In a startling divergence from the conventional climate dialogue, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber has boldly questioned the so-called scientific consensus on the need to phase out fossil fuels to achieve the 1.5°C climate goal. At a recent event, Al Jaber’s remarks signaled a stark departure from UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s stance, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists.
Al Jaber’s assertion that there is
“I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. 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 1.5C.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/03/back-into-caves-cop28-president-dismisses-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels
is a direct challenge to the prevailing climate doctrine. His argument strikes at the heart of policy discussions that have been increasingly dominated by calls for the rapid elimination of fossil fuels.
Drawing a line in the sand, Al Jaber posits that a wholesale phase-out of fossil fuels would regress society to a pre-industrial state, “back into caves.” This hyperbolic metaphor underscores his contention that current sustainable development cannot be disentangled from fossil fuel use.
“Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/03/back-into-caves-cop28-president-dismisses-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels
“I don’t think [you] 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. Show me the solutions. Stop the pointing of fingers. Stop it,”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/03/back-into-caves-cop28-president-dismisses-phase-out-of-fossil-fuels
Critics point to Al Jaber’s dual role as the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, Adnoc, as a serious conflict of interest. This dual capacity has led to accusations that Al Jaber cannot impartially preside over COP28 while also steering an oil conglomerate.
The debate over fossil fuels is anticipated to be one of the most contentious issues at COP28. The final language of the agreement, whether it calls for a phase-out or a weaker “phase-down,” is expected to be a bellwether of the summit’s outcome.
While Al Jaber has called for solutions beyond finger-pointing, alarmist scientists like Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, assert that the science mandates a phase-out by mid-century. Similarly, the alarmist choir of Prof Sir David King and Dr. Friederike Otto stress the urgent need to curtail carbon emissions and dismiss the idea that fossil fuels are necessary for development.
Despite the controversy, COP28 aims to set ambitious decarbonization targets for the oil and gas industry and triple renewable energy. Al Jaber himself, also the head of the UAE’s renewable energy company Masdar, has advocated for clean energy investments and tackling operational emissions.
Al Jaber’s statements have introduced an interesting and provocative counter-narrative to the climate debate. While his comments have attracted derision from environmental groups, they reflect a broader discourse on the pragmatic challenges of transitioning from fossil fuels. As COP28 unfolds, the tension between economic pragmatism and environmental idealism will undoubtedly remain a central theme.
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COP28 President is correct.
As a refresher for those attending the COP28, wind and solar do different things than crude oil.
Renewables only generate occasional electricity but cannot manufacture anything.
Crude oil is virtually never used to generate electricity but when manufactured into petrochemicals, is the basis for virtually all the products in our materialistic society that did not exist before the 1800’s.
We’ve become a very materialistic society over the last 200 years, and the world has populated from 1 to 8 billion because of all the products and different fuels for jets, ships, trucks, cars, military, and the space program that did not exist before the 1800’s.
Until a crude oil replacement is identified, the world cannot do without crude oil that is the basis of our materialistic “products” society.
You are 100% correct. Having worked in the chemical and refining industry for over 20 years it is scary to think most people still do not understand this.
So long as Greatest Emitter Country China and Third Greatest Emitter Country India are allowed to continue unabated emissions growth through mid century, emissions levels will continue to rise regardless of what the US and EU do to curb emissions and how negatively those actions affect their economies.
CO2 levels will continue to rise regardless of US and EU actions.
Especially considering the effect of increasing energy costs with the transition to weather and time of day dependent generation sources and the FF energy extraction and refinement (coal and petrochemicals) still required for their manufacture, transportation, installation and maintenance.
For those who are appalled by China’s and India’s CO2 emissions the solution is simple. Either stop buying the energy intensive products that cause the emissions or go back to producing their own such products. It’s not complicated.
Whenever and wherever possible, if I can determine made in China or made in India I avoid buying it and will look for local sources. Not because it may be CO2 intensive just because it’s likely cheaply made and won’t last.
Would that include the PC (or cellphone) you are bashing out your post on?
Mine is South Korean, I think.
Assembled, perhaps. Where are the PCB’s made?
Third of December in Eastern Wa. State… snow on the ground… give me some more CO2.
Maybe the jet stream will blow some CO2 your way from China. They have an abundance of it over there.
“CO2 levels will continue to rise regardless of US and EU actions.”
Yes, that is the bottom line.
