UAE’s controversial choice for COP28 leader urges world to ‘fight climate change, not each other’
- Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, was responding to the anger activists expressed after his nomination for the role
- He’s behind billions in investments in renewable energy – and also leads an oil company that pumps nearly 5 million barrels of crude a day
The United Arab Emirates’ choice to lead the coming COP28 climate talks in Dubai called on the world on Tuesday to “fight climate change, not each other”, directly addressing the anger activists have felt over his selection.
Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., also described the coming United Nations negotiations as an “unprecedented opportunity to engage the energy industry in a technological revolution”.
His speech at the World Government Summit in Dubai sought to present his nominated presidency as a bridge between oil companies and climate activists long suspicious of the industry’s influence on efforts to limit carbon emissions. Whether it will, however, remains in question.
“We need a major course correction,”, al-Jaber said. However, he added: “The strategies we pursue must leave no one behind. The policies we adopt must be pro-growth and pro-climate at the same time”.
Al-Jaber, a 49-year-old long-time climate envoy, is a trusted confidant of UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He’s been behind billions in investments in renewable energy – and also leads an oil company that pumps some 4 million barrels of crude a day and hopes to expand to 5 million daily.
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Activists have equated his nomination to asking “arms dealers to lead peace talks” when authorities announced his nomination in January. However, US climate envoy John Kerry and France’s finance minister both have backed his selection by the UAE, a key Middle East ally.
Each year, the country hosting the UN negotiations known as the Conference of the Parties – where COP gets its name – nominates a person to chair the talks. Hosts typically pick a veteran diplomat as the talks can be difficult to steer between competing nations and their interests. The nominee’s position as “COP president” is confirmed by delegates at the start of the talks, usually without objections.
