When the UAE appointed ADNOC Chief Sultan Al Jaber to lead the United Nations climate summit (COP28) scheduled to be held in Dubai this year, it sparked backlash and many were quick to question why the CEO of one of the largest oil-producing companies was chosen to head the climate conference.
Bloomberg called it a “recipe for controversy and slow action,” noting that Al Jaber cannot decide to pump more oil and reduce emissions at the same time.
My question is, why not?
It’s worth noting that Al Jaber, who is also the UAE’s minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, has been vocal about the need to address climate change, serving as the UAE’s special climate envoy since 2010.
He is also the founding CEO and chairman of Masdar, which is working toward becoming the biggest green-energy company in the world, aiming for 100 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030. He also represents the first Middle East country to join the Paris Climate Agreement and also the first Middle East country to set out a roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050.
Speaking at the recent Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, Al Jaber said that the UAE had “a clear sense of responsibility and a great sense of urgency” when it came to hosting COP28 and helping to build global ambition and accelerate action on climate change.”
I mean, let’s face it. After decades of disagreement, Al Jaber’s appointment could mean that oil and gas producers and climate activists could potentially (and finally) join hands to work together toward the Paris Agreement goals.
As Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of Atlantic Council rightly pointed out, “Al Jaber’s rich background in both renewables and fossil fuels make him an ideal choice at a time when efforts to address climate change have been far too slow, lacking the inclusivity to produce more transformative results.”
Over the past 15 years, the UAE has invested $40 billion in renewable energy and clean tech globally. In November 2022, it signed a partnership with the US to invest an additional $100 billion in clean energy. Some 70% of the UAE economy is generated outside the oil and gas sector, making it an exception among major producing countries in its diversification.
Frankly, I welcome Al Jaber’s appointment as COP28 head, especially as the global turmoil in energy supplies driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict has created challenges related to energy security and there is an urgent need for agreement between climate activists and energy producers. The upcoming climate conference can lead to action on to meet the world’s energy requirements and address the energy trilemma of sustainability , energy security and affordability.