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A person with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO that the United Nations is questioning its relationship with the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) ahead of its presidency of this year’s COP28 climate talks.
Most recently the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Appointed Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, ADNOC Chief Executive Officer and Minister of Industry, will lead the global climate talks in Dubai in December.
The main COP28 team is using two stories of an 11-storey office building in Abu Dhabi, also used by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, located next to ADNOC’s headquarters.
That prompted the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to send a series of questions to the presidency of the climate talks, according to a person familiar with the discussions. ,
Questions included whether there is a firewall between the two institutions; whether ADNOC has access to COP28 meetings and strategic documents; If staff working at the climate conference are relying on the oil giant’s IT systems; if part of the work will be devoted to protecting the interests of ADNOC; And whether the climate team is being paid by the oil company.
The COP28 office told POLITICO: “The COP28 team is still being set up and staffed in several different locations. Their dedicated office space is due to be available before the end of the month. In the meantime, clear governance guidelines exist. To ensure that the team can operate completely independently from any other entity. Funding for the team and its activities is provided entirely by the UAE government.”
The UNFCCC did not respond to a request for comment.
Al Jaber confirmed earlier this month that he had no intention of stepping down from his role as head of the state-owned oil company – a decision that has prompted the UN agency to ask whether he How much time is planning to devote to the new responsibility. , and whether a senior member of staff would be willing to take his place when he is unavailable due to duties associated with his other jobs.
The decision to nominate him as COP28 president – a role that calls for leading the negotiations – has raised concerns from campaigners.
NGOs such as Oil Price International spoke of a “capricious conflict of interest” and said that the selection of Al Jaber is tantamount to “putting the head of a tobacco company in charge of negotiating an anti-smoking treaty”.
In addition to holding the reins of the national oil firm, Al Jaber also founded renewable energy company Masdar in 2006 and has shaped the UAE’s climate action since becoming minister in 2013.
His appointment has been largely endorsed by climate heavyweights.
EU climate chief Frans Timmermans said he was “ideally there to help us move forward” in the global climate talks, and noted how Al Jaber had “made a huge difference as a sustainability champion in the region”. built a reputation.”
US Climate Envoy John Kerry Called Al Jaber’s appointment is an “excellent choice” as he runs a company that needs to be part of the energy transformation.
“Sultan Al Jaber has strong political clout and a decarbonization strategy for his country,” said Agnès Pannier-Ranachar, French Minister for the Energy Transition. “The UAE was one of the most advanced countries in the region, including climate Is.” front.”
Correction: This article has been updated to correct the location of the main COP28 team. It is in a building used by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, located next to the headquarters of ADNOC.