Emirati hosts want UN climate talks to deliver ‘game-changing results,’ with big oil at the table

Emirati hosts want UN climate talks to deliver ‘game-changing results,’ with big oil at the table

NNA - A senior United Arab Emirates official says the Gulf nation wants the UN climate summit itrsquo;s hosting later this year to deliver ldquo;game-changing resultsrdquo; for international efforts to curb global warming, but doing so will require having the fossil fuel industry at the table.

Environmental campaigners have slammed the presence of oil and gas lobbyists at previous rounds of talks, warning that their interests are opposed to the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions mdash; caused to a large degree by the burning of fossil fuels. Last month scores of US and European lawmakers called for the summitrsquo;s designated chair, Sultan al-Jaber, to be replaced over his links to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

The issue complicates already-delicate negotiations ahead of the Nov. 30 - Dec. 12 meeting in Dubai, known as COP28. Preliminary talks starting next week in Bonn, Germany, will show whether the incoming UAE presidency can overcome skepticism among parties and civil society groups about its ability to shepherd almost 200 nations toward a landmark deal.

ldquo;Our leadership has been very clear to me and our team and our president that they donrsquo;t want just another COP thatrsquo;s incremental,rdquo; said Majid al-Suwaidi, who as director-general of