he UAE's appointment of an oil executive, Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of its state-run oil company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to preside over the COP28 global climate talks raises serious questions about the country's commitment to tackling the urgent issue of climate change and suggests that economic interests may be taking precedence over the health of the planet.
Sultan Al Jaber was appointed as president of COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, due to his extensive experience of leadership and expertise in the energy sector. Al Jabar served as the minister of state of the United Arab Emirates, overseeing the country's energy policy and leading efforts to diversify its energy mix.
As president of COP28, Al Jaber will be responsible for leading negotiations and discussions among the participating countries on the urgent issue of climate change. His appointment has led to criticisms from environmental groups who argue that it is a conflict of interest to have someone from the fossil fuel industry lead the global climate talks. The appointment has already raised doubts about the credibility of the UAE as a leader in the fight against climate change.
Environmental activists like Greta Thunberg have raised concerns about the UAE's decision to name Al Jaber COP28 president. Tracy Carter, a global climate politics expert with Greenpeace International, stated that Al Jaber’s presidency “sets a dangerous precedent, risking the credibility of the UAE.”
The UAE has defended the appointment, stating that Al Jaber's expertise in the energy sector makes him well-suited to lead the discussions on climate change. highlighting his experience leading Abu Dhabi's renewable energy efforts, including the $22 billion "carbon-neutral" city project. The country has also pointed to its own efforts to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy as evidence of its commitment to addressing climate change.
The country is already a leader in clean energy, with a substantial investment in renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power. One of the most notable initiatives taken by the UAE is its focus on developing clean energy sources. The country has been investing heavily in renewable energy, particularly solar energy. The UAE is home to the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world, the Noor Abu Dhabi, and has set ambitious targets to increase its renewable energy capacity in the coming years.
Another significant step taken by the UAE is its commitment to sustainable development. The country has set ambitious targets to reduce its carbon emissions and has launched several initiatives to promote sustainable development, such as the UAE Green Agenda and the UAE Energy Plan 2050. These initiatives aim to create a more sustainable future for the country and its citizens.
However, despite these efforts, some critics argue that the UAE's overall approach to climate change has been insufficient and that the appointment of Al Jaber sends the wrong message about the country's priorities.
As a major oil-producing nation, the UAE has a significant carbon footprint and is facing increasing pressure to transition to renewable energy. While the UAE has made some efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy, some critics argue that the appointment of Al Jaber sends a message that the country is more interested in promoting its own interests than those of the global community.
In particular, some have raised concerns that the appointment of Al Jaber sends a message that the UAE is not serious about tackling climate change and transitioning to renewable energy. The oil and gas sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and by appointing the CEO of a national oil company to lead global efforts to address climate change, the UAE risks being seen as prioritizing its own interests over those of the planet as a whole.
Additionally, Al Jaber's appointment has been criticized for his lack of experience in international climate negotiations. The role of the president of COP28 is to lead the international discussions on climate change, and some argue that this requires someone with a broad and diverse set of skills and experiences, beyond those in the energy sector.
In light of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change, it is essential that the leaders and decision-makers involved in global climate talks prioritize the planet's health over economic interests. Al Jaber’s appointment undermines the credibility of these efforts and sends the wrong message to the rest of the world.The appointment of Al Jaber as COP28 president has both positive and negative aspects, and it remains to be seen how the UAE will balance its economic interests with its commitment to addressing the issue of climate change. Some critics argue that the UAE's broader approach to climate change has been insufficient and that the appointment of Al Jaber as president of COP28 is an attempt to boost its own image and influence, rather than a genuine commitment to addressing the global challenge of climate change. Whether al-Jaber is a suitable president for COP28 remains to be seen, and his appointment is sure to be closely scrutinized by environmental activists and world leaders alike.
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The Controversy Over a Global Climate Talks Leader
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company HQ, left. Photo by Imtiyaz Ali on Unsplash
March 22, 2023
COP28 is still more than half a year away, but it's already mired in controversy. The UAE, which is hosting the conference this year, has appointed the CEO of the UAE's state-run oil company to preside over the summit and is defending that decision despite widespread criticism, writes Salma Djalal.
