UAE, Hosting COP28, Fails to Report Decade of Methane Emissions to UN. The UAE, set to host the upcoming UN climate summit COP28, allegedly neglected to report its state-owned oil company’s methane emissions to the UN for over a decade.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), whose CEO, Sultan Al Jaber, will lead the climate summit, reportedly established a leaked methane target surpassing the level it claimed to have reached in 2022.
Jaber’s appointment as summit president has sparked criticism due to a perceived conflict of interest. Critics demand his replacement and campaigners urge him to step down from his industry roles.
These revelations cast doubt on Jaber’s calls for honesty regarding climate change at the summit.
Methane, a potent contributor to warming, has a warming capacity 28 times greater than CO2. Reducing methane emissions aligns with the UN’s priorities.
However, unlike other countries, the UAE consistently failed to report its emissions since 2014.
ADNOC pledged methane leak restrictions by 2025 but the target exceeds 2022 emissions. Their “net zero” emissions target excludes key emissions sources.
Facing criticism, the UAE hired PR firms and allegedly used AI-generated bots to support Jaber on social media.
Human rights activists also criticize the UAE’s record on dissidents.