United Nations’ biggest and most important annual climate conference to-date, gets underway as the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday 29th November 2023 defended what it described as ‘fake news’ designed to undermine its work as the host of the COP28 climate conference.
The UAE organizers slammed a number of ‘fake press‘ releases in the name of COP28. Among them, a letter claiming COP28 president-designate Sultan Al-Jaber was due to step down from his position as chief executive of state oil giant the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC).
Al-Jaber’s appointment as COP28 president-designate had provoked a furious backlash from climate activists when it was first announced. He reportedly pushed back over reports earlier in the week that said the UAE planned to use its role as the host of the climate summit as a platform to lobby foreign government officials for oil and gas deals.
Even so, the COP28 summit, which starts on Thursday 30th November 2023 and is scheduled to run through to 12th December 2023. I will provide a critical forum for government officials, business leaders and campaign groups to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis. Let’s hope there is no further rolling back on previous pledges such as the UK’s government announcement to increase the number of North Sea oil and gas exploration and recovery licences.
OPEC
Meanwhile, also on Thursday 30th, the influential Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies will convene to decide the next production policy steps in a delayed meeting caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
UAE, one of the world’s major oil producers and a key OPEC+ component, is keen to burnish its reputation as a champion of the transition to green energy.
Tangible climate action though is the best way to push back all scepticism and cynicism. Now is as good as any time to start.
Production cuts will come – some analysts predict $100 a barrel.
The world is not ready to relinquish its thirst for oil and gas… just yet. It is still hungry for traditional power – and renewables is not ready to take over.