COP28 climate talks will be led by the man who heads up a state-run oil company in the United Arab Emirates, which pumps out four million barrels a day.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been named as the event’s president, which will be held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at the end of the year.
He is close to the country’s leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is the head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which is attempting to ramp up oil production.
In turn, the revenues made from oil funds the production of what has been described as heat-trapping carbon dioxide – something the annual negotiations want to limit.
However, Mr Al Jaber also understands renewable energy – at one time plotting a project to build a car-less, carbon-neutral city on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi worth $22 billion (£18 billion).
The plan was later scaled back, after the 2008 financial crisis hit the UAE hard.
He also chairs the board of Masdar, a clean energy company that operates in more than 40 countries, as well as Sky News Arabia.
State-run WAM news agency made the announcement, quoting Mr Al Jaber as saying: “This will be a critical year in a critical decade for climate action. The UAE is approaching COP28 next winter with a strong sense of responsibility and the highest possible level of ambition.
“We will bring a pragmatic, realistic and solutions-oriented approach that delivers transformative progress for climate and for low-carbon economic growth.”
WAM added the UAE has invested “more than 50 billion dollars (£41bn) in renewable energy projects across 70 countries, with plans to invest a minimum of 50 billion more over the next decade”.
Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund invested $3.9 billion (£3.2 billion) in clean energy in the last five years, according to research firm Global SWF, which added the organisation also pumped $9.8 billion (£8 bn) over the same period into oil and gas projects.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Read more:
A summit that teetered on the brink of disaster – but with genuine breakthrough
Countries agree fund for climate-hit poor nations
Mr Al Jaber will take over from Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, who was criticised by some for his handling of last year’s event, and Alok Sharma, who ran the event in 2021 when it came to Glasgow, who was widely praised for his work.
The country hosting the UN negotiations, which is known as the Conference of the Parties, puts forward someone to chair the talks, usually a member of the local government or an experienced diplomat who is able to steer discussions and produce outcomes.
COP28 will take place at Dubai Expo City from 30 November to 12 December.
