Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (50 years old), chair of the United Nations Climate Summit in Dubai (COP28), claims that there is “no science” behind the demand for the gradual and complete elimination of oil, coal and gas to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. He also says that eliminating fossil fuels will return the world to “life in caves.”
look. These statements by Ahmed Al-Jaber caused an uproar:
Al Jaber made the comments during a live event on November 21, as discovered by the British newspaper The Guardian and investigative journalists at the Center for Climate Reporting.
The Sultan was extremely upset after the intervention of Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland and the United Nations Special Envoy for Climate Change. “We are in an absolute crisis that affects women and children more than anyone else,” Robinson said. “This is because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuels. This is the only decision that must be made by COP28.
Upset
Al-Jaber’s reaction was angry. “I would be willing to come to this meeting if there was a sober and mature conversation. I refuse to participate in alarmist discussions. There is no science that says phasing out fossil fuels would limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees. Also show me how “Achieving sustainable social and economic development by phasing out fossil fuels. We will have to live in caves again.”
The fact that Al Jaber is the head of the climate summit has been a source of debate in recent weeks. He is the CEO of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company (ADNOC) and founder of the state-owned renewable energy company (Masdar). Many observers see this as a serious conflict of interest.
Shortly before the summit, leaked documents also revealed that the UAE planned to use the climate meeting to promote oil and gas contracts to participating governments.
Al-Jaber’s statements contradict what United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) last Friday. “The science is clear: 1.5°C will only be possible if we stop burning all fossil fuels. Not a reduction, but a complete phase-out, with a clear timeline.”
The German Science Institute for Climate Analytics responded angrily to Al Jaber’s statements, describing them as “incredible, revealing, disturbing and aggressive.” “The phrase that we will have to live in caves again has been used by the fossil fuel sector for years and amounts to climate denial. We can find the way to limit global warming to 1.5°C in the latest net-zero emissions scenario set out by the IEA International states that new development of fossil fuels is out of the question. The science is very clear. A phase-out is needed by mid-century, and this would improve the lives of all humanity.
Russia
More than a hundred countries already support the complete phase-out of fossil fuels. Others such as Russia, Saudi Arabia and China oppose this. It is one of the main points of contention at COP28.
At COP26 in 2021, it was first decided to “completely phase out” the use of coal, but at the last minute this was recast to “phase out”.
painting. Who is Sultan Al Jaber, the oil baron who promised to save our climate? (+)
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