Essays by Eric Worrall
Climate campaigners fear that King Ahmed Al Jaber may not be focused on destroying his own national oil company.
Climate change: UAE appoints head of oil industry to lead COP28 negotiations
By Matt McGrath
environmental reporter
The head of one of the world’s largest oil companies has been appointed to lead the COP28 global climate talks in Dubai later this year.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is currently the managing director of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
He is also the minister of industry and advanced technology of the COP28 host country, the United Arab Emirates.
Campaigners say he had to give up his role in the oil business as president because it was a clear conflict of interest.
They believe that someone involved in the oil industry may not be motivating countries to rapidly reduce the production and use of fossil fuels, which scientists say is crucial to avoiding climate change. dangerous post.
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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64240206
Do not underestimate Sultan Jaber’s negotiating ability. The Emirates were founded centuries ago by people who turned a formerly worthless desert into a thriving trading post, through the power of their bargaining power and business attraction, so Negotiation is a specialty of their country. They survived and largely retained their independence, even during imperial times, because all of their larger neighbors were too busy fighting each other to conquer their tiny desert corner. surname.
I am sure that Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is a capable organizer and skilled negotiator, and will do a good job, but the reality is it is uncertain whether he will resign his oil company while running COP28 or not shows that the climate negotiations are a farce turned out to be.
After COP27, COP28 will be just another global aid money talk shop, a place for informal political negotiations – like a state funeral.
Nobody expected politicians to return from national mourning with significant geopolitical victories. Like state funerals, expectations for the COP conference are also very low, so this makes the COP conference a great opportunity for politicians to hold informal discussions on key issues. global problem when no one dies. Politicians can attend COP conferences without the weight of national expectations of significant geopolitical gain. When nothing is achieved, they may blame others for not cooperating enough.
COP27 will also be a money-making opportunity for the Dubai tourism industry, if they set a minimum nightly hotel fee, like Egypt’s alleged COP27 host did.
Given this backdrop, the CEO of a cash-rich oil and gas company owned by the government, a potential sponsor and skilled negotiator, is the perfect person to lead the COP28 negotiations. .
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