There have been fierce criticisms from environmental activists following the announcement of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber as president of this year’s COP28 climate talks.
According to a statement published by the official WAM news agency, Al-Jaber will be the first CEO of ADNOC to assume the role at the UN meeting.
“We will bring a pragmatic, realistic and solutions-oriented approach that delivers transformative progress for climate and for low carbon economic growth,” Jaber said in the statement. “I sincerely believe that climate action today is an immense economic opportunity for investment in sustainable growth,”.
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Environmentalists reacted swiftly, cautioning that the participation of a significant figure from the oil business could impede the success of the fight against global warming.
According to Harjeet Singh, head of the global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, Al-Jaber’s appointment poses an outrageous conflict of interest, adding that “The ongoing menace of fossil fuel lobbyists at the UN climate talks has consistently weakened outcomes of the climate conference but this takes it to another dangerous and unprecedented level.”
A contentious resolution on aid for developing nations affected by climate change was adopted at the end of COP27, which took place in Egypt in November last year, but no new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions were established.
Environmentalists calling for a move away from oil, which emits greenhouse gases, have expressed concerns over the UAE’s hosting of this year’s edition in Dubai in November and December.
Story was adapted from France24.
