The remarks were met with some dismay by climate scientists and activists at the Dubai summit
The Cop28 president has claimed there is no science behind calls to phase-out fossil fuels as a way of limiting global heating to 1.5C.
The remarks by Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the United Arab Emirate’s designated leader of the summit in Dubai, resurfaced on Sunday, sparking a backlash from some experts.
During an online event alongside former Irish president Mary Robinson last month, Mr Jaber insisted a phase-out of oil would not allow sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves”.
The remarks, first reported by The Guardian, rippled through the Dubai summit on Sunday and were met with dismay by some climate scientists and activists.
People with this kind of money don't have this problem and they certainly don't solve it by wearing "head garbs". I assure you that he's being air conditioned wherever he's at
This is exactly why they hosted it in an OPEC nation; to continue hamstringing the transition from fossils & delaying the impact to their profit margins — the same thing they've been doing for the last 50 years.
Then they should have hosted it in an shit hole that will rather than one of the most profitable countries in the world. Or do you think it's just full of sand and put made of mud?
Dubai is hardly a shit hole, they're rolling in oil money. I assume you're just being a racist and didn't actually base your comment on anything factual.
Robinson challenged him further, saying: “I read that your company is investing in a lot more fossil fuel in the future.” Al Jaber responded: “You’re reading your own media, which is biased and wrong. I am telling you I am the man in charge.”
"Biased and wrong" says the guy who literally owns an oil company
The remarks by Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, the United Arab Emirate’s designated leader of the summit in Dubai, resurfaced on Sunday, sparking a backlash from some experts.
During an online event alongside former Irish president Mary Robinson last month, Mr Jaber insisted a phase-out of oil would not allow sustainable development “unless you want to take the world back into caves”.
Former US vice president Al Gore said of the UAE: “They are abusing the public’s trust by naming the CEO of one of the largest and least responsible oil companies in the world as head of the Cop.”
Mr Jaber’s appointment has been controversial from the start with the sultan coming under scrutiny after the BBC revealed that the UAE planned to use its role as Cop28 host to strike oil and gas deals.
Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the UN, declared on the second day of the summit: “The science is clear: the 1.5C limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels.
On the opening of the climate summit, he said: “Let history reflect the fact that this is the presidency that made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies.”
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