The world has a “brief and rapidly closing” window to adapt to climate change, with the risks associated with lower levels of warming greater than previously thought, the latest instalment of a landmark UN report signed off by 270 scientists from 67 countries has concluded.
Some losses were already irreversible and ecosystems were reaching the limits of their ability to adapt to the changing climate, the scientists warned in the blunt assessment.
The findings were an “atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership,” said UN secretary-general António Guterres. “I have seen many scientific reports in my time, but nothing like this.”
Hazards such as the rise in sea levels were unavoidable, and “any further delay” to mitigate and adapt to warming would miss the “window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all”, the long-awaited analysis said.
US climate envoy John Kerry said the report “paints a dire picture of the impacts already occurring because of a warmer world and the terrible risks to our planet if we continue to ignore science”.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Assembly, said the world was on track for warming of 3C since the pre-industrial period. “We are in an emergency heading for a disaster,” she said.
The analysis of the world’s ability to adapt to global warming from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the sixth such report and follows last year’s landmark paper on the science of warming.
That report found that the world was likely to temporarily reach 1.5C of warming within 20 years, even in the best-case scenario of deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the pre-industrial period.
“So much depends on what we do as a society . . . The future depends on us, not the climate,” said Helen Adams, a lecturer at King’s College London and lead author.
The report lands as Europe struggles with its dependence on oil and gas for energy, with its supplies from Russia threatened by Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. During the closing IPCC session, Russian delegate Oleg Anasimov apologised “on behalf of all Russians who were not able to prevent this conflict”.
The UN’s Guterres said “current events” made clear the reliance on fossil fuels “makes the global economy and energy security vulnerable”.
The evidence for human-induced climate change and its effects was “unequivocal”, and limiting warming to 1.5C would reduce but not eliminate the negative impact, said the latest analysis, echoing the earlier IPCC report findings.
But the authors also concluded that the effects of warming, such as extreme weather events, would become more severe at lower temperatures than the previous 2014 IPCC adaptation assessment had concluded. That change was the result of more and better evidence.
“The impacts that we are observing on ecosystems, on natural systems and on human systems are much more widespread and are really accelerating,” said Marie-Fanny Racault, from Plymouth Marine Laboratory and a report author.
Human societies and the natural world could adapt to climate change “within limits”, but the effectiveness of adaptation would “decrease with increasing warming”, the scientists stressed.
Rises in sea level, for example, posed an “existential threat” for some small islands, while vital infrastructure, such as ports and energy systems, would be “increasingly vulnerable” if not designed to withstand climate change.
By 2100, between $7.9tn and $12.7tn in global assets would be in one-in-100-year coastal floodplains, based on a “medium” scenario, with about 1bn people at risk from coastal hazards such as flooding by 2060, the authors estimated.
“Multiple ports and coastal infrastructure are at risk . . . [which are] an important backbone of our global activity,” said Richard Dawson, a professor at Newcastle University and lead author.
“If we put up buildings that are not ready for the next 50-100 years of climate, or infrastructure that is not resilient and designed with future risks in mind, then effectively we’re locking in problems.”
The money available for adaptation was “insufficient,” the authors said. The UN has called for climate finance to be split evenly between efforts to curb and adapt to climate change, but most goes towards mitigation.
Sticking points during IPCC negotiations included pushback by some countries, including the US, against the phrase “loss and damage” in the report’s summary for policymakers. The term is politically charged as it implies financial compensation. Instead, the final summary uses the compromise term of “losses and damages”.
The IPCC authors were unable to reliably quantify the potential hit to the global economy of a failure to prepare for climate change, but said that “losses and damages” would increase as the planet warmed.
Aromar Revi, from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements and a report author, said the question remained as to “whether we can make the right societal choices quickly enough.”
LONDON — Britain vowed to ramp up its targeting of Russian dirty money Monday as it unveiled long-awaited economic crime legislation.
The proposed law — the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill — will pave the way for a “register of overseas entities” identifying foreign owners of U.K. property, the Home Office said.
