UAE names oil CEO to lead COP28 discussions on climate change
The CEO of one of the world's largest oil firms has been appointed to oversee the COP28 global climate negotiations later this year in Dubai.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber now serves as the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
He also serves as the United Arab Emirates minister of industry and innovative technology.
Campaigners argue that he must step down from his participation in the oil industry while president, citing a blatant conflict of interest.
They worry that someone with a background in the oil business will not urge countries to cut their production and usage of fossil fuels quickly, which experts say is vital to preventing disastrous climate change.
- Warming has had the greatest impact on Europe and the polar regions.
- According to the UN, the ozone layer may be rebuilt in decades.
- Wind-generated a record quantity of power in 2022.
The hosts, the United Arab Emirates, are one of the world's largest producers of oil and gas, therefore COP28 is already fraught with controversy.
GETTY IMAGES, ADNOC IMAGE SOURCE
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is the world's 12th largest.
The choice of a senior player in the energy business as the president-designate of COP28 will undoubtedly heighten fears that the global climate talks process is being swayed by fossil fuel interests.
The latest COP27 session in Egypt was regarded by some guests as a "glorified fossil fuel trade display".
When compared to previous meetings, there was a considerable rise in those who were connected to the oil and gas business among those who registered for the event.
There were 70 people with ties to fossil fuels among the big UAE delegation at the meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Mr. Al Jaber is the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Business, which is ranked as the world's 12th largest oil company.
He has become the face of the UAE's energy business over the last decade, yet he will be the first serving oil executive to serve as COP president.
He is a minister and his country's climate ambassador, as well as the chairman of Masdar, the government-owned renewable energy firm he helped establish.
slam IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Protesters at Egypt's recent COP27 summit were frustrated when plans to phase out oil and gas were denied.
He has long warned of the dangers of climate change, but protesters are unhappy about his nomination and have asked him to stand down from his industry duties.
"It is critical that the world be guaranteed that he will stand down as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company," said Tasneem Essop of Climate Action International.
"He cannot preside over a process tasked with addressing the climate problem while leading an industry that is directly responsible for the crisis."
Campaigners will be concerned that large oil and gas producers are among those who oppose a more accelerated phase-out of all fossil fuels.
More than 80 countries made a strong push at COP27 for the conference to proclaim support for the phase-out of oil, gas, and coal.
This plan failed because of strong opposition from countries that rely on fossil fuel exports.
a gas station
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Caption for an image,
A gas station in Dubai, where the COP28 talks will take place later this year.
While some campaigners have criticized Mr. Al Jaber's selection, others working in climate diplomacy have applauded the decision.
"The UAE has embraced a sound green growth strategy and is a big investor in renewable energy both at home and abroad," said former UN climate director Yvo de Boer.
"Many of these concerns have been aided by the COP president-elect. This gives him the knowledge, experience, and authority to make COP28 ambitious, innovative, and future-focused."
Those abilities will undoubtedly be put to the test during the gathering in Dubai in early December of this year.
The first formal review of progress on carbon reduction since the Paris agreement will be held during COP28.
The "global stocktake," as it is dubbed, will be crucial in determining how far countries must go to reduce their emissions.
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