Oil and gas now has green licence
The hydrocarbons industry must start to deliver in 2024 on the quiet approvals granted at last year’s COP, which was also dubbed ‘Conference of the Petrostates’
The COP charade finally ended in 2023. After decades of talks on energy and emissions without the folks responsible for both being in the room, last November’s COP28 showed what happens when proper discussions are had with the people that matter. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, COP president and CEO of Emirati oil firm Adnoc, managed to get over the line both a strongly worded statement for the fossil fuel industry to transition and avoid the absurdly unrealistic ‘phasing down or out’ language so many were keen to employ. Some have suggested this still marks the beginning of the end of fossil fuels, but in reality it marks the beginning of the end for emissions. The view coming out of COP28 was
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
