Civil society organisations (CSOs) have rejected the choice of Sultan Al-Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as the COP28 president.
Econaiplus had earlier reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday announced Al-Jaber, an oil chief and the minister of industry and technology, as the president of the COP28 climate conference.
However, the announcement has generated mixed reactions, including criticism, with activists insisting that he must step down from his oil chief role if he must lead the global climate conference.
Oilwatch, a fossil fuel resistance network, stated on Friday that with the announcement of Al-Jaber as president, COP28 has become “highly compromised”.
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A statement from Oilwatch reads: “The past COPs have had an overbearing presence of delegates from the fossil fuels sector,” the statement reads.
“Indeed, at COP27 held in El Sharm Sheikh, Egypt, the sector had more delegates than any single country. Having the head of an oil company as the president of any COP is a form of climate denial,”. “At a time when the world should make every effort to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, this appointment is a clear indication of climate change denial.
“With the announcement of the oil chief as the COP president, clearly shows that COP28 is highly compromised. The appointment is certain to lock in false and risky solutions in the UNFCCC process. The COP is meant to tackle global warming, not compound it.”
A member of the Oilwatch international steering committee, Nnimmo Bassey, said the UAE has spat in the face of climate-impacted nations.
Similarly, the coordinator of Oilwatch Africa, Salome Nduta said that Al-Jaber’s appointment would stifle genuine discussions on environmental protection.
On his part, the coordinator of Oilwatch International, Kentebe Ebiraidor, said: “it is amusing to have the chair of a multinational company play host for COP28. This has shown that the discussions would be centred on profit over people, and it is a clear indication that COP28 has been billed to fail before it begins.
“This is also a clear indication that the communities and the environment will suffer because of the decisions that would come out of its discussion which will in no way be meaningful nor in favour of the people,”
Story was adapted from The Cable.
