Kenya Endorses COP 28 President designate Sultan Al Jaber Amidst Protests by PanAfrican Climate Civil Societies to have him step down.

Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday evening in a meeting with various stakeholders on Climate Change, Dr Sultan Al Jaber expressed his commitment to deliver a fruitful COP 28 in the midst of different civil organizations in Africa calling on him to step down. 

“We nee results, we need Action at Cop 28 otherwise we will not provide the transformation progress we all need, to do that we need to stop the polarization and start building partnerships commitments that can be translated to Action and results.” He added

Flagging Al Jaber during a meeting with various Climate Change stakeholders in Nairobi, Kenya, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Environment Soipan Tuya said that the agenda of Kenya is to work with like-minded individuals for purpose of attaining a common goal during United Nations Conference of Parties meeting later in the year.

“I want to report that you are among the first to confirm attendance for our summit in September, Our summit is poised to have a seamless alignment to Cop 28, We have had several unsuccessful COPs, We are here to support you and hope that you will deliver that which the Globe is looking out to. “She stated.

This even as the Pan African Civil Societies continued the push for Al Jaber to step down from the Cop 28 presidency, citing Conflict of interests expressing fear that outcome of COP 28 which will be held in Dubai later in the year might be worse than the past COPS on Climate Change.

According to Philip Kilonzo- Policy, Advocacy, and Communication Lead at Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, said that the fact that Kenyan Government is support of Al Jaber appointment, he emphasized on the Pan African Civil Societies stand.

“ The government of Kenya has its own rights, we speak for a constituent of over 51 countries with over one thousands Civil organizations, our position is that he is unfit to hold that position due to cooperate conflict of interests.” He maintained.

According to Mr.Mwangi Waituru- Policy and Advocacy Advisor Africa- VSO Kenya, developed countries have always taken for granted the efforts to have the world attain Global goal of reducing Carbon emissions by 1.5 degrees as they have continued to explore Fossil fuel for selfish interest which have effects more on African Continent.

Pan-African Civil Societies who snubbed the Sultan’s invite to share on a common ideology; in a parallel address, emphasized the need to have Al Jaber step down from the presidency urging United Arabs Emirates to consider a different person who will be neutral in Climate Change negotiations for the COP 28 presidency post.

In a quick rejoinder Sultan Al Jaber said that he is focused to the main course of the conference saying he is not shaken by the noises, which he termed as side, shows. 

Al Jaber stated that his intensions are clear and neutral to the task ahead of him focusing to have fruitful negotiations to end the never-ending climate change empty discussions. “I don’t pay much attention to the noise surrounding us, we all understand that this is Cop 28 and not COP number one, you have witnessed 27 COPs, in order for us to deliver a game changer COP we must all be united to deliver COP 28.”He said.

Al Jaber who had earlier attended Africa Energy Forum, at KICC, Nairobi, Kenya, further committed to ensure a transparent and inclusive process in the lead-up to COP 28 to be convened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 to 12 December 2023.