Cop28: Emirati-designated leader Sultan Al Jaber denies using climate talks to push oil and gas deals
- Sultan Al Jaber, who is also CEO of his country’s oil giant, denied reports he used his position as Cop president to pitch oil and gas investments to governments
- Leaked documents alleged that talking points prepared for Jaber for Cop meetings with foreign governments pushed joint business opportunities in fossil fuels
‘Outrageous conflict of interest’: UAE names oil chief to head Cop28 talks
“These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate,” Jaber told reporters on the eve of the talks, which will draw world leaders and tens of thousands of delegates to Dubai over the next two weeks.
“It’s an attempt to undermine the work of the Cop28 presidency. Let me ask you a question: do you think the UAE or myself will need the Cop or the Cop presidency to go and establish business deals or commercial relationships?”
“I promise you, never ever did I see these talking points that they refer [to], or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions,” said Jaber.
He said every meeting he conducted with governments or stakeholders as president of the climate talks “has always been centred around one thing and one thing only: and that is my Cop28 agenda.”
But the allegations fuelled persistent scepticism over the suitability of an oil executive leading the world’s climate negotiations as governments are pushed to commit to phasing out fossil fuels, something no Cop has ever achieved.
Former US vice-president Al Gore said the allegations “have confirmed some of the worst fears” around Jaber while former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said the Cop28 host had been caught “red handed”.
“The global community’s gaze is fixed upon these leaders, expecting them to embody the very essence of integrity, untainted by bias and national or personal gain,” said Tasneem Essop, executive director of the Climate Action Network International.
The 50-year-old bristled at accusations that he has a conflict of interest, touting his years of work in climate and sustainability, and success in drawing out commitments from big oil and gas players.
“We must incentivise, encourage, and motivate everyone to be part of the solution … rather than sidelining them or leaving them behind, or pointing fingers at them,” Jaber said.