Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, head of Adnoc and designated head of the upcoming Cop28 negotiations in Dubai
Realistic hope should be the legacy of Cop28
The appointment of the UAE’s Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber as Cop president has drawn criticism from some quarters, but progress on the energy transition will require cooperation, not conflict
It is no longer surprising to see a sudden surge of outrage aimed at energy leaders, often amplified by global and social media. Stories of heroes and villains remain popular. The World Energy Council community has been at the forefront of making energy transitions happen for a century, so has some experience to bring to the table. The latest outrage has been aimed at the credibility of the UAE’s appointed Cop president, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, following concerns raised by some Western legislators. It is easy to join the bandwagon of criticism against a highly visible target, but progress rests on inclusion and sustaining cooperation, not conflict. More decentralised, decarbonised and d
Also in this section
28 March 2025
The massive expansion of the Northern Lights project in Norway is the clearest sign yet that the European oil and gas companies mean business when it comes to CCS
27 March 2025
Awards celebrate global innovation, leadership and achievement across the energy sector’s people, projects, technologies and companies.
20 March 2025
While advanced economies debate peak fossil fuel demand, billions of people still lack access to reliable and affordable energy, especially in the Global South
14 March 2025
Ignoring questions of sustainability will not make the problems they focus on go away
