Fuelling Destruction: A Stand Against the Corporate Capture of COP28
The United Nations’ annual climate summit, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), is meant to be a gathering of world leaders focused on addressing the urgent ecological crisis we face. However, this year’s COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has raised concerns about the corporate capture of the event.
Hosting the summit in the UAE, a major petrostate, already raises eyebrows. But the appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, the head of the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), as the president of the COP28 climate talks has sparked outrage. It is a clear conflict of interest, with an oil baron leading the discussions on climate change.
Proponents of Al Jaber and the UAE argue that his presence is essential for bringing fossil fuel companies to the table and that the country is committed to climate action. However, their arguments fail to convince those who have seen the history of coal, oil, and gas corporations impede progress, spread misinformation, and engage in greenwashing tactics.
Recent revelations by the BBC further demonstrate the problematic nature of the UAE’s involvement. It was exposed that UAE officials intended to leverage the COP28 talks for oil and gas negotiations, undermining the true purpose of the summit.
In an attempt to save face, Al Jaber claimed to agree with the scientific consensus on transitioning away from fossil fuels. Yet, his actions as the head of Adnoc tell a different story. Adnoc has one of the most ambitious oil and gas expansion plans in the world, which is completely at odds with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as agreed upon by nations worldwide.
Unfortunately, the corruption of COP28 doesn’t stop with the UAE and Al Jaber. A recent report revealed the significant influence of the fossil fuel lobby at the conference. They sent a staggering 2,500 lobbyists, four times more than in previous years and nearly 14 times the number of UN representatives.
Notably, several countries included representatives from oil and gas companies in their official delegations. France brought major fossil fuel giants like TotalEnergies and EDF, Italy included a team from ENI, and the EU had employees from BP, ENI, and ExxonMobil present. While these companies may claim to support climate action, their actions and future plans tell a different story.
A United Nations Environmental Programme report revealed that the fossil fuel industry plans to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels by 2030 than is compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Additionally, recent analysis revealed that only 2.5% of the oil and gas industry’s capital spending went towards renewable energy last year, while the majority was spent on perpetuating the use of fossil fuels.
It is clear that fossil fuel companies are attempting to steer the world towards a catastrophic climate disaster while trying to maintain a facade of climate leadership through greenwashing and misdirection. As climate activist Bill McKibben asserts, it is essential to recognize that fossil fuel companies and petrostates are not genuinely committed to addressing climate change. Breaking the power of Big Oil is necessary for any meaningful progress at COP28 and beyond.
In response, civil society groups and influential figures like former US Vice President Al Gore have proposed strict requirements for fossil fuel companies to attend future climate summits, including the implementation of a genuine net-zero plan, investment in the energy transition, an end to greenwashing and anti-environmentalist lobbying.
The influence of Big Oil reaches far beyond the halls of COP28. For instance, investigations have brought to light Saudi Arabia’s plan to hook developing nations in Africa and Asia on fossil fuels through their Oil Development Sustainability Programme. This predatory approach to expanding their customer base is both reprehensible and counterproductive to global efforts to transition away from dirty and polluting fossil fuels.
It is time to stand against the corporate capture of COP28 and demand true climate leadership. We cannot allow polluting corporations to dictate the narrative and hinder progress towards a sustainable future. The urgency of the climate crisis demands that we prioritize the well-being of our planet over the interests of fossil fuel industries. Together, we must push for systemic change and break free from the grip of Big Oil.