Selling restrictions will be imposed on those who do not comply, and people found breaking the disclosure rules could face up to five years in prison.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear that the proposals, long pushed for by U.K. lawmakers and transparency campaigners, are explicitly aimed at supporters of the Russian government in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Britain, and in particular its major financial hub the City of London, has long been criticized as a relatively safe haven for illicit finance.
Johnson said in a statement accompanying the announcement that the bill would mean President Vladimir Putin’s backers would have “nowhere to hide your ill-gotten gains.”
“We are going faster and harder to tear back the façade that those supporting Putin’s campaign of destruction have been hiding behind for so long,” he added.
The proposed register will apply retrospectively to property bought by people based overseas up to 20 years ago in England and Wales, and since December 2014 in Scotland.
The U.K. government will also bring properties held by trusts into the scope of the existing system of so-called Unexplained Wealth Orders, which, if held up in court, allow British authorities to force disclosure of sources of wealth and potentially seize assets.
The definition of an asset holder will be expanded to stop individuals hiding behind shell companies and foundations, the U.K. government promised.
Law enforcement will also be given more time to review material when investigating unexplained wealth, and cost rules will be reformed to prevent investigators running up substantial legal costs even if they are unsuccessful in these cases.
As Western powers hit Russia with a host of sanctions, the U.K. Treasury is also promising to "intensify" its system of sanctions enforcement.
The government is also promising detail on plans to require anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the U.K. to verify their identity with Companies House, which will be given new powers to challenge information. The changes will be introduced in an additional Economic Crime Bill.
Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the opposition party had repeatedly called for the measures, and promised to support the legislation.
She said the government should enact the new laws “in their strongest form to tackle dirty money once and for all.”
Labour urged the government to “also work with European countries on a wider sanctuary arrangement so the U.K. can also do its bit alongside others to help Ukraine."
Johnson announced on Sunday that anyone settled in the U.K. will be able to bring immediate family members to join them from Ukraine, a move he said would benefit "many thousands of people."
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Mr Foster later tweeted that working was "just one of several routes".
Yesterday I pressed Ministers on opening safe routes to sanctuary in Britain for those fleeing war in Ukraine. The Immigration Minister replied suggesting visas to pick fruit on British farms. I like Kevin but this was painfully unaware and unkind. We need safe routes open now 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/p0SEm7IECM
Mr Foster, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for immigration, posted his comments in response to Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour MP and shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard on Twitter.
Mr Pollard had raised concerns about UK visa restrictions on refugees from Ukraine and said he was "looking for a route for people fleeing Ukraine who might not have a family link in the UK".
He said: "We have a moral obligation to help them. Will you now change policy to do exactly that?"
UK Parliament
Mr Foster replied in the now-deleted post: "As you will be well aware there are a number of routes, not least our seasonal worker scheme you will recall from your Shadow Defra days, which Ukrainians can qualify for, alongside the family route for those with relatives here."
Mr Foster later added: "Hi Luke. It's just one of several routes and we will do more as the PM has made clear."
Mr Pollard responded that the initial tweet was "painfully unaware and unkind" and added: "We need safe routes now."
My God. People are fleeing war in Europe, the like we haven’t seen in generations, in search of swift sanctuary.
Yet the immigration minister says the answer is they should put in an application to pick Britain’s fruit & veg. https://t.co/bQcLOZzSoS
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted in response to Mr Foster's initial comment: "My God. People are fleeing war in Europe, the like we haven't seen in generations, in search of swift sanctuary.
"Yet the immigration minister says the answer is they should put in an application to pick Britain's fruit & veg."
North Wales Police are today investigating a serious road traffic collision on the A55 near Broughton, where sadly two people died.
The collision occurred at just after 12.15pm this afternoon and involved multiple vehicles, with some eyewitness accounts referring to a car going the ‘wrong way’ on the road.
Sergeant Liam Morris of the Roads Policing Unit is appealing for witnesses.
