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THE PRESIDENT OF this year’s COP28 climate talks, who heads one of the world’s biggest oil companies, has urged a focus on lower emissions, warning global energy needs were set to accelerate.
Sultan Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates’ special envoy for climate change and CEO of the ADNOC oil giant, said less-polluting fossil fuels would remain part of the energy mix, along with renewables and other solutions.
His appointment earlier this week drew fierce criticism from environmental activists.
Concern has focused on how a senior figure from the oil industry will have little incentive to steer the world away from hydrocarbons.
Al Jaber has been outlining his positions at the Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi.
“As long as the world still uses hydrocarbons, we must ensure they are the least carbon intensive possible,” Al Jaber told the forum, two days after his unveiling as COP president.
“We’re working with the energy industry on accelerating decarbonisation, reducing methane and expanding hydrogen. Let’s keep our focus on holding back emissions, not progress.”
The Gulf monarchy argues that oil remains indispensable to the global economy and is pushing the merits of carbon capture — removing carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, as fuel is burned or from the air.
Al Jaber said the UAE, which will host COP28 in Dubai in November and December, approached the task with “humility, a clear sense of responsibility and a great sense of urgency”.
He said the world’s population, currently eight billion, was on course to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and would need “50 percent more energy than what is available today”.
“We are way off track. The world is playing catch up when it comes to the key Paris goal of holding global temperatures down to 1.5 degrees (Celsius),” he said.
“And the harsh reality is that in order to achieve this goal, global emissions must fall 43 percent by 2030.”
Al Jaber said renewable energy needed to triple to 23 terawatt hours by 2030, while low-carbon hydrogen production had to double. He said agriculture produces one-third of global emissions and needed deep reform.
“We are at a turning point in history. Low carbon growth is the future, but we must get there much faster,” he said.
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Registered 20 days ago. I’m in my 40s. No appointment yet.
@AA: same here and I’m in the high risk group.
@AA: I’m 42, registered 2/6/21 and am getting the Pfizer vaccine tomorrow at Limerick racecourse. Its was weird, the appointment text was received by text 15/6/21 but didnt show up in my notifications and I only noticed it on the 17/6/21.
@AA: typically takes up to 3 weeks, best would be to call HSE help line on 1850 24 1850
@AA: I’m 40, registered last week and received a text today for an appointment next Thursday. I am in Dublin, so location may have an impact on capacity, I guess.
@AA: same happened to my father in law. He went to his nearest vaccination centre after 4 weeks and they gave him his shot at the end of the day from the leftovers due to no-shows etc. Seems system is broken in places.
@AA: log into the portal and see if you have an appointment and just didn’t get the text, happened a few of my friends
@AA: will probably better if you contact HSE on this rather than highlight it here?? The Journal ain’t going to do anything about it for you.
@Claudia O’Riordan: if you’re in a high risk category you should have contacted your GP or hospital consultant long before now.
@cmfoley: I did, my GP messed up, was giving me dates since April and after requested me to register by my age
@AA: took about 3.5 weeks before I received my appointment.
@AA: I’m in my mid 40′s, registered on the 4th June, vaccinated on the 8th in Cork, I know friends in Kildare & Dublin who are same age that are only getting 1st dose in a few days, so really depends on where you’re located
@AA: sorry to hear- highly recommend you contact your GP – I’m lucky that mine is on the ball I’m 41 and got first before my age group opened and second one will be the 1st July.
@AA: Just back from getting my first in Limerick racecourse. In and about in 35 minutes, excellent system.
A lot of GP clinics aren’t set up to give certain vaccines because of the refrigeration needs. Plus many already have a heavy workload. It’s honestly quicker to register.
@AA: I’m 36. Haven’t registered yet. Getting first jab in GP Tuesday morning
@Mark H: how did that work, did he just rock up and ask near end of the day?
Iam in my 50s and feeling excited for these youngfellas. Onwards and upwards.
@Paul Gorry: In your 50? Always thought you were a young fella! :D
If over 80% of the population get both vaccines by say September, what is the likelihood of a winter lockdown happening again, as we have seen already reports of over crowding in hospitals and there’s a low number of people in there with covid. I have no hesitancy taking this vaccine, but people will ask, what the point is if we end up back in some kind of lockdown again before the year is over…
@Michael Healy: Back in lockdown? We’re still in lockdown!
@Michael Healy: You mean for the ‘back to normal’ seasonal trolley crisis. I doubt they would use a lockdown because the horse has bolted. By the time the hospitals are packed, you’ve hit the peak It will be difficult in the years both influenza A & B and Covid all happen to have strong variants. We could follow the east Asian style of using a mask on public transport if you feel unwell, but I can’t see that happening here.
Right all the elderly and high risk people are vaccinated, good, so can someone please tell me the risk, % risk of someone dying in this age bracket of covid please. Because if its high i might just get it.
@Tac: not quite true, full efficacy is only reached after both doses have been received. People of any age can suffer from long covid, it’s not just mortality
@Tac: you should read the other article on here about the Delta variant in the UK. Seems a good proportion of the cases are in the younger age groups, it also discusses hospitalizations and fatalities.
@D. Memery: Thanks for….
@Tac: no we are not !!!
@Tac: I don’t think they are. Plenty of people with underlying conditions are still eagerly awaiting their second jab appointment text. Whatever about dying, it’s a miserable thing to catch & there’s long Covid to deal with plus all those UK visitors dying to visit Ireland asap, who could easily be carrying the D variant and immune to it themselves. I’d get it if I were you, if you’re not in, you can’t win :-D
Is anyone not getting the vaccine?
The 60-69 group only got first jab 4 weeks ago. A HSE disgrace
@trebloc01: should they have skipped ahead if the 70 – 79 year olds?
Its not a HSE disgrace, its about supply.
If they don’t receive enough doses they can’t distribute them. Why can’t people see the simple things. Its not like the HSE are sitting on masses of the vacine and leaving it in storage. They are getting it out as quick as they can.
@Pat ALTHEA: this group get the AstraZeneca and there was no shortage of supplies…..
@trebloc01: moan, moan, moan, moan……etc
@Barbara Stewart: there was shortages of astra, literally all over the news a few weeks back, in fact it was so bad that the EU were going to bring them to court over it.
@Barbara Stewart: but whats your point? Who cares which one they get so long as you get one if you want one. There was shortages for a good few weeks. What news have you been reading
@Sal Paradise: respect, please!
Would it not make sense to finish the previous cohert first before moving on?
17 days waiting with no appointment yet (likely Citywest)
I’ll be 41 shortly
Pregnant women should talk to their obstetrician is the advice. I’m sure the HSE knows that 86% of pregnant women are public patients and never speak to an obstetrician during their pregnancy, they see only midwives.
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