The fox in the chicken coop

To me, there is no bigger paradox, if not caricature, as Dubai hosting the COP 28 as it displayed its wealth amassed by extracting fossil fuels and screwing up the planet. 

According to the United Nation Climate Change, the COP28 in Dubai, scheduled from November 30 through December 12, 2023, is a decisive moment to act on climate commitments and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. 

The United Arab Emirate has the presidency for that meeting, with Dr Sultan Al Jaber as this year's president, and as the world recently discovered, a local top oil executive. 

Who is kidding who and why in the world was the UAE given that platform to tell the world its own “clean” story? Perhaps because this Persian Gulf state is ramping up its oil capacity like never before and needs to “green-wash” its dirty business.

At the moment it is setting up its infrastructure in building artificial islands, dredging sand and hauling in rock, to keep pumping crude oil from some of the largest petroleum reserves on Earth. Its ambition is to provide the world with oil for as long as there might be demand. 

Let’s be realistic and open eyed: Should the fox be officiating a meeting meant to protect the chickens?