everything, isn't there?' On Monday, the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, warned MPs about the climate crisis, saying he would explicitly call out politicians who rejected net zero policies for betraying future generations. The duration of the Durham council debate was short because of rules limiting it to 30 minutes. A move by Wilkes to have a fuller debate was voted down by Reform. The rules also meant there was no time for another motion by Grimes to strengthen what he described as free speech protections in the code of conduct for elected members. Before the debate, about 200 protesters gathered outside county hall with banners and placards highlighting the climate crisis. 'Reform is asking you bury your head in the sand,' read one. 'Our children need a healthy world,' said another.
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform-led Durham county council scraps climate emergency pledge
A Reform-led council is thought to have become the first in the UK to rescind its climate emergency declaration, a move condemned as 'a very dark day' for the authority. Durham county council, which has had an overwhelming Reform majority since the May local elections, passed a motion to rescind a declaration made in 2019 More than 300 local authorities have declared a climate emergency. It voted instead to declare a County Durham care emergency, a move described as 'cynical and insulting' by the Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes. He said there was a financial case as well as an environmental case for keeping the declaration. Wilkes said the council's climate action had helped save more than £13m in the last year alone. He added that stopping work on tackling the climate crisis would risk the loss of external funding. It 'risked less money to invest in social care,' he said. 'This is not an either, or.' During a sometimes fractious and bad-tempered debate on Wednesday, the Reform council leader Andrew Husband said the authority was now driven by data and common sense. 'During the Roman-occupied era not far away from County Durham, around 45AD, there is evidence of Roman vineyards along Hadrian's Wall. This is because the Roman period in Britain is known for having a relatively warm climate which would have been conducive to growing grapes. Mind, how the climate has changed,' he said. Kenny Hope, a Reform councillor, accused the Lib Dems of being in favour of adult and child slave labour. He said the mining of material for lithium batteries was 'rife with child slavery' as was the production of solar panels in China. 'I do not believe in child or adult slave labour and I believe the guys on this side of the house also do not believe in it. But I believe the guys on the other side must believe in adult or child slave labour because they have not took that into consideration,' he said. Darren Grimes, a former GB News presenter, prolific tweeter and now deputy leader of the council, proposed the motion and accused his opponents of wanting to make local residents 'colder and poorer … shame. Shame. Shame.' He said Durham was done 'with expensive virtue-signalling tripe' and said the 2019 declaration was 'a feel-good' one chasing 'net-zero rainbows while the likes of China belch out coal more than Sauron's Mordor.' Afterwards, Jonathan Elmer, one of the council's two Green members, described some of what he heard in the debate as 'bonkers'. He said the vote represented 'a very dark day' for the council. 'Eighty per cent of the population do believe in the climate emergency and want to do something about it. Durham has an administration that doesn't. They've got a head in the sand, don't look up approach,' Elmer said. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Wilkes said he was concerned for his nine-year-old son. 'I want to know he can grow up and live in a country and on a planet that is safe. There is a personal aspect to everything, isn't there?' On Monday, the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, warned MPs about the climate crisis, saying he would explicitly call out politicians who rejected net zero policies for betraying future generations. The duration of the Durham council debate was short because of rules limiting it to 30 minutes. A move by Wilkes to have a fuller debate was voted down by Reform. The rules also meant there was no time for another motion by Grimes to strengthen what he described as free speech protections in the code of conduct for elected members. Before the debate, about 200 protesters gathered outside county hall with banners and placards highlighting the climate crisis. 'Reform is asking you bury your head in the sand,' read one. 'Our children need a healthy world,' said another.
