In an opinion piece, Jaafar said the choice of the United Arab Emirates to host the Conference of the Parties (COP28) sparked controversy in the West, but in doing so he exposed “a narrow Western mentality that alienates from growing numbers of people in the developing world whose acceptance will be crucial in meeting this global challenge.”
Western double standards
The last two meetings, COP26 and COP27, were held in Scotland and Egypt, two major oil and gas producers, but they received little backlash about it. This confirms the Western double standard.
At the COP26 conference, the working platforms of the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries, which together produce 90% of the world’s energy, were canceled and not even allowed to participate to dialogue, because of a certain agenda, which undermined the whole meeting and hampered its success.
We have also seen “Western rebukes” at recent COP meetings in developing countries like India and others, countries that have been waiting for the $100 billion in “climate sector finance” promised in Paris, but which have not yet materialized.
These developing countries rightly and understandably ask Western industrialized governments: “How can you, who have colonized large parts of Asia and Africa and used our resources to fuel your industrial development, say now somehow that we shouldn’t have a stable energy field, while you enjoy it?” ?”
In the first sign of an energy crisis last year, several European countries restarted their coal-fired power plants, despite advocacy against the use of this fuel at recent COP meetings.
Virtually every European country, including Britain, now subsidizes energy use, even after years of ‘lecturing’ developing countries to avoid doing so.
Many of these same countries are now also approaching African countries, such as Mozambique and Tanzania, desperate for natural gas which they previously refused to import for domestic consumption in the name of “climate politics”, as long as it now goes to Europe in liquefied form. gas.
Such “hypocrisy”, as described by Jaafar, disturbs developing countries who see climate policies being used to impede their growth and development and therefore jeopardize the progress of the entire COP process to reduce climate change. global emissions as a common collaborative challenge.
All of this brings us to the logical conclusion that the UAE is the perfect place to host COP28 and build a bridge connecting the “divided” North and South.
Why is the United Arab Emirates ideal for accommodation?
First, the UAE is a major investor in all forms of energy, including renewable energy. Masdar, one of the world’s largest clean energy investors active in more than 40 countries around the world, was established in Abu Dhabi in 2006, long before most other countries made major commitments in this domain. Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies and President-Elect of COP28, was Masdar’s founding CEO and continues to serve as its Chairman. It’s a role he held long before his current position at ADNOC. Additionally, countries like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will lead the expansion of hydrogen because they have the resources, both in financing terms than natural gas and low cost. solar energy supply, to be able to develop these technologies in the future. The other characteristic of the UAE is its geography. Being centrally located and equipped with superior logistics services and travel connections to the world, it is the best place to bring together North and South, East and West, which is essential for genuine dialogue. Also noteworthy are the unique relationships the UAE has developed with a number of Asian and African countries. This is important because ultimately the climate battle will be won or lost in these countries, as they will account for almost all of the future global growth in carbon emissions. COP28 will be held at the same venue that hosted Expo 2020 in Dubai, which became the first world fair to pay for so-called “least developed” countries to have their own pavilions. In other words, the UAE represents an inclusive place where the opinions of all countries are welcomed and respected. For all these reasons, COP28 will be an inclusive and successful conference, with the UAE proving to be the ideal host, whatever discussions are taking place in Europe.
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