Fossil fuelled: climate talks in Germany begin with spotlight on oil chief

Sultan al-Jaber – head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and president of November’s climate summit COP28 – favours rapid development of renewable energy

However, he has also focused on tackling carbon emissions – with controversial technologies to capture CO2 – rather than reducing the use of fossil fuels

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Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of the UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is the president of the COP28 climate summit, which starts in November. Over 100 members of the US Congress and the European Parliament do not want him to lead the conference. File photo: AFP

Published: 6:17pm, 5 Jun 2023

The future of fossil fuels – the leading source of planet-heating emissions – will face scrutiny at UN climate negotiations on Monday with an under-fire Emirati oil chief poised to step into the driver’s seat.

As the world struggles to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, pressure is on the United Arab Emirates to arrive in Germany with ambitious plans for its presidency of Dubai’s December COP28 climate summit.

The choice of Sultan al-Jaber – head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC – to head COP28 has triggered calls from campaigners and lawmakers for him to step aside.

Al-Jaber favours the rapid development of renewable energy. But he has also focused on tackling carbon emissions – with controversial technologies to capture CO2 – rather than reducing the use of fossil fuels, insisting they will have a key role in the energy transition.

“The presidency needs to quickly show where its ambition lies: ramping up the renewables is part of it but recognising that won’t be enough for this COP,” said Laurence Tubiana, head of the European Climate Foundation.

She added it was critical to “recognise that the fossil era is ending”.

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