No amount of climate alarmist jawboning will change this, as China and India and Indonesia and a lot of other places are going with coal and natural gas, and Western, Delusional handwringing is not going to change this.
CO2 ppm in atmosphere is near plant starvation levels
The lowest level in 600 million years
The optimum for plant life is 800 to 1200 ppm, as proven by green houses, which also is far from harmful for humans.
The CO2 ppm in atmosphere due to humans is a very tiny fraction of all the CO2 circulating around the planet, in and out of sinks.
That NATURAL CO2 is hundreds of times greater than mankind CO2
We would be unable to survive without trace amounts of C14 which we get from eating herbivores that also wouldn’t survive without trace amounts of C14 which they get from plants. It has something to do with muscle and tissue development I think.
Despite a 14% drop in global industrial activity during Covid, it had no perceptible impact on the continuing rise of atmospheric CO2.
Many people do understand it, but are in THE NILE about it, or hopeful some miracle comes along.
In the meantime, they cannot deviate from their idiotic Net Zero message, and glueing themselves to whatever, lest it causes division in their ranks.
Germany’s economy is in extreme do do, because of 25 years of ENERGIEWENDE, which finally has proven to a useless, ineffective, huge financial black hole
Unlimited, unvetted, just-walk-in, infiltration by unskilled, uncultured, uneducated, no-work-ethic folks, from all over, has undermined traditional life in Germany and elsewhere in Europe, with a near-zero, real-growth economy.
Methinks the COP folks made a big mistake in their choice of venues this time around.
I am sure some of think so. Me not so much. But a number of countries had already said they did not support language about phasing out fossil fuels. The Pres just said it too forcefully.
David,
I believe it needs to be said forcefully and often to slow the inertia of ‘climate consensus’?
Or, it should be more forcefully said.
Thank you COP folks!
But this year’s President is publicly against any restrictions on gas and oil, because both are the lifeblood of his COP 5-star venue.
The US, etc., is generously financing delegations from poor countries to attend to buy their votes, as it has done for many years, to MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR IDIOCY
“… but cannot manufacture anything … “
I understand your meaning, but strictly speaking this is not true.
Also, by “renewables”, I think you mean wind and solar. If trying to
explain to people that wind and solar cannot support our modern
manufacturing economy, I would not want to start with your wording.
I worked in a small foundry making aluminium alloys, if there was a power cut during the melting stages then you had to bail the furnace before the contents set and avoid the removal of the plug with air hammers manually. The is no way that type of process would cope with intermittent power supply. Any processing line needs tight frequency and voltage supply, again not possible above a certain % of wind and solar as the base load cannot keep up with the changes. Basically go renewables and your manufacturing base will go elsewhere for reliable and cheaper supplies.
Show me the products you can make with and from wind and solar energy then.
Sultan Al Jaber is not only correct in his assertions but also in his claim that the global economy really has no viable alternatives for fossil fuels, at least on a scale that could replace them. What’s ironic about the stance of those who oppose his argument is that they themselves are probably at least as dependent on fossil fuel products as everyone else and among the least likely to give them up. They just want all others to do so, except only a tiny minority are listening.
He is one of the very few IMPARTIAL people at the conference.
Basically everyone else is hooked, brain-washed, and/or in the pay of the “renewables” agenda.
The Sultan, on the other hand, has his people’s prosperity to consider.
Just stop deicing fluids on private jets.
Love it!
“at least as dependent on fossil fuel products as everyone else “… I don’t own a jet, and have never flown other than as “Economy”.
I’ve actually never flown so may be well behind everyone else in sins of ommission!
And just like that, a new addition to the ‘worst skeptic’ club is becoming christened!
Welcome, Sultan Al Jaber, to those not afraid to defend the prosperity we’ve built over the last 1000 years.
“Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.”
I wish I was there to stand and applaud, but I’m trying to keep my Carbon Footprint™ down to appease my overlord Trudeau.
Environment Minister Guilbeault has gone so that neither you nor Trudeau have to. And he’s taking credit for your and Trudeau’s carbon footprint reduction.
Are you sure that “christened” is the right word?
It is for me. I’m on a mission to fully transition religious words into secularism and to be as blasphemous as possible, god dammit! Committing the ‘unforgivable sin’ {blasphemy against the holy spirit [Mark 3:28-30]} is a great way to repel any god-botherers and keep them from preaching to you.
