Former US Vice President and climate activist Al Gore has criticized the oil and gas industry, specifically targeting the head of the United Nations climate talks, Sultan al-Jaber. In an interview with The Associated Press published on Monday, Gore expressed concerns about al-Jaber’s role, given his position as head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., which Gore described as one of the world’s dirtiest oil companies.
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Gore’s comments follow the release of an extensive update to the Climate TRACE database, which he co-created. The database reveals significant discrepancies in the emissions reported by the oil and gas industry. Gore highlighted that these findings show underreported emissions, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. He also questioned the sincerity of pledges made by oil companies to reduce emissions, including methane leaks, citing voluntary commitments as insufficient.
At the summit, al-Jaber defended the involvement of oil companies in climate change mitigation, acknowledging that more needs to be done. However, Gore remains skeptical, arguing that the focus should be on phasing out oil and gas production, rather than on lesser measures. He expressed hope for the 2025 climate talks in Brazil under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s leadership, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and the potential for a political tipping point in climate action.