COP28 president 'cautiously optimistic' on success of key climate conference

PARIS, France — The UAE's Sultan Al Jaber, the president of the forthcoming UN climate conference in Dubai, is "cautiously optimistic" that the pivotal talks will be successful, he told AFP in an interview on Saturday.

Jaber, CEO of Emirati oil giant ADNOC, said he would hold "everyone" accountable for keeping within reach the target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting the rise in the Earth's average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. 

QUESTION: COP28 is due to start in Dubai in five days' time. How far are we from reaching a consensus? 

ANSWER: I am cautiously optimistic. You can see and feel the great momentum we have -- the transitional committee (responsible for setting up a fund to help vulnerable countries cope) has resulted in a very positive outcome.  

I have conducted a very successful visit to the European Union, when they (made) a significant financial commitment to support the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund.  

You have seen the announcements made by the United States and China and how they're cooperating in the lead-up to COP28.  

You have seen the OECD report in regard to the $100 billion (the amount rich countries have committed to providing each year for climate action in poorer nations). 

I was very pleased and encouraged by the signals that came out of the US-China meetings (in November). There is the methane summit agreement. There is a clear understanding between both that that they will work in a collaborative manner to ensure the success (of) COP28.  

I want a high ambition outcome at COP28. And I do expect that we will be able to collectively agree on a tangible climate action plan.  

We are making very good progress across energy, finance, health, food and nature agendas. 

Q: How do the Israel-Hamas war and other international crises affect the COP talks? 

A: I am hopeful that COP28 will be the multilateral platform that will deliver good news to the world. The world has had enough of polarisation and divide.

Q: How do you see this COP summit compared to COP21 that led to the Paris Agreement in 2015? 

A: We are halfway from Paris to 2030. We have had seven years and we will have another seven