Fury as COP28 head and UAE energy tsar Sultan Al Jaber says there is ‘no science’ to suggest phasing out fossil fuels will limit global warming to 1.5C – and doing so would ‘take us back to caves’
There is 'no science' behind phasing out fossil fuels and the policy will take the world 'back to the caves', the head of COP28 has said.
The chairman of the Dubai Climate Change Summit, Sultan al Jaber, made the comments during an online question and answer session at a She Changes Climate event.
In addition to running Cop28, Al Jaber is also CEO of the United Arab Emirates' state oil company Adnoc.
His appointment as head of Cop28 was branded 'completely ridiculous' by eco-warrior Greta Thunberg.
Sultan al Jaber made the comments during an online question and answer session at a She Changes Climate event
It is believed that eliminating fossil fuels will stop global temperatures from rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius (Stock Photo)
Al Jaber is said to have used the climate summit to secure more oil and gas deals for his national petro company Adnoc
In the recently released video, obtained by The Guardian, the sultan responded to questions from Mary Robinson, the chair of the Elders group and a former UN special envoy for climate change.
Ms Robinson said: 'We are in an absolute crisis that affects women and children more than anyone else… and that is because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuels.
“That is the only decision Cop28 can make, and because you are head of Adnoc, in many ways you could make it with more credibility.”
Al Jaber replied: 'I accepted to come to this meeting for a sober and mature conversation.
Critics say Sultan Al Jaber should not lead both a UN climate summit and a major oil company
More than 70,000 officials, campaigners and experts are expected to attend COP28 in Dubai
'I am in no way getting involved in a discussion that is alarming.
“There is no science, and no scenario, that says the fossil fuel phase-out will reach 1.5°C.”
He added: “Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuels that will enable sustainable socio-economic development, unless you want to bring the world back into caves.”
The video of the question and answer session took place on November 21, but did not emerge until Sunday.
More than a hundred countries already support a phase-out of fossil fuels.
It is believed that eliminating fossils will stop global temperatures from rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The sultan's appointment as head of the Cop28 was branded 'completely ridiculous' by eco-warrior Greta Thunberg
There are also allegations that he is planning to make new oil and gas deals on the sidelines of Cop28 (Stock Photo)
The video emerged days after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the world to cut emissions to 'save' the planet.
Mr Guterres told the conference: 'The science is clear: the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit is only possible if we eventually stop burning all fossil fuels.
'Don't reduce, don't reduce. Phasing out, with a clear timetable.'
Climate leaders have since reacted angrily to the sultan's controversial comments.
Chief executive of Climate Analytics Bill Hare said the comments were 'verging on climate denial'.
Meanwhile, Power Shift Africa Director Mohamed Adow said: “The COP28 President's recent comments show how entrenched he is in the fossil fuel fantasy and he is clearly determined that this COP does nothing to advance the interests of the oil and damage the gas industry. .'
When the United Arab Emirates announced in January that Sultan Al Jaber would lead this year's COP28 climate talks, the news was met with both praise and harsh criticism.
For some, Al Jaber – who obtained his PhD in business and economics from Coventry University – was a fantastic choice.
In 2006, he took charge of Masdar, the UAE's renewable energy company, and embarked on a global fact-finding mission to identify obstacles and opportunities.
The UAE has since invested heavily in its nuclear and solar energy sectors, building a massive, state-of-the-art nuclear power plant, and Masdar has made smart investments in technologies in more than 40 countries – moves that have earned Jaber a reputation for delivering results. .
But for others, there is one irrefutable problem.
Because despite all his work in renewable energy, 'Dr. Sultan' also happens to be the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company – a giant fossil fuel producer that plans to increase its production to 5 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.
And Amnesty International has accused him of being responsible for instituting a strict media censorship program when he was chairman of the National Media Council (NMC).
The reaction to the announcement earlier this year was significant, with some campaigners likening the decision to 'appointing the CEO of a cigarette company to oversee a conference on the cure for cancer'.
Teresa Anderson, global climate justice leader at ActionAid, made a similar comparison, likening the appointment to “putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop.”
There are also allegations that he is planning to strike new oil and gas deals on the sidelines of Cop28.
It is the latest claims that cast doubt on whether the talks will boost efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or whether they will look more like a PR exercise for the Gulf petro-monarchy.
The Cop28 is the United Nations Climate Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC.
This is the 28th conference and will be held from November 30 to December 12 in Epo City, Dubai.
Cop28 should serve as a formal meeting to negotiate and agree on action on tackling climate change.
The event has attracted big names such as King Charles III and Pope Francis. However, US President Joe Biden is skipping the talks.
More than 70,000 officials, campaigners and experts are expected to attend COP28 in Dubai.