Hands on the Speakerphone: A Critique of COP28's President-Designate

The selection of Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Minister for Advanced Technology in the United Arab Emirates, as the president-designate of Conference of Parties 28 (COP28) has raised concerns among environmental campaigners and world leaders alike. With a background in fossil fuels and a reputation for promoting expansion of capacity, Al Jaber's appointment seems contradictory to the aims of the climate conference.

Al Jaber's policies have been met with outrage even from members of his own party, and his attendance at COP28 is likely to be overshadowed by recent U-turns on key climate policies. The government's climate watchdog has warned that these moves will damage the UK's ability to meet its legally binding net-zero targets.

One of Al Jaber's primary goals is to bring together fossil fuel companies into a 'decarbonisation accelerator', with the aim of cutting their own emissions, not reducing oil and gas production. However, his own company, Adnoc, has been found to be flaring methane contrary to its claims. This raises questions about the sincerity of Al Jaber's commitment to reducing emissions.

Furthermore, Al Jaber has stated that the phase-down of fossil fuels is inevitable and necessary, yet Adnoc is still planning a massive expansion of capacity. His argument that he can bring a 'business mindset' to the talks, and who better to bring fossil fuel interests to the table than someone who speaks their language and knows their business intimately, seems hollow in light of his company's actions.

For many campaigners, Al Jaber's appointment is a travesty, as it goes against the traditional practice of appointing career cabinet-rank politicians to the role. His background in oil and gas makes him an unlikely candidate for a climate conference, and his leadership may be seen as a snub to the international community.

As president-designate, Al Jaber will have significant influence over the direction of COP28, but it remains to be seen whether he can bring about meaningful change or simply serve as a mouthpiece for fossil fuel interests. With so many contradictions surrounding his appointment, it is clear that the world is watching closely to see how he will handle this critical role.

Hands speakerphone