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BRUSSELS, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Denmark expressed optimism that the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting this year’s United Nations climate talks, will push for ambitious action to curb climate change at the conference after activists lashed out at the oil-producing nation. climate change criticism. Role.
The UAE last week named Sultan al-Jaber, head of the country’s oil company ADNOC and climate envoy, as chair of the COP28 climate summit in Abu Dhabi – a role that involves overseeing the nearly 200 countries that typically take part in the annual talks negotiations to combat global warming.
The appointment drew criticism from activists concerned about the influence of the fossil fuel lobby on the talks, especially after some delegates criticized last year’s meeting in Egypt, saying fossil fuel producers had lowered their emissions reduction targets.
“I think everything the president has done so far gives us reason to be optimistic,” Dan Jorgensen, Denmark’s global climate policy and development minister, told Reuters.
“If we are to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees, it is absolutely necessary for us to transform all societies on this planet, including oil-producing countries,” he said, adding that based on his experience – including representing Denmark at the UN climate talks since 2019 – UAE has been “very active” in diplomatic efforts on the issue.
Al-Jaber said on Saturday COP28 is supposed to build solidarity between the global North and South, and the UAE will join the meeting with a “strong sense of urgency”.
Countries participating in COP28 will formally assess their progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius — and the faster pace of emissions reductions needed to get there.
The stocktake must also result in a plan for how countries will get on track to the 1.5C target – and more money to help developing countries get there, Jorgensen said.
The world is already 1.2C warmer than in pre-industrial times, mainly due to greenhouse gases emitted by burning fossil fuels.
Reporting by Kate Arnett; Additional reporting by Maha El Daham; Editing by Alexandra Hudson
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