COP28: UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals

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🗞️ Driving the news: The United Arab Emirates (UAE), hosting the UN COP28 climate talks, is reportedly using this role to negotiate oil and gas deals
• Leaked documents prepared for the UAE's COP28 team reveal discussions planned with at least 27 foreign governments, focusing on fossil fuel projects and renewable energy opportunities

🔭 The context: COP28, an important UN climate summit, aims to address climate change challenges. It's a platform where world leaders, including the Pope and King Charles III, convene to discuss ways to limit global temperature rise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• The UAE, a significant oil producer, is hosting this year's summit in Dubai

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These revelations raise concerns about a conflict of interest, as the UAE, while leading climate talks, is simultaneously advancing its oil and gas agenda
• This approach could undermine the global efforts to reduce emissions and combat climate change, especially since new oil and gas developments are seen as counterproductive to meeting the 1.5C temperature rise limit

⏭️ What's next: The outcome of the COP28 summit, scheduled to conclude on December 12, will be critical in evaluating the UAE's leadership in balancing its economic interests with global climate goals
• The credibility of the summit's intentions and results will be closely watched by the international community

💬 One quote: "I actually think it's worse (...) because the UAE at the moment is the custodian of a United Nations process aimed at reducing global emissions. And yet, in the very same meetings where it's apparently trying to pursue that goal, it's actually trying to do side deals which will increase global emissions" (Prof Michael Jacobs of Sheffield University)

📈 One stat: The UN's climate science body calls for a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels to avoid the worst impacts of climate change

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