2023-12-04 10:11:09
SARA GANDOLFI (CURIERE DELLA SERA)
Updated Monday, December 4, 2023 – 09:19
Al Jaber assures that “there is no science, no scenario, that affirms that progressive elimination is what will take us (to limit global warming) to 1.5.”
The sultn Ahmed Al Jaber.MARTIN DIVISEKEFE
A new controversy surrounds the president of Cop 28, already nicknamed “master oil” in the halls of the Dubi Expo. He Centre for Climate Reporting has made public an audio recorded during an online event held on November 21, in which the Emirat Al Jaber states – evidently without having ever read the reports of the IPCC, the UN scientific forum on the climate – that “there is no science, no scenario, that states that the progressive elimination of fossil fuels is what will lead us to limit global warming to 1.5”.
As if that were not enough, an irritated Al Jaber challenged Mary Robinson, former UN special envoy on climate change: “Show me the ‘road map’ for a phase-out of fossil fuels that allows for sustainable socio-economic development, unless you want to take the world back to normal.” the caves.”
These words are understandable in the mouth of the CEO of the UAE state oil company, Adnoc, but hardly acceptable if the sultan himself has the task of lead diplomatic efforts to reduce global emissions that change the weather in a fog-shrouded Dubai. “Very serious and absolutely worrying statements, bordering on climate denialism,” commented the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, with whom he now maintains an open confrontation.
A few hours later, former US Vice President Al Gore arrived, revealing in the COP plenary hall, with the help of a satellite map, that the UAE’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 7.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year. An abnormality, taking into account that worldwide they grew “only” 1.5%. “They have abused everyone’s trust by appointing the CEO of one of the largest and least responsible oil companies in the world as president of the climate conference,” the former Nobel Peace Prize winner told the press. He then urged delegates not to accept the reference to carbon capture in the final text of Cop 28, as the producing countries would want: “it is a technology that is still in the research phase.”
Already on the defensive over the BBC’s indiscretions over his attempt to reach trade deals during the conference for the companies he manages, Al Jaber has shown great activism in these early days and the Emirates have opened their purse, promising generous contributions to climate finance. However, the credibility of the presidency is now compromised and calls for his resignation are increasing.
After the high-level summit, yesterday’s day at the COP was dedicated to health: 124 countries, including this time China, signed a Declaration of Intent to reduce emissions in the healthcare sector and increase funding for “climate health.” The figures are alarming. Global warming increases the spread of diseases such as cholera and malaria and, due to increasingly frequent heat waves, at least 21 million people will be at risk of death by 2050. Already today, more than 7 million deaths per year worldwide are attributable to pollution.
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