He said: “I extend my heartfelt sympathy for the families involved.
“I urge anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact us immediately to assist us with our investigation. I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage of a red Audi TT driving erratically at around this time.
“If you or someone you know has information that could help us with the investigation, please contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit via our LiveChat service, or by calling 101, quoting reference B027422.”
A Ukrainian serviceman walks by a damaged vehicle, at the site of a fighting with Russian troops after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 26, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
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LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Russian advance into Ukraine has temporarily slowed, probably because of logistical problems and strong resistance, Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday.
"The speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance," the ministry said in a regular intelligence update posted on Twitter.
"Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them. Overnight clashes in Kyiv are likely to have involved limited numbers of pre-positioned Russian groups. The capture of Kyiv remains Russia's primary military objective."
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Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Catherine Evans
British Airways has said all of its short-haul flights from Heathrow are cancelled until midday today following ongoing "technical issues".
The airline said customers due to travel later today should check their flight status on ba.com before coming to the airport as "we anticipate further disruption during the day".
It said its long-haul services at Heathrow and all flights at Gatwick and London City Airport are due to operate as planned, "but customers may experience some delays".
The airline said the problem is related to a hardware issue and is not because of a cyber attack.
The company added its website was working and customers can check-in online and at the airport.
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"We are offering customers on cancelled services options including a full refund and all customers booked to travel on short-haul services from Heathrow today can opt to rebook to a later date for free if they choose. We will be contacting customers proactively."
The airline's website and app were down for hours leaving customers unable to check-in online or book flights.
'BA running on paper'
Ed Hall, 54, a television executive from Woodstock, Oxfordshire, was stranded on a plane for over an hour after touching down at Heathrow Terminal 5 on Friday because the crew could not access any IT systems to get a stand where passengers could disembark.
He said there were issues even before his BA 399 flight took off from Brussels.
Mr Hall said: "We couldn't take off as the pilot's system that calculates weight, loads and distribution went offline and we had to go back to the gate from the runway to get a (manual) copy sent from London.
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A British man who travelled to Ukraine on the eve of the Russian invasion to support his partner has admitted they "clearly underestimated the threat".
Jez Myers, from Manchester, said he and journalist Maria Romanenko arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday after he "tried and failed" to get her to stay in Poland.
The couple have now fled the Ukrainian capital to the border near Lviv and are attempting to cross into Poland.
The 44-year-old said the atmosphere was "chaotic" and people were "tetchy".
Mr Myers, a business consultant, said Ms Romanenko had applied for a visa to come to the UK, but it had not come through by that time.
On 13 February, he told the Press Association that he had been due to return to Ukraine to meet up with Ms Romanenko, but had decided not to, saying it would be "naïve at best" to ignore the Foreign Office's advice not to travel.
Instead, the couple, who have been together for almost two years, met up in the Polish city of Gdansk.
'Tired but safe'
After a nine-day break, Ms Romanenko decided to return to Kyiv.
"Maria is a proud Ukrainian journalist, [but] she clearly underestimated the threat and said that she wanted to return," he said.
"I tried and failed to convince her to stay in Poland."
He said that he did not support her decision, but was "put in a position of choosing to leave my partner to fend for herself or be there to support her if bad things happened".
He said that meant enacting a plan they had made for if the worst happened and they quickly joined thousands of others driving from Kyiv to the border crossing near Lviv.
He said they drove for more than 10 hours, passing long queues at petrol stations and queuing for hours to refuel themselves, and since arriving, had been queuing at the border for about six hours.
"We are tired but, most importantly, safe," he said.
"That we are standing in the queue now is as a result of my contacts and contingency plans put in place."
However, he said he did not know how long it would be before they were able to cross into Poland.
"Whilst Poland may be metres away, it is also still hours away," he said.
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A Cornish woman who suffered from a rare syndrome that left her unable to eat or drink has died hours before undergoing life-saving surgery in Germany.
