“You can’t abolish oil unless everyone starts living in caves again.”

The British newspaper reported that even phasing out fossil fuels will not lead to sustainable development “unless you want the world to live in caves again.” Watchman Al-Jaber.

Scientists say the comments are “incredibly alarming” and “massive climate change denial.” Al Jaber’s comments run counter to the purpose of the climate summit, which will examine whether the world has done enough to meet 2015 international agreements to limit global warming.

There is broad scientific consensus that this requires eliminating the use of fossil fuels, especially oil.

Biggest polluters

The selection of the UAE as host country for COP28 has been criticized for this reason from the beginning. The petro-state is among the world’s largest net polluters. Al Jaber is also CEO of state oil company ADNOC. He has at least the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Al-Jaber said the same thing Watchman The “angry” comments came after questions from Mary Robinson, chair of the Group of the Elders and former UN Special Envoy for Climate Change, during a live online event on November 21, more than a week before the start of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). .

“I was prepared to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I am in no way joining an alarmist discussion. There is no science or scenario that says the phase-out of fossil fuels will reach 1.5 degrees Celsius,” Al Jaber said.

He continued: “Please help me, show me the roadmap to phase out fossil fuels that will enable sustainable social and economic development, unless you want the world to return to living in caves.”

The issues are hotly contested

More than 100 countries already support the complete phase-out of fossil fuels. Whether the final COP28 agreement calls for this is one of the most contentious issues at the summit and could be the key factor in determining its success.

Opponents of the phase-out wantStage downFossil fuels may continue to exist, but the greenhouse gases they emit must be captured.

At the opening of the climate summit on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said there was no doubt: “The science is clear: the 1.5°C limit will only be possible if we eventually stop burning all fossil fuels. Don’t reduce. Phase out within A clear time frame.”