The President-designate of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, Sultan Al Jaber, denied a report on Wednesday that the UAE is “trying to conclude more oil and gas deals during the climate summit (COP28)”, which starts on Thursday . he, he announced in a statement released by the Associated Press that he had “agreed to resign” from the presidency of ADNOC, in light of the accusations of conflict of interest.
Al-Jaber said in press statements regarding the report published by the British BBC website: “These allegations are false, untrue and inaccurate.”
He added: “I have never seen the points they have raised and have never used them in my discussions. Please respect who we are and what we have achieved over the years, and respect the fact that we are clear, honest and transparent regarding how the COP will be conducted.”
Al-Jaber continued the conversation by stating that the British network’s report “is an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency.”
On Monday, the BBC published a leaked document alleging that “the UAE is trying, behind the scenes, to exploit its position as host of COP28” to achieve a contradictory goal of “striking more oil deals across the world”.
Doubts about the seriousness of COP 28… What do you know about the president of the conference?
Less than a week before the “COP28” global climate talks, many questions surround how serious the United Arab Emirates, as the host country, is in reaching an agreement to move the world more quickly away from the major pollutants of coal, oil and gas .
According to the report, the UAE climate team did not deny using COP28 meetings to conduct business talks and said that “private meetings remain private”, it refused to comment on what was discussed in the meetings and said it is focusing on “meaningful climate action.”
Al-Jaber also issued a press release, following his statements on Wednesday, reported by the Associated Press, in which he said he “agreed to resign from his position as CEO of ADNOC, after deliberating with representatives of the Nations Unite and others.”
The statement said: “Concerns have been raised by several parties about the effectiveness of Dr Al Jaber’s role as President-designate, if he continues to lead ADNOC.” Al-Jaber plans to hold a press conference later today, Wednesday.
Climate summit in Dubai…present and absent
Dubai completed preparations to host the COP28 climate conference on Tuesday, despite several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, announcing they would be unable to participate in ongoing negotiations amid Israel’s ongoing war and Hamas, which is ravaging the Middle East.
Controversy had previously been raised over Al Jaber’s choice to head the Climate Conference of the Parties, as he also heads the giant oil company ADNOC.
Al-Jaber said in statements to Agence France-Presse last July: “People who accuse me of conflict of interest do not know my career. I have spent most of my career in sustainable development, project management and renewable energies”.
The twenty-eighth meeting of the United Nations Climate Conference of the Parties will be held from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.