1 CLIMATE CRISIS
Cop28 head cornered over fossil fuel phase-out claim
The president of Cop28 was forced to mount a fierce defence of his views on climate science, after the Guardian revealed his comment that there was “no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C”.
Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates’ state oil company, Adnoc, said at a press conference at the summit in Dubai, which is due to conclude on 12 December: “I respect the science in everything I do. I have repeatedly said that it is the science that has guided the principles or strategy as Cop28 president. We have always built everything, every step of the way, on the science, on the facts.”
Al Jaber made the controversial comments in ill-tempered responses to the former UN climate envoy Mary Robinson during an online event on 21 November. At the press conference, Al Jaber said: “I have incredible respect for Mary Robinson.”
He added: “I have said over and over the phase-down and the phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable. In fact, it is essential.”
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2 UKRAINE
White House pleads with Congress for $61bn for Kyiv
The White House has said it is “out of money and nearly out of time” to provide more weapons to Ukraine as it tries to ward off Russia’s invasion unless Congress acts to approve additional funding and support. The warning, issued on Monday in a letter to congressional leaders, laid out how the government has already gone through about $111bn appropriated for Ukraine military aid.
The latest plea for money comes after the White House asked Congress to act on a $100bn supplemental funding request in October, arguing that it “advances our national security and supports our allies and partners”.
