Host nation United Arab Emirates planned to use the United Nations’ annual summit tackling climate change to make oil deals with other countries, according to leaked documents.
The United Nations’ 28th annual Conference of Parties, known as COP28, is set to begin Thursday in Dubai.
In the meantime, leaked briefing documents have revealed that the UAE planned to discuss fossil fuels with 15 nations during the event—despite the United Nations’ directive that hosts of the annual summit act without bias or self-interest.
The documents reportedly included “talking points,” such as one for China saying that the UAE state oil company ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) is “willing to jointly evaluate international LNG [liquefied natural gas] opportunities” in Mozambique, Canada and Australia.
The documents also suggest that a Colombian minster has been told that ADNOC “stands ready” to support the South American country in developing fossil fuel resources.
UAE Sultan Al-Jaber serves as both COP28 president designate and chief executive of ADNOC. His appointment to lead COP28 has sparked controversy, with climate activists like Teresa Anderson of ActionAid equating it to “putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.”
In response to a BBC request for comment on the leaked documents, the UAE’s COP28 team said, “private meetings are private,” adding that its work has been focused on “meaningful climate action.”
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