"There is no science out there, no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuels is what is going to achieve 1.5 degrees." - The Guardian quote from Sultan Al Jaber that ignited controversy over the COP's presidency.
"1.5 is my north star and a phase-down and a phase-out of fossil fuels is inevitable, it is essential." - The continuation of the quote that was omitted.
The recent remarks by Sultan Al Jaber, the influential oil executive leading the COP28 climate summit in Dubai that there is "no science" supporting the need to phase out fossil fuels for climate stability has triggered alarm and criticism from scientists, advocates, and even fellow delegates at the UN-backed talks
A lot of controversy has been made after the comments by Sultan Al Jaber, President of COP28, in the early days of COP made headlines around the world.
His supposed statement that there is “no science” behind a fossil-fuel phase out seemed to run in direct opposition to the impetus and the goals of the world’s biggest climate summit.
However, were these comments of his actually controversial, or was his message taken out of context?
At We Don’t Have Time, we believe in honesty and transparency when creating dialogue around the climate crisis - and we have successfully found the full context of Al Jaber’s statement that ignited media fires around the world.
Read the full manuscript and listen to the recording here. Make sure to write a comment about what you think about the conversation below the post.
https://youtu.be/U6WqzZO6fC8
The transcript:
Mary Robinson
Can I come in at the stage to say, something I'm really pleased that you did accepts the invitation that I extended you, when we were together in Beijing with the Friends of the Paris agreement to take part of the summit. I think one urgent message has come through in the entire day of the summit. I've heard that every session, I think, and that is that we're in an absolute crisis, that is hurting women more than anyone, women and children, the elderly, those with disability, etc. And, and those most vulnerable, and it's because we have not yet committed to phasing out fossil fuel. That is the one decision that COP28 can take under your presidency. And in many ways, because you're head of the Abu Dhabi national oil company, you could actually take it with more credibility by saying I now recognise, we have to phase out fossil fuel with just transition for the workers and their communities and just transition into renewable, accessible, affordable, clean energy. And it's not going to happen overnight, as you say, it will be orderly, but urgent, I didn't hear the word urgent enough in your voice when you spoke earlier. That's why I kind of interrupted.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
So it's fast track. I'm not sure what urgent means a fast track?
Mary Robinson
Fast Track is, you know, it can be more of a managerial term. Urgency is crisis crisis mode.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Yeah, we can, we can always play with words here. You are a good politician, and you know how to use words better than I do. I'm a businessman, I am centred around delivery and actions that
Mary Robinson
Will lead on phasing out phasing out fossil fuel with just transition as I've, as I've said
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
You can, you can take the lead, I'll make sure I put you as an item on the agenda and adopted, someone has to take the lead, you are a developed, you come from a developed country, developed countries, I'm sure can take the lead, like they always do. And lead by example. You can lead by example. And like I said, from the beginning, I accepted to come to this, to this meeting to have a sober and a mature conversation. We do not I'm not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist, I am here to factual and I respect the science. And there is no science out there or no scenario out there that says that the phase out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5. 1.5 as my North Star and a phae down and a phase out of fossil fuel in my view is inevitable, that is ascension. But we need to be real serious and pragmatic about it.
Mary Robinson
But the real serious and pragmatic doesn't take into account that we are in I mean, I respect that you've done a lot of hard work preparing for this COP, and that you've listened to the science. The science is very acute now we don't have any time they say six or seven years. We got peak by 2025 thesis in fossil fuels. And your company is investing in a lot more new fossil fuel. And that's that's that's going to hurt women.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Mum, you've you've just accused me of something that isn't correct. I'm sorry. I don't take it. Now. I asked you to prove it.
Mary Robinson
I read is investing a lot more fossil fuel in the field. Yes,
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Ma'am. You're reading you're reading your own media, which is biassed and wrong. I am telling you I am the man in charge. And it is wrong. Man. You need to listen to me, please. I'm very pleased to hear it is wrong. You guys. Right. And you believe it? I'm sorry. Not acceptable. What
Mary Robinson
I see.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
I'm not accepting. Sorry. I'm sorry. I respect you. And they do not accept any false accusations. I've been very clear about my position. This is wrong. And you're asking for a phase out of fossil fuel. Please help me show me the roadmap for a phase of the fossil fuel that will allow that will allow for socio for sustainable socio economic development. Unless you want to take the world back into caves. Show me? Yeah,
Mary Robinson
I think we can we have we have?
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Give me the solution. Give us talk about having women be involved. We in this small country have included women more than any other country in the world. 50% of our parliament is women. 33% of our cabinet is women. 77% of our Emirati women enrolled in higher education after secondary school. Our women make up 64% of all university graduates I'm sorry, get your facts straight.
No, no, I understand that. I know that about the UAE but what I was what I what
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
I'm sorry I would not
Mary Robinson
suggest you saying you're not going to invest in the future in fossil fuel. With your Abu Dhabi oil company
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
says ever again. Now,
Mary Robinson
are you saying that I'm I was mistaken and saying that you're going to invest in fossil fuel? Or you're not going to invest in new fossil fuel? Because it's good to clarify if that is untrue, I'll accept it from you.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
What is not true? What is not true is what you said that we're doubling capacity. We're not doubling capacity. That's number one. I didn't use those words. Mama, mom, hold on, let me just explain. Let me just explain, the world will continue to need energy sources. We are the only ones in the world today that have been decarbonizing the oil and gas resources. We have the lowest carbon intensity. We have the low we are seven kilogrammes. I have not heard you talk to the Norwegians or others the way you talk to us. Time has come Mary Mary
Mary Robinson
I don't accept that I'm selective. I talk to the Norwegians. I talk to the US. I talk with the elders talk to everybody across the board independently. But I'm glad that you are taking part of this discussion, because you have such a role as president, if you can encourage this.
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
Because I'm not because I'm not a hypocrite. And I am not shying away from any facts. I am here talking to you just like I did in China. Yeah, I told you exactly. You need to get your facts straight.
SHE Changes Climate Moderator
In I thank you for this exchange for this robust and positive exchange, I think a clear invitation from His Excellency, Marie to input into that roadmap, and Mary, for you to share the expectation associated to this roadmap. I thank you for this exchange. And I would like to bring a summer into this conversation. So
Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber
yes, Sophie, I'm sorry to interrupt you, Maria interrupted me earlier. I'm gonna have to come in now. I don't think Mary will be able to help solve the climate problem by pointing fingers or contributing to the polarisation and the divide that is already happening in the world. What we need here is solutions. Show me the solutions. Stop pointing fingers, show me solutions. Show me what you can do. Show me your own contributions. And I will salute you for it. Stop the pointing of fingers. Stop it.
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