Environmental right bodies, climate activists reject UAE’s Al Jaber as COP28 president

By Nneka Nwogwugwu and Yemi Olakitan

Climate activists and regional environmental right bodies have rejected the appointment of United Arab Emirate`s oil mogul, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber as COP28 president.

Al Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in United Arab Emirate (UAE), was last Thursday appointed as COP28 president.

But reacting to this development, activists under the aegis of Oilwatch Africa said having the head of an oil company as the president of any COP is a form of climate denial.

This is even as the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) expressed “deep disgust” at the decision of a fossil sector executive presiding over the 2023 climate change negotiations.

Giving their reasons in a statement made available to NatureNews.Africa on Friday, January 13, the climate activists said, “At a time when the world should make every effort to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, this appointment is a clear indication of climate change denial.

“With the announcement of the oil chief as the COP president it clearly shows that COP28 is highly compromised.

“The appointment of Sultan Al Jaber who serves as the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology for UAE and also as the chief of the Abu Dhabi national oil company (Adnoc), which is the world’s twelfth-largest oil company by production, is certain to lock in false and risky solutions in the UNFCCC process.”

Nnimmo Bassey, member Oilwatch international steering committee stated that “The last two COPs crawled with delegates from the fossil fuels sector and they have been responsible for blocking real climate action or derailing negotiations.

“Their heavy presence has led to the COP being unable to call for a fossil fuels phase out — even though it is the sensible thing to do.

“Now UAE spits in the face of flooded, drowning and other climate impacted nations by appointing the chief among polluters to preside over COP28. We call on the UAE to rescind this appointment.”

The coordinator of Oilwatch Africa, Salome Nduta, also stated that “The appointment of Abu Dhabi chief or that of anybody who has interest in oil will definitely gag genuine discussions on the protection of the environment.

“It is a deliberate attempt to reverse minimal gains made so far, oil companies who are the main polluters and violates of rights should not be made to be the judge in a matter against it.

“Entrusting one of their own is a blatant violation of rights and conflict of interest”.

Kentebe Ebiraidor, the coordinator of Oilwatch International in his reaction stated, “It is amusing to have the chair of a multinational company play host for COP28. This has shown that the discussions would be centered on profit over people, and it is a clear indication that COP28 has been billed to fail before it begins.

“This is also a clear indication that the communities and the environment will suffer because the decisions that would come out its discussion which will in no way be meaningful nor in favour of the people.

“Oilwatch International asks that UAE retrace its decision by changing the president of the COP”.

The PACJA called the situation “ominous” and claimed that no quasi-government CEO had ever been chosen to head such a significant multinational process.

It stated: “And this, infamous as it may sound, marks the lowest moment for the UNFCCC, which is exceedingly veering off from its mandate to an international expo where corporations with questionable environmental-climate integrity greenwash their fossil-fuel credentials.

“Al- Jabar’s appointment comes at a time when the government-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), for which he serves as CEO, intends to increase oil resources by increasing upstream crude production through concession agreements for new exploration and production.”

“This is the classic definition of impunity and conflict of interest,” said Mithika Mwenda, executive director of PACJA.
According to Nicholas Abuya, Global Programme Advisor, Christian Aid, deep reductions in the production and consumption of fossil fuels are necessary to address the climate catastrophe.

Al-commercial Jaber’s interests do not align with that course of action. Al-Jaber’s ability to lead impartial, scientifically supported talks in the best interests of the most vulnerable is questionable. We urge him to step down so that someone else, who has no personal stake in the outcome, can take charge of this crucial task. Millions of people who are experiencing the effects of climate change on a daily basis depend on it. The CEO of an oil business cannot preside over a process that is charged with addressing the climate issue with such a scale of conflict of interest, heading an industry that is accountable for the crisis itself.

The nomination of an oil executive to lead climate discussions at this time will support oil lobbies that have attempted to thwart global climate action for decades, according to Memory Kachambwa, Executive Director of the African Women Development and Communication Network (FEMNET). It is both a frightening display of poor judgement on the part of the Emirates authorities and an insult to the collective intelligence of everyone committed to addressing the climate catastrophe.

“We don’t think the UAE government will be able to host a COP that will help the world take action against the current climate crisis. Women and children in particular must stand up and oppose this nomination if they care about the planet’s health and the survival of those who are most at risk due to the climate crisis.

The CEO of a fossil corporation cannot serve his company’s financial interests while acting for the good of the entire planet, Mercy Gichengi, Programme Coordinator, Youth and Governance, ActionAid Kenya, emphasised in response to the appointment of the COP28 Presidency. It’s like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse with this appointment.

According to Augustine Njamnshi, Coordinator of the pro-renewable energy African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access (ACSEA) and Big Shift Campaign Africa, “COP28 must decide to phase out at least coal and oil to maintain prospects of a speedy transition from dirty energy. The accountability expectations that the world has for COP28 are centred on this transformation.

“It is important to maintain the momentum that has been created for the global goal on adaptation and the finance mechanisms for loss and damage. Sadly, this currently appears highly unlikely with a leadership whose priorities are in the wrong place. We implore the Vulnerable Countries Forum, the African Group of Negotiators, and our partners in the Global South and North to reject the Emirates in the face of this dreadful news this year.”