2023-11-28 23:00:21
Edition from Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Innsbruck (OTS) – The 28th World Climate Conference begins tomorrow in the United Arab Emirates. The fact that it is headed by the head of an oil company is criticized. Self-criticism of politics, which has been inactive for decades, would be more necessary – and more honest.
What’s crazy at first glance is that Dubai is hosting this year’s World Climate Conference. In fact, it reflects what climate protection actually is. After the world’s hottest ten months in more than 100,000 years, the head of one of the world’s largest oil companies, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, is chairing the meeting that would have to negotiate how to stop global warming. But COP28 from Thursday will probably inflame this – not only because of the 100,000 kilometers of flights to and from Dubai, but also because of the hot air that is produced there – in the form of declarations of intent and assurances that are not followed by action.
The United Arab Emirates likes to emphasize that it wants to focus on alternative energies – no wonder given that oil sources are soon drying up. But Al Jaber actually used the COP28 preparations to initiate deals on fossil fuel use. The BBC reported this on Monday, citing documents leaked to it.
But getting rid of the oil states would be too cheap. All over the world, political leaders have been made aware of the need for action for decades – and have turned a deaf ear.
A prime example of this is Germany and its automobile industry. Instead of setting the political direction to invest in climate-friendly developments, Angela Merkel and her cabinet allowed car manufacturers to primarily innovate by circumventing existing emissions standards. There is no longer any trace of pioneering spirit, trendsetting or even revolutionary things on four wheels – on the contrary. The good image of one of the country’s most important economic sectors was once over.
However, there is still a lack of insight throughout Europe. The more dramatically the consequences of global warming are felt – even if it is ostensibly just the accumulation of severe storms – the more rabid society’s insistence on leaving everything as it is becomes. Politicians, in turn, react to this by promising that no one will have to restrict themselves. Thanks, incidentally, to those technologies whose development it failed to promote. And which therefore will not be sufficiently available in the foreseeable future, such as green hydrogen. But as long as re-election is at stake, the future of the hard-working children and grandchildren is irrelevant.
And those who draw attention to this through activism are insulted as criminals. That doesn’t give much hope.
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