In what one news report called a “remarkable rebuke” heading into mid-year climate negotiations, more than 130 members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament are asking the United Nations and other key decision-makers to remove Sultan al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), from his role as COP 28 President.
“The decision to name as president of COP 28 the chief executive of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies—a company that has recently announced plans to add 7.6 billion barrels of oil to its production in the coming years, representing the fifth-largest increase in the world— risks undermining the negotiations,” states the May 23 letter [pdf] addressed to UN Secretary General António Guterres, UN climate secretary Simon Stiell, U.S. President Joe Biden, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
U.S. signatories to the letter include Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Saunders (I-VT), House Speaker Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and nearly three dozen other legislators, the Washington Post and Politico-EU report. Politico cites nearly 100 EU signatories, including Greens leaders Terry Reintke and Philippe Lamberts, The Left leaders Manon Aubry and Martin Schirdewan, and Socialists & Democrats vice chair Mohammed Chahim.
Whitehouse rejected arguments from al Jaber’s defenders that he’s the right pick for the job after a 20-year career in renewable energy. He now serves as CEO of renewables powerhouse Masdar.
“The fact that he’s engaged in the renewable industry is fine,” Whitehouse said. “But you can engage in the renewable industry all day long, and as long as you’re still pumping carbon pollution into the atmosphere, that’s where the danger lies.”
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