Denmark has said that it is optimistic that the United Arab Emirates will push for ambitious action to curb climate change as host of the UN Cop28 conference later in the year.
This show of support followed criticism from activists over the oil-producing nation’s role in climate change and the integrity of the appointed president, Sultan al-Jaber to effectively deliver on what is expected of him as an oil magnate as the role involves overseeing negotiations among the nearly 200 countries that typically attend the annual talks to address global warming.
The criticism from activists is further exacerbated by fear about the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists on the talks, and some delegates have criticised last year’s event in Egypt, saying fossil fuel producers watered down emission reduction ambitions.
“I think that everything the Presidency has done so far has only given us reason to be optimistic,” Dan Jorgensen, Denmark’s minister for global climate policy and development told reporters”.
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Speaking further, he said, “If we are to stay below 1.5 degrees in temperature increase, it is totally necessary that we have a transition of all societies on this planet, also the oil-producing ones, added that in his experience the UAE has been “very engaged” in diplomacy on the issue.
Al-Jaber had said COP28 should forge solidarity between the global north and south and the UAE would approach the conference with a great sense of urgency.
When the conference gets underway in Dubai later in the year, countries are expected to formally assess their progress towards the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5C and also reach new agreements.
Jorgensen said that this stocktake must also yield a plan for how countries will get on track for the 1.5C goal – as well as more funding to help developing nations do this.
The world is already 1.2C warmer than in pre-industrial times, predominantly due to greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
