- Sultan al-Jaber urges countries and fossil fuel companies to work together to meet global climate goals.
- Sultan al-Jaber encouraged ways to ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels.
The COP28 president, Sultan al-Jaber, has opened this year’s United Nations climate summit by urging countries and fossil fuel companies to work together to meet global climate goals. Governments are preparing for marathon negotiations on whether to agree, for the first time, to phase out the world’s use of CO2-emitting coal, oil, and gas, the primary sources of warming emissions.
Also, in his opening remarks, Jaber acknowledged strong views about including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text. He said, “It is essential that no issue is left off the table. And yes, as I have been saying, we must look for ways to ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels.”
Furthermore, he stated his country’s decision to proactively engage with fossil fuel companies and noted that many national oil companies had adopted net-zero targets for 2050. “I am grateful they have stepped up to join this game-changing journey. But, I must say, it is not enough, and I know they can do much more,” Jaber said.
Meanwhile, the COP28 presidency published a proposal late yesterday for countries to formally adopt the outlines of a new U.N. fund for poor countries hit by climate disasters. These include extreme flooding or persistent drought. An early breakthrough on the damage fund – which poorer nations have demanded for years – could help grease the wheels for other compromises during the two-week summit.