The oil boss at the head of COP28? The fossil fuel industry's climate change schizophrenia is in full swing

Environmental activists have condemned the UAE's nomination of Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the oil company's chief executive, to lead UN climate talks at the end of the year. While al-Jaber is a seasoned diplomat and also runs a renewable energy firm, the environmental track record of the oil industry means skepticism about his role is understandable.

Amid global Earth Day activism and hand-wringing about slow progress towards net-zero carbon targets that are worryingly out of reach, attention turns to the COP28 climate summit at the end of the year - and the UAE's unlikely role as host as well as the nomination of Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber as president of the conference. As a cabinet minister, seasoned diplomat and confidant of the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zaved al-Nahyan, al-Jaber was welcomed by many. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had "both the position and the ability to offer breakthrough leadership at COP28". US special climate envoy John Kerry called him a "great choice". However, as the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), one of the world's largest oil producers, environmentalists see his appointment as a "stunning conflict of interest." That al-Jaber is also chairman of renewable energy company Masdar, which invests mainly in solar and wind power in 40 countries, provides little comfort. While Masdar says it plans to invest $30 billion in renewables by 2030, Adnoc's board has approved a $150 billion five-year plan that includes increasing the company's production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. As part of the plan, Adnoc will also pursue low-carbon solutions as part of the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. However, the company's website makes clear that it has a "mandate to focus on exploring the undeveloped oil and gas potential of the UAE." In a speech last year, al-Jaber warned against trying to transition away from fossil fuels too quickly. He stressed the need for "maximum energy, minimum emissions" and said "the world needs all the energy solutions it can get".

 (Story by David Dodwell)