Great guns! Now go find a dictionary, and see what ‘blasphemy’ actually means. You might be amused…
P.S. Please, please, Mirriam Webster’s is not a dictionary, it is a libtard lexicon!
“I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist.”
Sounds to me like he just identified skeptics as “sober and mature”, and alarmists as those to be avoided or preferably ignored.
“I wish I was there to stand and applaud,”
Me, too.
I bet the Chinese and the Indians and others are also in support of Al Jaber’s opinion that coal, oil and natural gas cannot be phased-out.
Seems like a bunch of climate clowns took their private jets to go to the COP28 and crashed against the brick wall of realities in Dubai.
The process of crashing into the Net Zero brick wall will soon become known as Dubaization.
Or “the Dubai treatment”. 🤣
Our very own climate clown (the leader of the Irish Green party) gets to go not once, but twice, to Dubai.
Back home, the Government face a motion of no confidence in the minister for justice (long story) and the leader of the Green party who is currently in Dubai, has to fly home to vote for his coalition colleague and save the Gov. from loosing the vote. He will then make a return flight to Dubai, to continue telling us we need to reduce our carbon footprints.It has been played down as much as possible by the media, barely getting a mention.
It’s not the principle it’s the money.
“losing” lol
I’m with Al Jaber on this one.
I think most of us are, except for a few of the trolls.
But don’t trolls live in caves already? (And under bridges)
Getting rid of 6 or 7 billion people solves a lot of problems, so, his claim of living in caves is misinformation.
You won’t have to live in caves. Collecting dead grass, forest deadfall, and dried feces will be sufficient to keep your teepee warm.
Even the American Indians moved south for the winter.
Interesting…. Got some examples of that?
You have proof of that?
Such movers would enter the hunting/fishing areas of others
There would be fighting
I wouldn’t expect that to be any long time tradition, since their traditions were formed when all migrations were on foot. Eastern tribes like the Iroquois built solid houses and lived in them year round, although their hunters and traders might have to camp out for a few months.
The Great Plains tribes roved over several hundred miles, but even with horses it was not far enough that I could call it going south – such a move would have infringed on other tribes’ territories. Instead, they headed for somewhere in their territory with more shelter from the weather (like from the open plains to a valley that blocked the wind), and usually built sturdy and warm permanent houses there. For example, the Cheyenne would go live with the Arapaho for the winter. This was a related tribe that farmed river bottoms, while the Cheyenne hunted the plains, and each tribe needed the other for a complete diet and for other things. The Cheyenne traded dried buffalo meat and buffalo robes for vegetables, grain, and squash, and crowded into the Arapaho’s permanent sod or wood and mud houses for the winter.
All it requires is a re-migration back to Africa; no heating required.
Oooops.
Did the conference m.c. say –
“Come on up here Al”
(referring to Al Gore).
But it was Al Jaba who took the call and said his piece, kept it real.
I think Al Jaba was off looking for Han Solo at the time so Al Jaber took his place!
Should have been Al Bundy
Would liked to have seen AG’s face after that speech.
He probably had the look of a man who realises his cash cow is drying up!
Now that there is some controversy about the roll fossil fuels play in global warming, attendees can safely and comfortably jump into their fossil fuel burning private jets and … jet home.
Global Warming? Live with it!
I’m getting a sense the FF industry is beginning to call out this net zero peak stupid-
Net zero policy for new gas projects abandoned after industry objected (msn.com)
You want the gas or not dummies?
There was already a sizeable group of countries and delegates arguing against any language calling for a phase out of fossil fuels. Looks like the Pres is among them. Very good news indeed.
Yes and the subtle use of the term ”phase down” instead of ”out” has them all very upset.
The largest problem with the Net Zero/AGW issue is that those who are in to shape its future are largely technically illiterate, have no experience of large infrastructure projects and confuse ability to repeat the climate catastrophe rhetoric with comprehension and knowledge.
Hence , we have the commitment to triple nuclear power generation by 2050 when Hinkley C looks like taking 20 years to get from approval to start-up, in the last week there was opinion that the UK pensions triple lock, costing £12bn pa, should be scrapped to fund Net Zero, which the BEIS dept advised spending of £70bn pa in 2019, fossil fuels are still being demonised when today supplying over 40%UK electrical power generation, so loss of UK fossil fuels would be terminal for the UK economy and large swathes of the population.
What the world does need to see is a cost benefit analysis for the COPs and other UNFCC conferences.
