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The United Arab Emirates (UAE), the host country of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) on climate change also has the eleventh highest carbon footprint in the world. The reasons for this include an economy that relies heavily on fossil fuels and the delusions of grandeur of the 10 million Emiratis, who are always looking for innovation, even if this means compromising the natural environment.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), the host country of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) on climate change also has the eleventh highest carbon footprint in the world. The reasons for this include an economy that relies heavily on fossil fuels and the delusions of grandeur of the 10 million Emiratis, who are always looking for innovation, even if this means compromising the natural environment.
The Gulf country is renowned as much for its oil wealth as for its ultra-modern buildings. And Dubai’s economic capital, famous for its gigantic shopping malls and extravagant leisure centres, is hosting the event. The construction of three artificial islands (Palm Islands, Palm Jumeirah, and Palm Jebel Ali) designed to increase the length of Dubai’s coastline by 120 km is also the subject of debate. Naturophiles believe that such projects, which require sand to be dredged, threaten coral reefs and increase pressure on water resources, not to mention the waste generated by the new occupants. These controversial innovations are unlikely to have a direct influence on the final decisions at COP28, but they could nonetheless create a tense atmosphere between negotiators from different delegations with divergent ideals.
The constant threat from fossil fuel lobbyists at United Nations climate negotiations has always weakened the outcome, but this situation has reached another dangerous and unprecedented level with the appointment of Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber as President of COP28, even though he is the CEO of the UAE’s national oil company, laments the Bonn, Germany-based organisation.
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At the same time, these criticisms of the UAE appear to be a wake-up call to countries that are reluctant to make the ecological transition. Africa, for example, contributes just 3% to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but is stubbornly exploiting its mining and gas deposits at the expense of pollution. Against this backdrop, the world’s leading environmentalists will not hesitate to call into question the extractions currently taking place in Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda, should one of these African countries be chosen to host the next major climate summit.
