The UAE wants to use COP28 for oil and natural gas deals

The climate summit will be held with a parallel agenda, according to a BBC investigation. There are many countries involved, including some European countries

“Our greatest investment is planet Earth.” This is the slogan of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), but it may not be quite so. The UAE planned to use its role as host of the COP28 climate summit organized by the United Nations, to conclude deals on fossil fuels, specifically oil and natural gas.

This is what was revealed by A BBC investigationWhich analyzed documents proving the Arab country’s intention to conclude agreements with 15 countries that will participate in the event.

A UN source told the BBC that COP hosts are expected to act without bias or self-interest, with the UAE lamenting that “private meetings are private” and not denying that the meetings are being prepared in light of fossil fuel negotiations.

The documents, obtained by journalists from the Climate Reporting Center and the BBC, indicate that the teams organizing the event have prepared meetings with at least 27 foreign governments, with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) starting on November 30. It continues until December 12.

Among these documents were seen “points of contact” between delegations, including the Chinese delegation, which said that ADNOC, the UAE’s state oil company, was “ready to evaluate joint natural gas opportunities” in Mozambique, Canada and Australia.

The same documents show that ADNOC is “ready” to support Colombia in developing its fossil resources, and further talks were planned with delegations from Germany or Egypt, with whom ADNOC wanted to work directly.

Other points of contact were maintained with Masdar, the Emirati company responsible for managing renewable energy. Trade opportunities will be at stake with the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kenya.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) will be the latest global meeting to discuss the fight against climate change. This year, nearly 170 world leaders are expected to attend in Dubai, including figures such as Pope Francis and King Charles.