The last-gasp deal in Dubai is an indisputable diplomatic victory for the United Arab Emirates and COP28 president Sultan al Yaber, whose role as chief executive at national oil company Adnoc made his country’s choice to host the the summit in a very controversial decision. “You can’t leave the wolf taking care of the chickens,” was the widespread reproach. Al Yaber has suffered hard setbacks these weeks, such as when he was accused of wanting to use his position at the top to win extra contracts for his oil company. And he had his way of the cross due to some unfortunate words in which he questioned the science of climate change and which he later “regretted,” in the words of Minister Teresa Ribera.
Al Yaber has always expressed himself in favor of including the oil and gas industry in the process of negotiations on climate change, under the philosophy shared by many according to which the energy transition cannot be made without the sector. hydrocarbons or having them against. However, it has been an excess that there have been more representatives of fossil fuel companies at this conference than at any other previous event.
Al Yaber also forged a pact for more than 50 oil companies to commit to reducing methane emissions from routine industrial operations to almost zero. The initiative was very well received (methane has a warming potential 80 times greater than CO2) although it is already known that it only has a partial impact.
In an online debate on November 21, he had a scuffle with the former Prime Minister of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who angered him and showed the worst in him when he referred to those who want to “give back to the world.” to the caves.” However, he has resisted confirming that his company is pursuing expansionist plans to extract five million barrels of oil a day, which will mean more warming and more extreme weather events.
Behind the scenes of the pact there remains some chapter to be deciphered, such as its relationship with Saudi Arabia, a sister country, although it is already known that the brothers also fight. In fact, its strategy did not prevent Saudi Arabia from unleashing an offensive against the attempt to include the expression “phasing out” of fossil fuels in the text. And it could not stop OPEC, which sent a letter to its members to pressure against any text that targeted fossil fuels, instead of diverting responsibility towards “gas emissions.” Al Yaber has repeated ad nauseam that his “polar star” was the goal to avoid 1.5ºC warming of the planet. But at this point it is difficult to believe that there is a messiah in the desert.