The United Arab Emirates and Switzerland – the two states couldn’t be more different. But now they have something in common: an oil lobbyist as environment minister.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the largest oil companies in the world, has taken on a new position: he will lead the UN climate conference COP28 in Dubai at the end of this year. This has been announced by the hosts.
AL Jaber pledges to take “a pragmatic, realistic and solution-oriented approach” to the emissions reduction challenge.
The fact that an oil baron has been chosen to represent the climate conference is a thorn in the side of climate activists and environmental organizations. For them, the decision represents a clear conflict of interest.
Greenpeace is “deeply concerned” in a statement. The appointment sets a “dangerous precedent and threatens the credibility” of the UAE.
This is very alarming.
Sultan al-Jaber, head of the state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world’s largest oil companies, will #COP28 climate talks in Dubai later this year.#Climate crisis https://t.co/7LUphXFe2C
— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) January 12, 2023
Harjeet Singh, who works for Climate Action Network International, criticizes the decision in a less moderate tone: “There should be no room for polluters at a climate conference”. Alice Harrison of Global Witness put it even more directly:
Why then are oil producers allowed to hold climate conferences?»»
Many are calling for the UAE to reconsider the decision, or for Al-Jaber to step down as oil chief – at least during his tenure as environment minister.
Meet the chairperson of the 2023 UN climate talks, Sultan Al Jaber. He is also the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the state-owned giant investing $127 billion in oil and gas expansion
Best part: This tweet is not an attempt at comedy#COP28 pic.twitter.com/8R5j6VWD52
— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) January 8, 2023
The conference is controversial anyway, because it takes place in a country that is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world. The crowning glory is that the Minister of the Environment owns the oil company with the twelfth largest oil production in the world.
The COP28 conference will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
(cst)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
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