Energy
Monday, November 27th, 2023 3:13 pm EDT
Key Points
- Lobbying for Fossil Fuel Deals at COP28: Internal documents obtained by the Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) reveal that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intended to leverage its role as the host of COP28, the annual climate conference, to lobby foreign officials for oil and gas deals. Sultan Al-Jaber, serving as both COP28 president designate and chief executive of state oil giant ADNOC, allegedly planned discussions on fossil fuel deals with 15 countries during the climate conference.
- Leaked Documents and Business Interests: The leaked documents, published by CCR and collaborated on with the BBC, include briefing notes prepared by the UAE’s COP28 team for meetings with nearly 30 foreign governments ahead of the summit. Some of the proposed talking points include the UAE’s desire to be removed from Brazil’s “tax haven” list to facilitate investments from Masdar, considering a potential deal with China on liquefied natural gas projects, and asserting that ADNOC is ready to support the supply of petrochemicals to Egypt.
- Concerns Over Conflict of Interest and Calls for Action: The revelations have sparked concerns and criticism, with Amnesty International urging Sultan Al-Jaber to step down from his role at ADNOC to ensure the success of the COP28 summit. Amnesty International’s climate advisor, Ann Harrison, expressed concerns that COP28 might be compromised by the fossil fuel lobby, and documents indicating efforts to advance business interests during the climate talks fuel worries that the summit has been captured by vested interests. The UAE team did not deny using COP28 meetings for business purposes, emphasizing that private meetings are private.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly planned to leverage its role as the host of the COP28 climate conference to lobby for oil and gas deals, as revealed by leaked internal documents obtained by the Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) and reported by the BBC. Sultan Al-Jaber, serving as both COP28 president designate and chief executive of the state oil giant ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company), purportedly intended to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 countries during the climate conference. The documents show briefing notes prepared for meetings with foreign governments, including discussions on the UAE’s desire to get off Brazil’s “tax haven” list, explore potential deals with China on liquefied natural gas projects, and express ADNOC’s readiness to support the supply of petrochemicals to Egypt.
The leaked documents have raised concerns and criticisms, with Amnesty International calling for Al-Jaber to step down from his role at ADNOC to ensure the success of the COP28 summit. Amnesty International’s climate advisor, Ann Harrison, expressed concerns that COP28 might be compromised by the fossil fuel lobby, stating that the leaked documents fuel worries that the summit has been captured by vested interests that put humanity at risk.
The UAE’s COP28 team did not deny using COP28 meetings for business purposes, emphasizing that private meetings are private. The conference is seen as a crucial opportunity to address the climate crisis, with world leaders and government ministers from nearly 200 countries expected to attend. The leaked documents indicate the UAE’s focus on advancing business interests during the climate talks, sparking discussions about the potential conflicts of interest in having a key figure from the fossil fuel industry leading climate negotiations.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/climate-uae-reportedly-planned-to-use-cop28-to-lobby-for-oil-deals.html
