DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� The Emirati president-designate for the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks forcefully denied Wednesday a report alleging his nation planned to use the summit to strike oil and gas deals, a day before the summit was due to begin.
However, Sultan al-Jaber, , will step down from his position as CEO of the company 鈥� trying to head off the major criticism surrounding his selection of a planned vote to formally make him the leader of the talks.
Al-Jaber called the allegations from a BBC report 鈥渁n attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency鈥� before the talks begin Thursday. The report cited what it described as 鈥渓eaked briefing documents鈥� the broadcaster described as showing the Emirates planned to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations.
鈥淭hese allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate,鈥� al-Jaber told a small group of journalists gathered for a news conference that also was aired live. 鈥淚 promise you never ever did I see these talking points that they refer to or that I ever even used such talking points in my discussions.鈥�
He added: 鈥淪o please for once, respect who we are, respect what we have achieved over the years and respect the fact that we have been clear open and clean and honest and transparent on how we want to conduct this COP process.鈥�
The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Immediately after the remarks, a news release on his behalf said he 鈥渉as agreed to step down from his position as ADNOC CEO upon deliberation between key representatives鈥� from the U.N. and others. He planned to hold a news conference later Wednesday to elaborate on the decision.
鈥淐oncerns were raised by several parties ... about the efficacy of Dr. al-Jaber鈥檚 role as president-designate if he retains his affiliations to ADNOC,鈥� the statement read.
Each year, the country hosting the U.N. negotiations known as the Conference of the Parties 鈥� where COP gets its name 鈥� nominates a person to chair the talks. Hosts typically pick a veteran diplomat as the talks can be difficult to steer between competing nations and their interests.
The nominee鈥檚 position as 鈥淐OP president鈥� is confirmed by delegates at the start of the talks, usually without objections. However, activists鈥� ire over al-Jaber鈥檚 selection could still see a turbulent start to the negotiations.
ADNOC, the state oil company, has plans to increase its production of crude oil from 4 million barrels a day up to 5 million, boosting its production of carbon-emitting crude oil and natural gas.
Al-Jaber, , is a trusted confidant of UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He鈥檚 been behind tens of billions of dollars spent or pledged toward renewable energy in the federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Al-Jaber escorted Sheikh Mohammed through the COP28 site on Wednesday ahead of his remarks.
But the fact that al-Jaber repeatedly defended himself and the country from activists鈥� criticism is incredibly telling in the Emirates, an autocratic nation that while a key U.S. business and military ally still tightly controls speech, bans political parties and criminalizes labor strikes. ___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP鈥檚 climate initiative . The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Jon Gambrell And Malak Harb, The Associated Press
