Despite progress that can be observed in Europe and elsewhere (including in the Gulf region) in terms of investments in green energy and economy, a discerning eye must question the depth of these accomplishments. Carbon emissions reduction and renewable energy initiatives, while commendable, are often undermined by insufficient commitment and implementation measures. Whereas geopolitical tensions have hampered collaborative efforts, revealing the fragility of the international community in the face of existential threats. 

Emission reduction targets, financial commitments, and policy disagreements loom large on the agenda of COP28. The grandeur of the host nation, coupled with its position as an oil giant, could potentially exacerbate historical disputes and deepen divides. The UAE are a country that has developed its economy thanks to oil export. The country is one of the top 10 oil producers in the world. [4] The state oil company, Adnoc, extracted 2.7 million barrels of oil per day in 2021 and plans to nearly double output to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. [5]

But this is not it. The President-Designate is Sultan Al Jaber. While he calls for global unity and urgent climate actions to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, he is also chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Adnoc. This conflict of interest has exposed him to critics and pressure especially because he did not step down from his role in Adnoc. According to The Guardian, he has been accused of “attempting to “greenwash” his image after it emerged that members of his team had edited Wikipedia pages that highlighted his role as CEO of Adnoc.” [6] Another scoop from The Guardian has revealed that Adnoc was able to read emails to and from Cop28 climate summit office. [7] Furthermore, as France 24 reported, “the world’s top management consultancy McKinsey & Company is using its position as a key advisor to COP28 to push the interests of its big oil and gas clients, undermining efforts to end the use of the fossil fuels driving global warming”. [8]

The success of the upcoming conference hinges on its ability to overcome the attractiveness and need of fossil fuels and commit to a real, transformative change and a candid examination of the oil industry’s role in climate issues. To this regard, the UAE are on their way because the country is not only a major oil exporter with no other economic interests. About 15 years ago, the UAE’s governments developed a strategy to diversify the national economy by becoming less dependent on oil, while supporting huge investments in renewable energy. To this regard, the UAE was the first country in the region to sign the Paris Agreement and to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It has launched a hydrogen initiative, is planting 100 million mangrove trees, and will be hosting COP28 in 2023. The UAE plans to triple its supply of renewable energy and invest up to $54 billion over the next seven years to meet its growing energy demands as part of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. 

To this regard, the competition with Saudi Arabia to become top in global ranking in green energy enables to increase the investments in green energy (from hydrogen to solar and wind) in the whole region. As Afshin Molavi senior fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies pointed out, “if ambitious plans materialize, by 2050 the UAE and Saudi Arabia could emerge as major green energy providers worldwide.” [9] This is crucial for countries without the right climate for conventional agricultural production, such as the UAE which imports 90% of all its food. [10]