Limiting Global Warming To 1.5 Degree C Remains 'Top Priority', Says CoP28 President-Designate

Curbing the effects of global warming by limiting it to 1.5 degree C above pre-industrial levels remained the top priority, said Sultan Al-Jaber, the president-designate of the Cop28 climate change summit.

Al-Jaber, who also served as the climate envoy of the United Arab Emirates, reiterated his commitment to tackling global warming, amid criticism over his appointment as the CoP28 chief.

The 49-year-old had come under fire after being appointed as head of the conference due to his role as the Chief Executive Officer of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, a state firm that belonged to a sector known to significantly contribute to global warming.

However, in his first remarks since his appointment, he told Reuters keeping the 1.5 deg C goal "alive" remains his focus for CoP28.

"I have no intention whatsoever of deviating from the 1.5 deg C goal," he said. "Keeping 1.5 deg C alive is a top priority, and it will cut across everything I do."

Al-Jaber also promised to listen to all stakeholders and focus on reaching an accord during the conference, adding addressing climate change calls for the united efforts of all the parties involved. The UAE is set to host the 28th session of the CoP28 in Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

"We have a major challenge ahead of us," he said. "How about for once we capitalize on everybody's capabilities and strengths and fight climate change rather than going after each other."

In 2015, countries inked the Paris Agreement during CoP21 and committed to limit the global average temperature rise to below 2 deg C. Al-Jaber said "the whole world is way off track" this target and that a major "course correction" would be needed to achieve the 1.5 deg C goal.

He also said climate activists should not consider the oil and gas sector the problem, but part of the solution. Addressing the activists criticizing him over his association with a giant oil firm, he suggested climate activists should know how to strike a balance between their passion and reason.

"You have to balance passion with being realistic, this is what we need to focus on."