Stéphanie Nicolette Baker, 36, weighed only 20kgs after a lifetime of suffering from an incredibly rare syndrome called Superior Mesenteric Artery syndrome (SMAS), which caused eating to become “excruciatingly painful” and left her starving her body.
While she was receiving palliative care at her home in Truro, Nicolette, as she was known to her friends, launched a fundraiser for a life-saving operation in Germany. Her emotional story spread around the world and incredibly raised almost £100,000 towards it.
Sadly, she has now passed away in Germany while waiting for her operation.
Many friends and supporters of Nicolette have been left devastated by the news as only this month she remained full of hope for the future.
Her former school teacher James Kitto, who helped run a charity auction along with former pupil and classmate of Nicolette, Mark Pollard, said they had all been left shocked by the news.
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James said: “It is absolutely heartbreaking news. Nicolette had travelled to Germany and was so close to having the operation that could have changed her life, but it wasn’t to be.
“She was so incredibly grateful for - and amazed at - the amazing support she received from across the world since her GoFundMe page was set up and her interview with CornwallLive was shared, with over £97,000 being raised to help her get the treatment she needed.
“She was a selfless person. The most important thing in her life was being able to help others.
“She regularly cooked for the homeless and spent her most recent Christmas Day at St Petrocs (homeless shelter) serving Christmas dinner to those in need, despite being so poorly herself."
He added: “Nicolette was such a wonderful, thoughtful person. I, and I’m sure many others, will forever be inspired by her example of kindness to others and by her strength and her bravery.”
Nicolette Baker, from Truro, with her former primary school teacher James Kitto who with mark Pollard organised a charity auction to help her raise cash for a life saving operation in Germany. She passed away in Germany hours before her op was due. (Image: James Kitto)
Nicolette's family said: "We would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of sympathy and for sharing their lovely memories of Nicolette."
Mark added: “Perhaps it’s a small condolence that she knew that she had literally thousands of people behind her and supporting her and that she died trying, despite having resigned herself to death previously. I never thought she’d die though - hope is a wonderful, dangerous thing to have sometimes.”
Despite her life threatening condition Nicolette remained hopeful and joyful and continued to help others. She was volunteering for a local soup kitchen at Christmas and in a local charity shop a few weeks ago.
Mark added: “When you think she’s had such rotten luck. She was amazing.”
Nicolette Baker pictured with her dog Eden in happier times (Image: DCM)
CornwallLive first featured Nicolette’s story earlier this year and as a result her fundraiser exploded, with huge donations pouring in from Cornwall and countries all around the world. Nicolette received several donations of more than £1,000 and a series of events were organised here in Cornwall to raise the vital cash.
At the time, Nicolette said the money raised would not just be helping her but would also go towards improving the lives of others afflicted by her condition.
As her original £50,000 target was smashed, then her second target of £80,000 was also met, she thanked her supporters, saying: “The result of the surgery is not guaranteed but this is my last chance to reclaim my quality of life.
“Any unspent donations following my surgery, recovery and aftercare will be used to make a difference to the lives of others on our planet. Because the difference you have made to mine just by giving me this chance has been indefinable.”
Tributes and condolences have been pouring in since the news of Nicolette’s tragic death started filtering through.
Jemima Eddy, said: “Oh no this is so desperately sad. What a wonderful kind and selfless person, with a heart full of love to give. Nicolette has inspired so many, I’m so sorry.”
Nicolette passed away this week while waiting for her life-saving operation in Germany (Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)
Karen Gronwalt added: “I am so very sorry to hear this. My condolences are with all of her family and friends at this sad time. A massive thank you to all the people who pulled together so quickly and organised the much needed funds to give Nicolette a chance of a new life. Sadly it wasn’t to be, but the kindness shown was incredible and is something I’m sure her family will never forget.”
Amanda Bradley, echoed the words, adding: “This is heartbreaking. Nicolette fought so hard and with such dignity. She was always acting with such kindness despite her own battles.”
