Opinion: The influence of an oil executive on climate talks
Unveiling the perplexing decision of oil executive Sultan Al Jaber leading COP28 climate talks, this article delves into the alarming implications of his recent remarks, shedding light on the inherent dangers they pose
Having reported on the climate crisis for over ten years, I can confidently say that the biggest obstacle to climate action isn't denial or apathy.
John D. Sutter
Beth Mickalonis
Its doubt and confusion.
This is why the updates from COP28 in Dubai are incredibly frustrating. The international meeting, COP, is supposed to be a crucial moment where world leaders gather to renew their promises to phase out fossil fuels and advocate for a sustainable future.
It's imperative that the message is crystal clear: the world has the capability and should strive to transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar as rapidly as possible. We possess the necessary technology and political influence to accomplish this goal.
The COP28 talks have been overshadowed by controversy and uncertainty. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a petrostate, the talks are led by COP president Sultan Al Jaber, who heads a renewable energy company as well as the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Appointing an oil exec to run global climate negotiations is not unlike letting the NRA facilitate a symposium on gun control.
Sultan Al Jaber, President of the COP28 climate summit, speaks at a presentation in Dubai on December 02, 2023.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
The leader of the climate summit has come to the defense of his controversial comments that caused concern among scientists and created a stir at the meeting. It's not shocking that Al Jaber made some bewildering comments, such as suggesting that moving away from fossil fuels, which should be the focus of the talks, could regress us to living in caves. He also incorrectly stated that there is no scientific basis for completely phasing out fossil fuels in order to achieve the temperature goals at the heart of the negotiations.
"Can you please provide a plan for a gradual transition away from fossil fuels that will support sustainable economic and social development? Otherwise, we risk regressing back to primitive living," he stated on November 21st, just before the COP28 summit. These comments were made during a conversation with Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and UN special climate envoy, and were initially reported by The Guardian, with a video of the discussion being posted along with the article.
"There is no scientific evidence or scenario that supports the idea that phasing out fossil fuels will help us achieve the 1.5C target outlined in the Paris Agreement," he added, referencing the global effort to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
During COP28, the UN Environment Programme and other organizations released a report on Sunday that highlighted the necessity of a rapid and controlled phase-out of fossil fuels to achieve global climate objectives. At a press conference the following day, Al Jaber attempted to clarify his previous comments, emphasizing his respect for science and stating that his remarks had been misrepresented. He reiterated his belief that the reduction and eventual elimination of fossil fuels is an unavoidable inevitability.
At that point, the harm had already been inflicted. It is valid for onlookers to scrutinize Al Jaber's motives and the purpose of this entire procedure. The public may be understandably perplexed about whether these endeavors are truly beneficial.
It's a tragedy, especially considering the lengthy and frustrating history of fossil fuel interests sowing doubt in discussions about the climate crisis. The basic principles of climate science have been well-established for many decades.
Beginning in the 1970s, fossil fuel companies followed the example of the tobacco industry and began casting doubt and confusion on widely accepted scientific findings.
John D. Sutter
However, in the 1970s, fossil fuel companies adopted tactics from the tobacco industry, sowing doubt and confusion among well-established scientific facts. This lingering doubt continues to impact political discussions about the climate crisis, leading to years and even decades of ineffective or inadequate action.
The limited opportunities for the public to address global warming can be frustrating, and the annual COP meeting stands out as a rare moment when the issue gains widespread attention. According to a 2021 survey from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, only 35% of adults in the United States discuss the climate crisis at least occasionally.
The media reports on the consequences of global warming at least once a week, despite the urgency of our planet's habitability being at risk. We are already experiencing the impacts of a warmer world through events like wildfires, severe weather, drought, and an increasing extinction threat to our natural environment.
Al Jaber's distracting and disruptive comments have a silver lining: they allow us to plainly observe the predicament we are in. Year after year, heat-trapping pollution from fossil fuels continues to increase.
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There are plenty of people and companies who profit from it.
Perhaps urging for Al Jaber's resignation is just a temporary fix to regain COP28's credibility and ensure the success of future COP meetings. However, it is essential for the public to have a clear understanding that we need to push for a complete elimination of fossil fuels. It is crucial for world leaders at COP28 to commit to and fulfill this promise.
And the public must hold them to account.
