Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber the current head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of the world’s biggest oil companies has been named president for the COP28 climate summit that will be held in Dubai later this year.
His appointment to this position has steered controversy as critics demand that he must stand down from his oil business role while president as it is a clear conflict of interest.
Over the past decade Sultan Ahmed Al Jabe has become the face of the UAE’s energy industry but he will be the first serving oil executive to assume the role of COP president.
“It is imperative for the world to be reassured that he will step down from his role as the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company,” said Tasneem Essop, from Climate Action International.
He is also the minister for industry and advanced technology for the United Arab Emirates.
Campaigners believe someone embedded in the oil industry may not push countries to rapidly reduce their production and use of fossil fuel, which scientists say is critical to avoiding dangerous climate change.
Tasneem Essop said, “Sultan Ahmed Al Jabe cannot preside over a process that is tasked to address the climate crisis with such a conflict of interest, heading an industry that is responsible for the crisis itself.”
