COP28 President-Designate Denies Leaked Documents Claiming Fossil Fuel Deals

Strategic Insights -

CNN's leaked documents of briefing notes for Al Jaber, the COP28 president-designate, appeared to detail suggestions to offer new oil and gas projects to visiting officials, which would benefit the UAE and its state-owned oil and gas company, ADNOC. The leaked notes sparked widespread criticism, particularly from Western media and civil society groups, for appointing an oil executive to preside over talks focused on reducing fossil fuel use.

Key Takeaways:

  • Al Jaber, the COP28 president-designate, has strongly denied accusations that his team sought to use the international climate talks in Dubai to strike fossil fuel deals for the UAE's state-owned oil and gas company, ADNOC.
  • A cache of leaked documents obtained by the UK-registered Centre for Climate Reporting appeared to be briefing notes for Al Jaber for meetings with foreign officials in the run-up to the COP28 summit.
  • The leaked notes detailed suggestions to offer new oil and gas projects to visiting officials, which would benefit the UAE, specifically ADNOC.
  • Al Jaber denies ever seeing the documents or using the talking points in his discussions with foreign officials.
  • The UAE has come under widespread criticism for appointing an oil executive to preside over talks focused on reducing fossil fuel use, the primary driver of the climate crisis.
  • Al Jaber emphasized that all of his meetings with officials were focused on his COP28 agenda, centered around implementing actions to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
  • The leaked notes and subsequent criticism have sparked debate over the role of oil executives in presiding over climate talks.
  • Al Jaber is currently overseeing an expansion in ADNOC's oil and gas production, aiming to increase capacity from 4 million barrels a day to 5 million by 2027.

Statistics:

  • 15 countries mentioned in the leaked notes that appear to offer new oil and gas projects to visiting officials.
  • 4 countries confirmed meetings took place, but no business discussions occurred or would not confirm if they did.
  • 2 countries replied to say no meeting occurred.
  • The UAE has been built around its ability to build bridges and create relationships and partnerships over the past 50 years.

Sources:

  • CNN
  • The Centre for Climate Reporting