UAE's Climate Summit Agenda Reportedly Tainted by Oil Interests

Recent leaks suggest that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), set to host the upcoming COP28 climate summit, planned to leverage the event to secure new oil and gas agreements. Documents that have surfaced online hint that the UAE’s organizing team for the climate talks, which are set to commence this week, had intentions to engage in negotiations for such deals.

According to these documents, which include country profiles and briefing notes reportedly for summit president Sultan Al Jaber, there are strategies outlined for discussions with representatives from various nations. These strategies encompass not only climate action enhancement but also potential energy collaborations with ADNOC, the state-owned oil firm managed by Al Jaber.

While ADNOC denied that it sought to use the climate talks for self-promotion, claiming the accusations are baseless, the COP28 spokesperson challenged the authenticity of the documents referenced by the media, stating they were not employed in any official meetings. Nonetheless, the spokesperson did not clarify whether ADNOC's business interests were a topic of conversation.

Appointing Al Jaber, an oil and gas executive, to oversee the summit has already drawn criticism, especially as ADNOC plans to grow its fossil fuel production. It emerges from the leaked briefing notes that discussions around expanding LNG to Germany and evaluating LNG project opportunities in China were included, alongside other country-specific energy prospects.

Yet, the allegations run counter to UN guidelines, which mandate the neutrality of summit officials, barring them from pursuing or appearing to pursue their national economic interests at the climate meetings.

Revelations of the briefings have provoked concern among environmental groups, with Greenpeace International condemning any such negotiations tied to the climate summit as scandalous and indicative of a concerning conflict of interest. Advocates staunchly emphasize the need for the COP presidency to drive climate resolutions without favoring fossil fuel interests.

The stakes for COP28 are exceptionally high, with extreme climate occurrences increasing and the planet nearing critical ecological thresholds. Ensuring a focus on climate solutions, devoid of conflicts of interest, is crucial for the global community.

Climate, Leaks, Energy