The United Arab Emirates has appointed 31 people, including fossil fuels executives and climate campaigners, to its advisory board for November’s Cop28 climate talks.
The group includes:
- The chair of an Indian gas company.
- The previous head of the national oil company in China.
- The ex-boss of the BP oil firm in the UK.
- The CEO of an Emirati oil and gas producer.
It will also feature the head of the African climate foundation, a veteran Bangladeshi anti-fossil fuel campaigner, and the former president of the climate-threatened Marshall Islands.
Who is on Cop28’s advisory board?
The UAE government said the board brought together” the climate expertise of thought leaders from around six continents.”
They said it includes “policy, industry, finance, energy, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action” and will also provide guidance and counsel to the Cop presidency leading to Cop28 and beyond.”
Fossil fuels on the agenda:
Governments at the climate talks will debate whether to agree or not to phase out fossil fuels.
As the UAE favors, they could agree to phase out ” fossil fuel emissions.”
Fossil interests:
The list features four current and former fossil fuel executives and one banker on a fossil fuel company’s board. Mukesh Ambani, Badr Jafr, Bob Dudley, Fu Chengyu, and Jeffrey Ubben are the games included in the list.
Climate advocates:
The list of advisers also includes many figures who warned that the world needs to transition away from fossil fuels.
Saleemul Huq, a Bangladeshi scientist who attended every Cop, said in 2021 that any exploration for fossil fuels “should be declared as a crime against humanity.”
But he said yesterday that he would be a ” one agenda adviser” and only advised President of Cop28, Sultan Al- Jaber, on setting up a fund for climate victims.
Besides, the list also included Hindou Ibrahim, who lobbies for indigenous communities in Chad and Carlos Lopes, and Guinea – Bissau, the head of the African Climate Foundation.
Politicians:
Two former presidents, France’s Laurent Fabius and Manuel Pulgar – Vidal have been booked for the advice.
Besides Izabella Teixeira, who led Brazil’s delegation to Paris, the Marshall Islands, former president Hilda Heine and former president of Iceland Olafur Grimmson are also some of the names included in the list of politicians.
Ernest Moniz, who was Barack Obama’s energy secretary, is also included.
The rest of Asia has five advisers, Latin America has two, and the Pacific has One. Six are from Europe, and five are from North America.
Hence, it is said that the Cop28 presidency said correctly that 65% of members are from the Global South.