Until that is published and accepted, the COPs shoudl be halted, the fat cats told to find honest jobs, and the funds diverted into clean energy research.
“Please help me, show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.”
Um, for many, the destruction of free markets and a return to sustainance lifestyles (for the masses, anyway) is the point. There is no road map because further development is not the point.
Their conflict-of-interest claim is hilarious as there are many on the warmist/alarmist side who depend on the funding from government which unsurprisingly they are highly political in the process along with the government run IPCC reports that are designed to generate a barrage of stupid doom in the future scenarios unless we peons hit the knees in obeisance to rotting socialism pogroms and be saved!
Their naked snake oil climate doomsday scam is so easy to see.
HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW
It is the rich that are pushing the “Climate Change” agenda. They own the media and control the politicians with their campaign contributions.
“Their conflict-of-interest claim is hilarious”
Yes, it is, especially considering that every one of these climate alarmists got to COP28 using fossil fuels, and they will go home using fossil fuels, and will use them when they are at home.
As reported in The Guardian, Sultan al Jaber pleaded with them to “show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development [] Show me the solutions.“. The replies from Guterres and others were: “The science is clear [] The science is absolutely clear [] It is undeniable that .. we must all rapidly reduce carbon emissions [] The science of climate change has been clear for decades“. In other words, none of them gave an answer.
I hope that Sultan al Jaber’s sanity prevails, and the COP ends with no recommendations at all.
Observation disputes what the so-called “climate scientists” are saying.
In 2020 when COVID became worldwide, human emissions of CO2 dropped by 6% according to the International Energy Agency, yet the rate of increase of CO2 as seen at the Mauna Loa Observatory didn’t change a bit. https://www.co2.earth/monthly-co2
“In other words, none of them gave an answer.”
Exactly what is to be expected from people who don’t have any answers and can’t prove CO2 is dangerous if their lives depended on doing so.
So they appeal to (dishonest) IPCC/UN authority and want Al Jaber, and other skeptics, to accept that appeal to authority.
No, it doesn’t work that way. Skeptics need evidence. Climate alarmists have provided no evidence, and don’t have any evidence to provide. Claiming their opinions on climate should be accepted as facts is not good enough.
I suspect Sultan Al Jaber know a lot more than 99% of his critics.
How many of them have a BSc in Chemical Engineering
and various post graduate business qualifications?
Notice how his critics do not want to engage in “a sober and mature conversation.”
That is why they have to slander him.
Correction: He knows . . . . sorry I cannot find an edit function.
The edit function disappeared a while ago.
That’s fine, we can’t find it either, and it is annoying!
Yip – I worked in the ME for several years with a lot of very smart, educated locals.
“Notice how his critics do not want to engage in “a sober and mature conversation.”
Of course, they don’t. The climate change alarmists don’t have any evidence to offer in such a conversation, all they have is speculation, assumptions and unsubstantiated assertions. That is ALL they have. And they know it.
So, instead, they slander their critics. It’s standard operating procedure for Liars.
In 2020 when COVID became worldwide, human emissions of CO2 dropped by 6% according to the International Energy Agency, yet the rate of increase of CO2 as seen at Mauna Loa Observatory didn’t change a bit.
https://www.co2.earth/monthly-co2
Finally, the correct questions to ask these anthropogenic CO2 caused global warming alarmists.
I have been posting for years on these comment threads that unless and until anyone can demonstrate a “green”, “renewable” energy delivery system which produces more energy than it consumes, while at the same time greatly reducing CO2 output, then this whole enterprise is a cruel charade.
A more reasoned address than
You stole my childhood how dare you!
Dr Mann is choking. Please don’t resuscitate him.
It’ll be interesting to see how the MSM discusses this.
Or this ?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/commie-pope-calls-elimination-fossil-fuels-historic-cop28/
The Pope has to signal his virtue.
That’s the first thing I thought, but maybe not. I get the feeling the Pope is a True Believer and thinks CO2 is dangerous.
He needs a little Devine guidance, imo.
He needs a brain, then he may be able to absorb Devine guidance
They won’t. They’ll just let it die on the vine
Funny – reminds me of – – – Bob_Newhart show “just stop it”
Or Nancy Reagan, just say no!
Profound wisdom, indeed
I see chinks in the armor appearing hither and there; the EV manufacturers crying uncle, the COP 28 president speaking against the phase out of fossil fuels and Alex Epstein making his appearance on a mainstream news segment. 2024 is looking up.
