OPEC Officials Defend Fossil Fuels at a Climate Event

A number of influential members of OPEC stated that the industry had a part to play in a smooth energy transition and that oil and gas should not be stigmatized in the climate debate.

The three largest Opec members—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq—have gathered their energy ministers in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, for the UN MENA climate week. UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on a panel:

“The three of us here as major hydrocarbon producers also have a responsibility to the world to provide the transition with enough hydrocarbon resources to make sure we are transitioning at a responsibly priced manner.”

The COP28 climate summit will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12. According to reports so far, countries are falling short of a UN goal to keep the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C.

In his remarks, Sultan al-Jaber, COP28 president, said:

“COP28 will deliver tran­s­­formational outcomes for this region, and for the wor­ld. We have had 27 COPs, and you might be surprised to learn that 17 of them have been hosted in fossil fuel-producing nati­ons. The fact is, energy is fundamental to everyone, everywhere. This region has the vision, commitment, and capacity to shape a better future, not just for the Middle East and North Africa but for the entire world.”

The choice of Jaber to lead the summit has drawn criticism from environmental campaigners because his country is an OPEC member and a major oil exporter, and he is the boss of state oil giant ADNOC. On the other hand, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Sal­man also said the industry should not be stigmatized and the world still needed hydrocarbons.

Source: Dawn

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