John Kerry defends the UAE's hosting of COP28 by include oil-producing countries in UN environmental negotiations.
US climate envoy John Kerry has defended the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against criticism of its role as the host of this year's COP28 conference in Dubai. Speaking to the Financial Times, Kerry said that it was important to bring oil-producing nations into the UN environment talks and that the UAE presented an opportunity to have the COP conference hosted by a country that "understands the industry, understands the needs and what's doable and what's not, and helping to shape the response of the planet". However, climate campaigners have been increasingly critical of the growing influence of the global fossil fuel industry on the annual UN climate conference. Last year's summit in Egypt ended in disappointment as fossil fuel-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia, blocked a push by others, notably the US and EU, to include a promise to phase down all fossil fuels in the final deal. The decision to hold COP28 in Dubai, a country that relies heavily on oil...