Got a link for the Epstein appearance?
https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6342206485112
got it- watching it now
excellent- Alex is a hero of mine- super smart- will debate anyone- the other side is afraid of him- and he’s young, only early 40s- he’s becomming a world class leader in oppossing climate lunacy
I posted a link but it was not approved by the editor.
you mean the moderator of this site? That’s weird as I’ve given many links to Epstein’s talks- I’ll look for it.
And Trump wins in a landslide
Nothing sums up the ridiculous nature of these COP events more succinctly than staging one in an oil-producing country that has no intention of curbing oil production and every intention of flogging more oil to the nations contributing to the COP. It’s risible.
No major nation has any intention of reducing CO2 in the near-term. It would be electoral suicide in democratic countries, because voters have short-term outlooks. So man-made global warming will continue.
‘The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast’ (as Bob Dylan might put it).
So when they keep inanely bleating on about how fossil fuels are bad whilst personally using more than most small countries you’re fine with that, but when somebody injects a note of sanity into the proceedings you’re against the “ridiculous nature of these COP events”. So, please, tell me which insane asylum you escaped from and how long ago that was?
Have you ceased all consumption of petroleum yet?
Good question.
If not, why not? Would be the next question.
Hypocrisy would be my first guess.
It’s like when I think of people I know who are religious fanatics. If I were such a fanatic, I’d do like St. Francis, give away everything I have and spend every moment comforting the sick and dying. But, few people do that. But if you really believed all that- you would. I tell them that- that don’t appreciate it. If I were 100% certain we’re having a climate emergency- I’d only walk everywhere, live in a “tiny house” with solar on the roof and become a vegan. A few people do that but none of the 70,000 elites at the COP orgy.
Sounds like you should give up
I detect a certain desperation in TFN’s post. His ship is sinking, and he knows it.
”Al Jaber himself, also the head of the UAE’s renewable energy company Masdar, has advocated for clean energy investments and tackling operational emissions.”
I guess you missed this bit in the story then… you really need to do just a little research, like read the article, before placing your foot in your mouth.
The next question to ask is: Does Al Jaber think windmills and solar are viable solutions to future energy supplies, or is he just in it for the money?
Right- if there is going to be trillions spent on “clean” energy – any smart oil baron will be investing in it! It’s the next gold mine.
You are partly correct for once..
COP meeting are totally ridiculous….. period !!!
You do realise that are based totally on the LIES AND MISINFORMATION that people like you support. !
Do you have ANY evidence for “man-made-global-warming”
You have failed utterly and completely to present any so far. !!
And nobody at COP28 can produce any evidence of man-made global warming/climate change, either.
Al Jaber is asking the right questions. The climate change alarmists don’t have the answers. I love it!
“So man-made global warming will continue.”
Of course, that’s pure speculation.
Since every single prediction made by Alarmists like ToeFungalNail has failed, I don’t think we need entertain this one seriously.
“So man-made global warming will continue.”
To continue, it would need to exist in the first place. However, there is no data (computer models are not data) that it exists.
Proves just how stupid the climate cult is that they’d agree to the invitation in that country! It might be suicide in democratic countries because the people in those countries HAVE SOVEREIGNTY and don’t need advice and pushy behavior from the UN and climate emergency cultists. Some more warming may continue and many of us look forward to it. Whatever it is- it’s not an emergency or a disaster or a crisis- only in the deranged minds of climate cultists like Saint Greta- now Dr. Greta.
Green NGOs garner big-dollar donations by their alarmist lies about CO₂-driven climate warming.
This dual capacity has led [me] to accusations that green NGOs cannot impartially [evaluate fossil fuel use during] COP28 when their income stream relies on defaming fossil fuel use.
If the CAGW crowd had any hard facts at all they could bury Al Jaber. They have nothing and they know they have nothing. They better stampede to nuclear that is their only hope. They will have to slither away from wind, solar and EVs as quietly as possible. But we will be here to remind them of their folly.
“ and they know they have nothing. “
You only have look at the feeble non-attempts of the local AGW zealots.
No science what so ever.
Good point. The locals don’t have any evidence, either.
Well – move from renewables to nuclear is one aspect different from the push to electrify the transport fleet. Arguably EVs become an easier proposition if we had totally reliable generation (ie nuclear)