The organisers of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have chosen the CEO of a domestic oil giant to be the president of this year's event, which will take place from 4 to 6 November 2023.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber – the Minister of Industry and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has been chosen by the UAE Government to preside over COP28 in Dubai.
The appointment has, unsurprisingly, generated a torrent of criticism given Al Jaber's position as the head of ADNOC.
Campaigners have underlined the scientific consensus that rapidly reducing fossil fuels is central to mitigating and adapting to climate change. Critics do not believe Al Jaber will push to do given his role within the oil industry.
Oil releases a huge amount of carbon when burned - and amounts to approximately a third of the world's total carbon emissions.
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Many are calling for Al Jaber to step down from his role at ADNOC while also being President of COP28 – they insist that failing to do so would present a clear conflict of interest.
This is not the first controversy surrounding COP28, as the United Nations was chastised for granting the hosting rights to the United Arab Emirates, one of the world's largest oil and gas producers.
