The United Arab Emirates Thursday said the CEO of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will lead the U.N.'s COP28 climate conference, sparking concerns among climate activists.
The government's appointment of Sultan Al Jaber ahead of the summit the UAE is due to host later this year prompted a backlash from environmentalists worried that fossil fuel interests are taking over climate negotiations.
In a statement Al Jaber said the country "will bring a pragmatic, realistic and solutions-oriented approach that delivers transformative progress for climate and for low carbon economic growth."
The oil giant chief is also the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and the Special Envoy for Climate Change. He helped develop the low-carbon growth strategy at ADNOC, one of the world's largest oil companies, according to a government press release.
The government said Al Jaber has participated in 10 COP conferences and that throughout his career, "he has pioneered a practical and responsible approach to accelerating the energy transition that embraces climate action, energy accessibility, energy security and economic growth."
COP28 will feature the first global stocktake after 196 countries vowed to lower emissions through the Paris Agreement in 2015.