Here we have the UAE, one of the world's leading oil producers, taking the reins of what may be the most consequential climate meeting of our time. It's hard to ignore the irony - but we cannot lose sight of what's at stake.
In my homeland of Africa, climate change is not an abstract concept – it’s an existential threat. Across the global south, nations are on the brink of climate calamity. We can’t afford the luxury of boycotting Cop28; not when it means turning our backs on crucial negotiations that could determine our survival.
The crescendo of calls to boycott Cop28 is undeniable. Over 130 members of Congress and the European parliament are demanding the removal of Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE oil magnate leading the climate talks. Climate activists and environmental organisations are championing a full civil society boycott. Belgium’s environment minister has already vowed to skip the summit.
But is this really the way forward? It’s fair to question the UAE’s role at Cop28, but here’s the hard truth: demanding perfection at the expense of progress leaves us with neither.
Esta historia es de la edición August 20, 2023 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 20, 2023 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Labour voters value closer EU ties instead of with US
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned not to \"cosy up to the White House\" as a new poll shows nearly two in three Labour voters believe he should build closer economic and security ties to Europe as Donald Trump returns to power.
Reeves put on the back foot after exodus of non-doms
Labour has been accused of trying to have it both ways as Rachel Reeves jets off to Davos to try to attract foreign investment while new figures show a millionaire leaves the country every 45 minutes.
Meet the Maga insurgents taking over at White House
How much damage could the anti-establishment agitators in the new administration do? Gabriel Gatehouse reports
'Putin will not stop and ... so neither will the killing'
Sam Kiley speaks to a former Ukrainian resistance fighter about his operations and why he is sceptical of peace talks
Gazans welcome glimmer of hope in a cycle of death'
Families in Gaza described yesterday's ceasefire with Israel as a \"glimmer of hope in a cycle of death\" as they celebrated what they hope marks the end of Israel's ferocious bombardment of the strip, which has killed over 46,000 people.
Woman stranded in Brazil after airline 'refuses eVisa'
A woman says she was left stranded in Brazil when airline staff refused to let her board her flight home to the UK after refusing to accept her eVisa.
Thousands take to streets in protests for women's rights
Survivors of sexual violence were among the tens of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets across the UK to march in solidarity with all oppressed women and girls around the world.
UK won't ban TikTok as ‘dancing cats are no threat'
Cats and dancing videos do not seem like a national security threat”, a cabinet minister said yesterday, as he confirmed there were no plans” to ban TikTok in the UK.
Khan sparks fresh row over Trump with ‘fascism' jibe
Sir Keir Starmer is embroiled in another row over Donald Trump after the Labour mayor of London warned of a \"resurgent fascism\" on the eve of the US president-elect's inauguration.
Trump starts 'two-year race' with huge star-studded rally
President-elect promises to kickstart reforms from day one