The chairman of the Dubai climate summit, Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, is facing controversy. He asserts that scientific evidence does not conclusively support the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels to curb global warming.
Al Jaber is also alleged to have remarked that the phasing out of fossil fuels undermines sustainable developments, stating, “unless you want the world to live in caves again.”
These statements were reportedly made to Mary Robinson on November 21, as reported by The Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting. Robinson serves as the president of the social organization The Elders.
The appointment of Al Jaber as the chairman of climate summit COP28 had already sparked considerable controversy. He serves as the CEO of the state-owned oil company ADNOC in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leading critics to argue that he wears two hats.
The choice of terminology regarding the reduction of fossil fuels remains a debated topic at the climate summit. Some countries, including the Netherlands, advocate for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels. However, the host country, the UAE, currently favours “scaling down” instead of “phasing out.”
