US energy secretary holds talks with UAE climate envoy

Dr Sultan Al Jaber and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm discuss net-zero emissions

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and special envoy for climate change, holds talks with US Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm. Photo: Secretary Jennifer Granholm /Show more

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and special envoy for climate change, has held talks with US Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm.

Ms Granholm said the talks underlined how serious the UAE was about its pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Had a fantastic conversation today with Dr Al Jaber,” she wrote on social media.

“[The] US and UAE are serious about achieving net-zero by 2050 while continuing to support access to affordable and reliable energy around the world. Clean energy and civil nuclear technology will be critical to achieving our goals.”

The office of the UAE special envoy for climate change said it was “pleased to join the net-zero producers forum alongside the US and other partners”.

On social media, the office said its participation would “reinforce [the] UAE’s commitment to making low-cost, low-carbon energy more available”.

The World Meteorological Organisation said on Tuesday there was about a 50-50 chance that global temperatures would increase by more than 1.5°C at some point over the next five years.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that crossing the threshold could bring substantially more devastating consequences.

The Paris climate deal, agreed to in 2015 and now signed by 195 countries including the UAE, aimed to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Governments at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow in November reaffirmed their commitment to this target.

The UAE has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change. It has embraced clean energy, held major climate events and will host the Cop28 summit next year.

Separately, Dr Al Jaber also paid tribute to Claudio Descalzi, the chief executive of Italian energy company Eni.

Mr Descalzi was awarded an Atlantic Council “distinguished business leadership award” in Washington DC in recognition of the steps Eni has taken towards a more sustainable future.

A photograph posted to the UAE climate envoy social media account showed Dr Al Jaber presenting Mr Descalzi with his award.

“[An] honour to introduce my good friend Claudio Descalzi for much deserved Atlantic Council distinguished business leadership award noting his significant contribution to advancing energy transition,” the tweet read.