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he UAE's appointment of an oil executive, Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of its state-run oil company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to preside over the COP28 global climate talks raises serious questions about the country's commitment to tackling the urgent issue of climate change and suggests that economic interests may be taking precedence over the health of the planet.
Sultan Al Jaber was appointed as president of COP28, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, due to his extensive experience of leadership and expertise in the energy sector. Al Jabar served as the minister of state of the United Arab Emirates, overseeing the country's energy policy and leading efforts to diversify its energy mix.
As president of COP28, Al Jaber will be responsible for leading negotiations and discussions among the participating countries on the urgent issue of climate change. His appointment has led to criticisms from environmental groups who argue that it is a conflict of interest to have someone from the fossil fuel industry lead the global climate talks. The appointment has already raised doubts about the credibility of the UAE as a leader in the fight against climate change.
Environmental activists like Greta Thunberg have raised concerns about the UAE's decision to name Al Jaber COP28 president. Tracy Carter, a global climate politics expert with Greenpeace International, stated that Al Jaber’s presidency “sets a dangerous precedent, risking the credibility of the UAE.”
The UAE has defended the appointment, stating that Al Jaber's expertise in the energy sector makes him well-suited to lead the discussions on climate change. highlighting his experience leading Abu Dhabi's renewable energy efforts, including the $22 billion "carbon-neutral" city project. The country has also pointed to its own efforts to reduce carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy as evidence of its commitment to addressing climate change.
The country is already a leader in clean energy, with a substantial investment in renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind power. One of the most notable initiatives taken by the UAE is its focus on developing clean energy sources. The country has been investing heavily in renewable energy, particularly solar energy. The UAE is home to the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world, the Noor Abu Dhabi, and has set ambitious targets to increase its renewable energy capacity in the coming years.
Another significant step taken by the UAE is its commitment to sustainable development. The country has set ambitious targets to reduce its carbon emissions and has launched several initiatives to promote sustainable development, such as the UAE Green Agenda and the UAE Energy Plan 2050. These initiatives aim to create a more sustainable future for the country and its citizens.
However, despite these efforts, some critics argue that the UAE's overall approach to climate change has been insufficient and that the appointment of Al Jaber sends the wrong message about the country's priorities.
As a major oil-producing nation, the UAE has a significant carbon footprint and is facing increasing pressure to transition to renewable energy. While the UAE has made some efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and invest in renewable energy, some critics argue that the appointment of Al Jaber sends a message that the country is more interested in promoting its own interests than those of the global community.
In particular, some have raised concerns that the appointment of Al Jaber sends a message that the UAE is not serious about tackling climate change and transitioning to renewable energy. The oil and gas sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and by appointing the CEO of a national oil company to lead global efforts to address climate change, the UAE risks being seen as prioritizing its own interests over those of the planet as a whole.
Additionally, Al Jaber's appointment has been criticized for his lack of experience in international climate negotiations. The role of the president of COP28 is to lead the international discussions on climate change, and some argue that this requires someone with a broad and diverse set of skills and experiences, beyond those in the energy sector.
In light of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change, it is essential that the leaders and decision-makers involved in global climate talks prioritize the planet's health over economic interests. Al Jaber’s appointment undermines the credibility of these efforts and sends the wrong message to the rest of the world.The appointment of Al Jaber as COP28 president has both positive and negative aspects, and it remains to be seen how the UAE will balance its economic interests with its commitment to addressing the issue of climate change. Some critics argue that the UAE's broader approach to climate change has been insufficient and that the appointment of Al Jaber as president of COP28 is an attempt to boost its own image and influence, rather than a genuine commitment to addressing the global challenge of climate change. Whether al-Jaber is a suitable president for COP28 remains to be seen, and his appointment is sure to be closely scrutinized by environmental activists and world leaders alike.
