The president of the COP28 climate summit, Sultan Al Jaber, recently stirred concern among climate scientists and advocates by stating that there is “no science” supporting the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The role of fossil fuels is a contentious issue at the COP28 climate summit, with some advocating for a decisive “phase-out,” while others are pushing for a milder “phase-down” approach. Scientific evidence emphasizes the urgent need to significantly reduce fossil fuel usage to meet the Paris climate agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—a critical threshold beyond which adaptation for both humans and ecosystems becomes more challenging.
Al Jaber’s comments were made during the She Changes Climate panel event on November 21, as revealed in a story published by the Guardian. Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and chair of the Elders Group, questioned Al Jaber on whether he would take a leading role in the phased reduction of fossil fuels. the COP28 climate
In his response to Mary Robinson’s inquiry, Sultan Al Jaber asserted, “there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5.” He expressed an expectation for a “sober and mature conversation” during the She Changes Climate meeting, indicating that he was not inclined to participate in discussions that he perceived as alarmist. Al Jaber’s stance suggests a divergence from the viewpoint that a complete phase-out of fossil fuels is a scientifically supported strategy to achieve the crucial goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Continuing his response, Al Jaber emphasized that the 1.5-degree goal remained his “north star” and acknowledged the inevitability of both a phase-down and phase-out of fossil fuels. However, he underscored the need for a realistic, serious, and pragmatic approach to these measures.
As the exchange with Robinson became more contentious, Al Jaber sought assistance, asking her to “please, help me, show me a roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuels that will allow for sustainable socio-economic development unless you want to take the world back into caves.” This statement reflects his concern about the potential adverse impact on socio-economic development and the need for a carefully planned and sustainable transition away from fossil fuels.
Al Jaber’s presidency of the COP28 summit has been controversial. The Emirati businessman is the UAE’s climate envoy and chairs the board of directors of its renewables company, but he also heads the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).