Sally Cole added: "Oh no , so very sad to hear this , well done Mark and James for giving her hope and a chance of recovery, also for helping her raising awareness of this dreadful condition and the fight many people have to go through every day , that so many of us take for granted. Much love to Nicolette's family."
Image:Koci Selamaj has admitted the murder of Sabina Nessa
A pre-meditated attack with 'extreme violence'
The 36-year-old had driven to London from his home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to carry out a pre-meditated attack on a woman with "extreme violence".
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He lurked around Cator Park before targeting Ms Nessa as she walked through the gardens.
CCTV showed the moment Selamaj repeatedly struck Ms Nessa with a 2ft-long weapon believed to be a traffic triangle before carrying her away unconscious.
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It is alleged he then strangled her in undergrowth in what was suspected to be a sexually-motivated attack.
Ms Nessa's body was found nearly 24 hours later covered with grass near a community centre in the park.
Days later, Selamaj was arrested in Eastbourne and charged over her death.
Image:People at a vigil for Ms Nessa at Eastbourne Pier in East Sussex
Suspect caught carrying out attack on CCTV
At a previous hearing, Alice Morgan QC said: "The prosecution allege this was a premeditated and predatory attack on a stranger."
She said the attack was carried out with "extreme violence".
Three days before the attack, the defendant booked a room at the five-star Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, the town where he already had accommodation.
His reservation was for the night of 17 September and he arrived earlier in the day to check in. He was captured walking through the lobby wearing the same clothes as the suspect later caught on CCTV in Kidbrooke.
The defendant's Nissan Micra was tracked by ANPR cameras and cell site evidence was gathered to identify his movements from Eastbourne to south London later that day - the evidence showed the defendant also used his bank card at a Sainsbury's in Kidbrooke.
He entered Cator Park shortly after 8pm and lay in wait for half an hour before Ms Nessa arrived.
Details of the attack
Ms Morgan said: "The defendant is seen in effect loitering in locations around the park before spotting the deceased, checking to see if anyone else was nearby before turning and running after her.
"He is then seen to move towards the deceased and striking her repeatedly using a weapon which was approximately 2ft in length.
"In fact it was a weapon which appeared to break up during the course of the many strikes on the deceased.
"The CCTV footage shows the defendant then carrying the deceased, who appeared to be unconscious by that point, up a bank and effectively out of sight."
Selamaj had no previous convictions and was not known to his victim.
A British man whose wife and daughter live in Ukraine said he feared for their safety following the Russian invasion.
Michael lives in Huntingdon, in Cambridgeshire, but his family live in southern Ukraine.
He said he had been trying to get emergency visas for them since 12 March and had called on the government to help.
"There's nothing I can do about it - I'm powerless," he said.
Michael lived in Ukraine for 20 years, but moved back to the UK and started a camera business in Huntingdon.
The plan was for his wife, Oksana, and their daughter, Louisa, 17, to join him when his daughter finishes school in the summer.
He moved back to the UK to show that last year he was able to earn enough to bring his family over, Michael said.
Family handout
He had been trying to secure visas for them to leave Ukraine but said he feared it was "now too late".
"There was a lot of shooting last night by the railway station, there were explosions heard around the city," he said.
He said his family did not feel safe in their own home.
"I've been told the roads are going to be closed. No-one can get to the border as far as we know.
"There's no way to get to the Polish border to get out of the country. There's no more train tickets, no more flights, that's it now.
"I hate feeling useless. I don't know what else to do. Now I don't know when I'm going to see them again.
"I want it all to stop," he added, choking back tears.
I just want my wife and my daughter back."
He pleaded for those involved in the conflict to "stop killing each other - just try to be kind".
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Office priority remains supporting British Nationals and their families who want to leave Ukraine and UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) are working around the clock to process visa applications.
"These applications are being prioritised and, where we have all relevant information, we will aim to process within 24 hours and issue to the person as soon as possible.
"[Michael] made contact with us today and we are now urgently seeking to get in touch to process any application."
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