CERAWEEK – UAE’s Al Jaber urges oil majors to tackle climate challenge

HOUSTON, March 6 (Reuters) – The UAE, named president of the COP28 climate conference, told the CERAWEEK energy conference in Houston on Monday that he believed in an inclusive approach to climate change and urged oil and gas to Industry supports net-zero goals.

“I know some of you may have felt left out of the climate conversation in the past, while others may not have felt it was an issue for them to address,” said Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the leader of the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil major. -Jaber) ADNOC, told the meeting.

“I also know that the energy leaders here have the knowledge, experience, expertise and resources needed to address the twin challenges of driving sustainable growth and curbing emissions.”

The UAE, a major OPEC oil exporter, will host the COP28 climate summit in Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, becoming the second Arab country to do so after Egypt in 2022.

Jaber called for oil and gas executives to attend the summit, a far cry from COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, but thinking has since shifted, in part because energy crunch Triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Still, Jaber’s appointment as COP28 president late last year sparked concerns among activists that big industry was hijacking the world’s response to the global warming crisis.

Some have asked him to relinquish his role at ADNOC to lead the event. Jaber’s presidency at COP28 involved setting the conference agenda and intergovernmental negotiations.

Since taking office, he has advocated for all stakeholders to join the climate debate, stressing on Monday that he would “consult and convene” with all.

“The industry has to take responsibility and lead,” he said of the oil and gas industry. “Let us remember that progress is made through partnership, not polarization.”

Reporting by Gary McWilliams and Maha El Dahan Editing by David Goodman

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