The year 2024 is set to be the warmest on record, capping a decade of unprecedented heat fuelled by human activities, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

 

Greenhouse gas levels continue to grow to record observed highs, locking in even more heat for the future, it said.

 

The January – September 2024 global mean surface air temperature was 1.54 °C (with a margin of uncertainty of ±0.13°C) above the pre-industrial average, boosted by a warming El Niño event, according to an analysis of six international datasets used by WMO.

 

“Today I can officially report that we have just endured a decade of deadly heat. The top 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his New Year message.

 

“This is climate breakdown — in real time. We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose. In 2025, countries must put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions, and supporting the transition to a renewable future,” he said.

 

WMO will publish the consolidated global temperature figure for 2024 in January and its full State of the Global Climate 2024 report in March 2025. 

 

“In my first year as WMO Secretary-General, I have issued repeated Red Alerts about the state of the climate,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. “WMO marks its 75th anniversary in 2025 and our message will be that if we want a safer planet, we must act now. It’s our responsibility. It’s a common responsibility, a global responsibility,” she said.

 

“Every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and increases climate extremes, impacts and risks. Temperatures are only part of the picture. Climate change plays out before our eyes on an almost daily basis in the form of increased occurrence and impact of extreme weather events,” she said.

 

Flooded residential area with debris and damaged houses, partially submerged under water. Trees and materials are scattered. Mountains are visible in the background.

 

“This year we saw record-breaking rainfall and flooding events and terrible loss of life in so many countries, causing heartbreak to communities on every continent. Tropical  cyclones caused a terrible human and  economic toll, most recently in the French overseas department of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Intense heat scorched dozens of countries, with temperatures topping 50 °C on a number of occasions. Wildfires wreaked devastation,” she said.

 

The increasingly extreme weather underlines the urgency of the Early Warnings for All initiative, which along with supporting climate service development and delivery, is a key part of WMO’s activities  to support climate adaptation. On the climate mitigation front, WMO is rolling out the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch initiative, and supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP.  

 

In 2025, there will be a strong focus on the cryosphere - the frozen parts of the  Earth including sea ice, ice sheets, frozen ground – as it is the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, faciliated by UNESCO and WMO.

 

Throughout 2024, a series of reports from the WMO community  highlighted the rapid pace of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on every aspect of sustainable development. 

 

Climate change intensified 26 of the 29 weather events studied by World Weather Attribution that killed at least 3700 people and displaced millions, according to a new report from World Weather Attribution and Climate Central.

 

The report said that climate change added 41 days of dangerous heat in 2024, harming human health and ecosystems, according to the report entitled When Risks Become Reality: Extreme Weather In 2024.

 

As global temperatures rise and extreme heat events become more frequent and severe, there is a growing need for enhanced international cooperation to address extreme heat risks. A targeted group of experts representing 15 international organizations, 12 countries, and several leading academic and NGO partners convened at WMO headquarters from 17-19 December to advance a coordinated framework for tackling the growing threat of extreme heat. This is in response to the UN Secretary-General's Call to Action on extreme heat.

 

It is one of many initiatives by the WMO community to safeguard public health through improved climate services and early warnings. As it marks its 75th anniversary in 2025, WMO will continue to coordinate worldwide efforts to observe and monitor the state of the climate, support international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. - TradeArabia News Service

Dubai carrier Emirates has joined forces with Parsys Telemedicine to introduce next generation equipment that will enable customers to receive quality, speedy medical care in the air. 

 

The airline has invested more than $2.4 million in co-designing the new equipment set with Parsys, which will be rolled out to 300 aircraft over the next few years.

 

The groundbreaking ‘telemedicine station’ has advanced features such as high-definition video conferencing, remote passenger assessment, secure data transmission and 12-Leads Telecardia ECG – enabling Emirates’ highly trained cabin crew to save lives in emergency situations.

 

Emirates has always invested in high quality medical equipment, but the new Parsys kit is the result of a yearlong collaboration between Emirates and Parsys to create a bespoke inflight tool that is more efficient and reliable, more connected, and ultimately safer for Emirates’ customers .

 

The best-in-class new system includes the Parsys Telemedicine Kit for Emirates and the Parsys Cloud. 

 

The kit is an integrated, portable telemedicine station designed for cabin crew to gather important information and vital signs, which can then be transmitted to Emirates’ Ground Medical Support – a dedicated team of medical professionals who sit in Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai and are contactable 24/7. 

 

The kit includes several medical devices like a pulse oximeter, thermometer, blood pressure monitor, glucometer, and electrocardiogram (ECG). 

 

Emirates said its customers who need medical support onboard flights can now have their vital signs or readings automatically transmitted to the Medcapture device via Bluetooth, eliminating any need for cabin crew to take notes and relay information manually.

 

Linked to the Medcapture device is the Parsys Cloud, a cloud-based platform for Ground Medical Support to receive inflight data and to communicate with cabin crew, it stated. 

 

It is safe and reliable and ensures that customer data is handled in compliance with data protection regulations, it added.-TradeArabia News Service

Burjeel Holdings, a leading super-specialty healthcare provider in the MENA region, listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, announced that its board of directors has authorised the management to explore a share buyback programme of up to 10% of the group’s share capital, subject to regulatory approval from shareholders and the Securities and Commodities Authority. 

 

This initiative reflects the board’s confidence in the group’s significant growth potential over the mid and long term, the company said.

 

Strategic rationale & growth outlook

The share buyback programme aligns with Burjeel Holdings’ commitment to optimising capital structure and enhancing shareholder value. The group remains on track for mid-teens revenue growth and EBITDA margin expansion in 2025 and beyond, driven by the accelerated ramp-up of high-growth assets, expansion of high-complexity procedures, and ongoing cost optimisation initiatives. As a result, profit before tax is expected to grow at approximately 25% CAGR over the next four years, it said.

 

Burjeel Holdings continues to strengthen its position as a leading healthcare provider by investing in advanced medical technologies, expanding its portfolio of specialty services, and enhancing patient care delivery. The Group remains focused on driving operational efficiencies, broadening its service offerings, and leveraging digital transformation to maximise long-term stakeholder value, it said. 

 

Buyback program details

The share buyback programme will be conducted through open market purchases and be fully funded through the group’s operating cash flow, reflecting its strong financial position. 

 

Following the buyback, management is evaluating various options for utilising the repurchased shares, including potential resale based on market conditions, allocation to long-term Incentive plans, or other regulator-approved strategies that support broader capital management objectives, it said.

 

John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings, said: " Burjeel Holdings is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious growth targets, in line with the strategic guidance provided to the market. With our strong operational performance and favorable market trends, we believe the Group’s intrinsic value is not yet fully reflected in its current market valuation. Recognising this opportunity, we proactively sought Board approval to explore a share buyback initiative. With this mandate secured, we will work closely with regulators and shareholders to finalise the buyback program and ensure timely market updates upon receiving the necessary approvals." – TradeArabia News Service