Sultan al-Jaber said the world is on the wrong track when it comes to meeting climate goals in his first comments since being chosen by the United Arab Emirates to chair the year’s COP summit. now on.
“We are going in the wrong direction,” he said in a speech in Abu Dhabi. “The world is catching up to Paris’ main goal of keeping global temperatures down to 1.5 degrees Celsius” above pre-industrial levels.
Thursday’s appointment of Al-Jaber provoked mixed reactions from climate activists, as he heads the OPEC member’s state oil producer, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. He is also the chairman of Masdar, one of the largest renewable energy investors in the world.
Although al-Jaber did not directly address the criticism, he said the UAE would approach the task of hosting COP28 – to be held in Dubai in November and December – with humility.
“We don’t claim to have all the answers,” he said. “But we believe we have something of value to contribute. I am here to listen and participate.”
He spoke at an Atlantic Council event. US climate envoy John Kerry and UK Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps were in the audience.
The UAE wants COP28 to focus on scaling up wind and solar power as well as hydrogen. It’s also about ensuring poorer countries have the financial resources to develop such technologies and compensate for climate change caused by industrialized nations, al-Jaber said.
“We want it to be a COP for everyone,” he said. “We want it to be a COP that moves from goal to fulfillment through mitigation, adaptation, financing as well as loss and damage.”
The UAE pumps about 3.4 million barrels of crude oil per day, making it the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
These countries argue that fossil fuel producers must have a greater say in climate negotiations. They also blame the spike in oil and gas prices over the past two years on a lack of Western investment in these fuels.
Learn how to navigate and strengthen trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter that examines what leaders need to succeed. Sign up here.
