Leaked notes indicate UAE's intention to pursue oil deals at climate summit

Leaked documents reveal that the United Arab Emirates team hosting the COP28 climate talks had planned to leverage their position to secure new oil and gas deals with foreign governments. The documents, published by the UK-registered Centre for Climate Reporting, include briefing notes for Sultan Al Jaber, who is set to lead the UN climate negotiations. Each document is organized as a country profile and outlines specific talking points for Al Jaber's meetings with foreign officials ahead of the summit.

The documents outline the climate progress of each country in important areas such as finance, decarbonizing food systems, and the adoption of renewables, as well as ways in which their ambitions could be enhanced. However, they also include several recommendations to support new oil and gas projects with the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), led by Al Jaber.

ADNOC did not respond to CNN's request for comment, but had previously informed CNN that any insinuation of using the climate talks for self-promotion "is inaccurate and unfounded."

The documents were initially shared with the BBC.

A spokesperson for the COP28 team informed CNN via email that the documents mentioned in the BBC article were incorrect and were not utilized in COP28 meetings. The spokesperson expressed disappointment in the BBC's use of unverified documents in their reporting. There was no response to CNN's inquiry about the COP28 team's independence from ADNOC or a clear denial of discussions related to business interests.

The UAE's decision to appoint its top oil and gas chief to lead COP28 has sparked widespread criticism. As Al Jaber takes the reins of the summit, ADNOC is making plans to expand its oil and gas production, as documented by a fossil fuel watchdog quoted by CNN. The broader ADNOC Group is also pursuing expansion in other areas, such as petrochemicals and renewables, both domestically and internationally.

In addition to promoting ADNOC, there are suggestions to highlight climate issues and collaborate on projects with Masdar, the main renewables vehicle in the UAE, which is also under Al Jaber's leadership.

The number of meetings that actually took place is unclear, but the notes provide insight into the team's plans to use them as a platform for new deals. CNN has contacted the 15 mentioned countries, two of which confirmed a meeting but stated that no business discussions occurred, while two others replied that no meeting took place.

The US, China, France, Germany, and the UK are some of the countries for which briefing notes have been published by the Centre for Climate Reporting. The organization indicated that there were 27 country profiles in total, but it chose to share only 15 of them.

Cracking towers stand at the Ruwais refinery and petrochemical complex, operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), in Al Ruwais, United Arab Emirates.

Christophe Viseux/Bloomberg/Getty Images

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Each year, the host country of the Conference of the Parties (COP) sends its nominated president-designate to meet with foreign officials in an effort to boost climate action prior to the talks. However, the briefing notes for these meetings include suggestions to promote ADNOC and Masdar, which goes against UN rules that prohibit the use of these meetings for promoting the economic interests of the host country. The UNFCCC emphasizes that all elected or appointed COP officials should remain "impartial" throughout the process and act without bias, prejudice, favoritism, or self-interest. These officials are also expected to ensure that their personal views and convictions do not compromise their role and functions as a UNFCCC Officer.

The leaked briefing notes revealed that ADNOC plans to increase its supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germany. This is concerning as methane, the primary component of natural gas, is a major contributor to climate change. ADNOC has already supplied LNG to Germany in February 2023 to support its efforts to reduce reliance on Russian gas, as part of the country's new strategy following Russia's war on Ukraine.

The notes also mentioned ADNOC's ambition to fulfill up to 25% of Germany's hydrogen import demand. This is possible because the UAE has substantial reserves of natural gas, which can be used to produce hydrogen.

Another document revealed that China's talking points focused on ADNOCs growth as a means to support energy security in the country. The document mentioned the company's willingness to "jointly evaluate" opportunities for LNG projects in various locations, including Mozambique, Canada, and Australia.

A briefing for Brazil highlighted the UAE's desire to be removed from the country's tax haven list, allowing Masdar to increase investments in Brazil. The briefing also suggested the monetization of Venezuelan "resources" following the relaxation of US energy sanctions on the country. Additionally, it proposed that ADNOC and Masdar could assist Azerbaijan in becoming an energy hub for Europe, with a focus on exporting natural gas and potentially clean electricity.

Briefing notes for Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland were also shared. However, these notes did not indicate that oil and gas projects would be discussed with all of these countries. In the case of the US, the briefing notes mentioned potential renewable energy deals, with Masdar expressing its intention to expand its presence in the US through short-term "acquisitions".

The COP28 climate talks are taking place at a crucial moment, with scientists predicting that 2023 is likely to be the hottest year on record. The increase in extreme weather events and the Earth's proximity to crucial tipping points add to the urgency of the situation. Greenpeace International has expressed outrage at the briefings, stating that if true, the information is "completely unacceptable and a scandal."

The leader of the climate summit should prioritize advancing climate solutions without being swayed by backroom deals that are exacerbating the crisis," stated Kaisa Kosonen, policy coordinator at Greenpeace International. "The appointment of a CEO of an oil company to this role has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest."