The United Arab Emirates’ decision to appoint the CEO of a state-run oil company to preside over the upcoming U.N. climate negotiations in Dubai, has been backed by the U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, who also cited his work on renewable energy projects.
Sultan al-Jaber’s appointment has been criticized by activists who equated it to asking “arms dealers to lead peace talks” but Kerry dismissed the idea that Sultan al-Jaber’s appointment should be automatically disqualified because he is the leading the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
“I think that Dr. Sultan al-Jaber is a terrific choice because he is the head of the company. That company knows it needs to transition,” Kerry said after attending an energy conference in the Emirati capital. “He knows — and the leadership of the UAE is committed to transitioning.”
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Kerry alluded to a speech given by al-Jaber on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, where he called for the upcoming COP28 to move from goals to getting it done across mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage and also urged the world to be honest about the progress made, and how much further and faster the world needs to go.
“He made it absolutely clear we’re not moving fast enough. We have to reduce emissions. We have to begin to accelerate this transition significantly. So, I have great confidence that the right issues are going to be on the table, that they’re going to respond to them and lead countries to recognize their responsibility,” Kerry told reporters from AP in an interview on Sunday.
Skepticism over al-Jaber’s appointment was fuelled by how calls by countries, including India and the United States, for a phase down of oil and natural gas never reached a public discussion during COP27 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in November and activists worry that COP being held in a Mideast nation reliant on fossil fuel sales for a second year in a row could see something similar happen in the Emirates.
Asked about that fear, Kerry said: “I don’t believe UAE was involved in changing that.”
“There’s going to be a level of scrutiny — and and I think that’s going to be very constructive,” the former U.S. senator and 2004 presidential contender said. “It’s going to help people, you know, stay on the line here.”
“I think this is a time, a new time of accountability,” he added.
Story was adapted from AP.
