ENB- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is scheduled to host the UN’s COP28 climate summit next Thursday.
In just two days, delegates from around the world will convene in Dubai, for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Leaked briefing documents revealed that the UAE has planned to use its role as the host of UN climate talks as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals.
The documents also exposed plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations.
The UN body responsible for the COP28 summit said that hosts are preparing to act without bias or self-interest.
The UAE team did not deny using COP28 meetings for business talks, and said “private meetings are private”.
However, it declined to comment on what was discussed in the meetings. And it further said its work has been focused on “meaningful climate action”.
The documents, obtained by independent journalists at the Centre for Climate Reporting, were prepared by the UAE’s COP28 team for meetings with at least 27 foreign governments ahead of the COP28 summit, which starts on 30 November.
They included proposed “talking points”, such as one for China which says Adnoc, the UAE’s state oil company, is “willing to jointly evaluate international LNG [liquefied natural gas] opportunities” in Mozambique, Canada and Australia.
The documents further suggest telling a Colombian minister that Adnoc “stands ready” to support Colombia to develop its fossil fuel resources.
There are talking points for 13 other countries, including Germany and Egypt, which suggest telling them Adnoc wants to work with their governments to develop fossil fuel projects.
Campaign to remove Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber
A campaign was earlier launched to remove Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber from his role as president of the UN climate summit.
Al-Jaber is the chief executive of ADNOC, one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers.
According to Amnesty International, Al-Jaber plans to increase the group’s production of fossil fuels. He is entirely incompatible with his role as president-designate of COP28.
