COP28 Leader Says He Respects Climate Science After Controversy Over Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

Facts

• Sultan al-Jaber, who is leading the UN’s COP28 climate conference, has pushed back against allegations that he does not respect climate science. This comes after the Emirati leader was quoted saying “there is no science” to suggest phasing out fossil fuels will achieve climate goals.¹
• Al-Jaber reiterated his commitment to climate science at an impromptu news conference held Monday. The controversy stems from a story published by The Guardian on Sunday, citing Al Jaber's comments during the She Changes Climate panel event on Nov. 21 this year.²
• A spokesperson has also declared that al-Jaber has been “unwavering” in his support of limiting global warming and that he “is clear that phasing down and out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we must keep [the global warming goal of] 1.5°C within reach.”³
• al-Jaber’s leaked statements drew the ire of many climate scientists and NGOs already skeptical of the minister who heads the UAE national oil company ADNOC. Some were also confused as to whether al-Jaber has called for a full phase-out of fossil fuels or a partial “phase-down.”⁴
• Despite the backlash, al-Jaber has argued that his entire career and background as an engineer have been driven by a scientific, evidence-based methodology. He added that The Guardian’s story had taken his remarks “out of context with misinterpretation and misrepresentation.”⁵
• The UN’s climate summit will be dominated by talks about reducing, and eventually eliminating, the use of oil, coal, and gas. Already, al-Jaber has appeared alongside Jim Skea — chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — who also defended the COP28 host’s commitment to science.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²CNN, ³CNBC, ⁴Al Jazeera, ⁵CBS and ⁶BBC News.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by NPR Online News. Sultan al-Jaber’s comments about phasing out fossil fuels clearly show why the chief executive of the UAE’s state-run oil company should not be the President of a global climate summit. Overwhelming scientific evidence shows that human use of fossil fuels directly impacts the Earth’s climate and is a leading cause of global warming. Abundant research also shows that keeping global warming within 1.5°C depends on the elimination of fossil fuels, yet al-Jaber still made his climate denial claims. A person with this platform should not be spreading such dangerous misinformation.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. The UAE leader has been clear that his comments about fossil fuels have been taken out of context. However, it is important to note that there is legitimate discourse concerning how much of an impact fossil fuels have on global warming in the context of different kinds of production and whether phasing out oil and gas too quickly could harm humanity. Such fuels are vital to maintaining a modern way of life, and elements of economies and societies could collapse if key energy sources are eliminated too rapidly without alternative infrastructures and updated business models in place. Simply tarring the use of fossil fuels as bad is an oversimplification that could hamper effective climate debate.

Predictions