COP28 Leader Dismisses BBC News Report on Oil Agreement

The president of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai has refuted a BBC News article alleging that his country would be using the event to secure oil and gas deals. The BBC had reported that leaked briefing documents showed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) planned to discuss fossil fuel agreements with 15 countries. President Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the CEO of the UAE's state oil company Adnoc and state renewables business Masdar, stated during a press conference that the report intended to undermine his presidency. He dismissed the allegations as false, inaccurate, and incorrect. The leaked documents, obtained by independent journalists collaborating with the BBC, were created by the UAE's COP28 team for meetings with at least 27 foreign governments prior to the summit. These documents included proposed talking points, such as discussing international liquefied natural gas opportunities in Mozambique, Canada, and Australia with China. The documents also suggested that Adnoc was prepared to aid Colombia in developing its fossil fuel resources. Additionally, there were talking points for 13 other countries like Germany and Egypt, aiming to collaborate on fossil fuel projects. Mr. Jaber asserted that he had never seen or used these specific talking points in his discussions. The news conference was not open to BBC News.