Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Reuters: US and Chinese officials met again in Geneva to resume trade talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy: The process of uranium enrichment is the main obstacle in the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: If we see that the other party deviates from the agreed-upon frameworks, we will not continue the talks
Al Mayadeen's envoy to Muscat, quoting a source in the delegation engaging in the nuclear talks: Iran is ready to reassure all parties that its nuclear program will remain peaceful
Araghchi: Iran's position on its right to a nuclear program is firm, but we are ready for greater transparency and hope that the other side's approach will be clear
Araghchi: Uranium enrichment is a valuable achievement for the Iranian people and is non-negotiable
Araghchi: Iran's nuclear program is legitimate and legal, and all our activities are peaceful and have been and will remain under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency
Araghchi: Unlike the opposing side, Iran's positions are clear and proceeding steadily
Araghchi: Unfortunately, the US stances are contradictory between what is said in the talks and what appears in the media
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, before heading to Muscat: We hope to reach a specific point in this round of talks

In stark incongruity, UAE oil firm staff to partake in hosting COP28

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 3 Feb 2023 16:19
4 Min Read

At least 12 officials from the body hosting COP28 appear to have been appointed directly from the fossil fuel industry.

  • x
  • Among the Cop28 officials are two former Abu Dhabi National Oil Company engineers who will act as negotiators on behalf of the UAE at the summit. (Reuters)
    Among the COP28 officials are two former Abu Dhabi National Oil Company engineers (Reuters)

At least a dozen employees from the state-owned oil corporation of the United Arab Emirates have reportedly joined the office of the UAE's climate change special envoy, who will host this year's COP28 UN climate summit.

The discovery adds to mounting concerns about the thin line between the team hosting this year's critical conference and the influential fossil fuel business in the oil-rich country.

Shockingly. the officials were presumably working in the UAE's oil and gas industry just before taking on responsibilities in the COP28 team, as per an investigation of LinkedIn accounts conducted by the independent investigative group Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) and reportedly reviewed by The Guardian.

Among the officials are two former Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) engineers who will act as negotiators on the UAE's behalf at the summit, despite the fact that their LinkedIn profiles indicate that they may not have a history in international climate diplomacy.

According to LinkedIn accounts analyzed by CCR, two of the individuals were seconded from their employment at Adnoc. Meanwhile, key executives in the oil business have been "tasked with supporting" the UAE's hosting of the conference this year.

The findings come on the heels of the recent news that Adnoc CEO Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber will preside over the conference in November while continuing to work for the oil business. Climate activists and some politicians have urged Al-Jaber to relinquish his oil post while hosting the summit in order to avoid any conflict of interest.

On his account, US congressman Jared Huffman, who in a letter last week called on the special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry to urge the UAE to remove Al-Jaber from his post as COP28 President.

Related News

Trump administration withdraws from COP28 loss and damage deal

EU states, UN decry resumption of Israeli aggression on Gaza

“To somehow pretend that all of these fossil fuel personnel and all of these connections are not a massive threat to the entire conference goes beyond naive,” he tersely stated.

In a stark revelation, records also indicated that at least some COP28 team members may be working in the same building as the oil business.

The UAE has claimed that this year's climate change conference, which will attract leaders from all over the world to Dubai to assess progress in addressing the climate emergency, will be an "inclusive Cop that brings all perspectives to the table."

On the ground, there is another story: the UAE sells itself as making significant investments in renewable energy while continuing to grow oil production.

The US public relations firm Edelman emailed scores of journalists last month, shortly after Al-Jaber was named COP28 President, promoting the UAE's commitment to renewable energy.

"We made a pledge last year to be the agency of choice for organizations engaged to climate change," said Michael Bush, Edelman's spokesperson. Bush stated that the organization was hired to work on COP28 as a result of its partnership with the Emirati renewable energy provider Masdar.

Masdar is a joint venture between Adnoc, Taqa, a state-owned fossil fuel firm, and an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund. Edelman has not disclosed the amount paid for the work.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair praised Al-Jaber's appointment as well.

It is worth noting that the UAE will host the UN-brokered climate talks from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 12 despite furious backlash from climate activists and civil society groups for hiring appointing the Abu Dhabi oil chief as president of the COP28 climate summit.

  • COP28
  • Climate change
  • Climate crisis
  • Oil Production

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
Yemeni missile hits Ben Gurion Airport as interceptors fail

YAF targeted Ben Gurion with hypersonic ballistic missile: Saree

  • MENA
  • 4 May 2025
"Israel" appears to be the only place in the world where there are actual demonstrations defending rapists as national heroes precisely because of their crimes. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

'Israeli pride' - Celebrating rape in the Zionist entity

  • Opinion
  • 4 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Palestinians inspect the damage caused by an Israeli airstrike that targeted displacement tents in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Liberated prisoner Yousri al-Masri martyred in Gaza airstrike

AP
Politics

US envoy to deliver 22-point Ukraine peace plan to Putin

AP
Politics

Pakistan denies violating ceasefire as tensions flare along border

AP
Politics

Israeli media blasts Netanyahu over US ties, war failures

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS