African Civil Society Reject COP28 President

No Short Cuts to Being Accountable! African CSOs reject an invite for a meeting with Al-Jaber to cleanse his Acts

Nairobi: June 20, 2023

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has declined the invitation to meet with the COP28 President Designate Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in Nairobi on the grounds of his oil ties. We believe that Dr. Al Jaber’s position as the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) poses a serious conflict of interest and undermines his credibility as the leader of the global climate negotiations.

We have previously called on Dr Al-Jaber to step down from his position as President Designate of COP28. We reiterate this call for the following reasons:

1. As the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and the Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), we believe he represents the interests of the fossil fuel industry, which is the main driver of the climate crisis. We find it unacceptable that you hold such a prominent role in the COP process, which is supposed to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5°C.
2. His involvement in the COP process raises serious questions about the integrity and legitimacy of the UNFCCC. We are concerned that he will use his position to influence the outcomes of the negotiations in favor of the oil and gas sector, and undermine the efforts of developing countries and civil society to push for more ambitious and equitable climate action.
3. His invitation to meet with us in Nairobi appears to be a public relations stunt to improve his image and credibility as the COP president. We do not wish to be used as a token of your engagement with civil society, while you continue to pursue policies and projects that are detrimental to the environment and human rights.

We urge Dr. Al Jaber, in good faith to step down from COP28 Presidency

In this regard, we reiterate the following:

Download to read more: Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Statement on Al-Jaber COP28 President Designate Roundtable Meeting