The head of the OPEC oil cartel, Haitham Al-Ghais, has instructed members to oppose any agreement at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai that would impact the production and sales of fossil fuels. In a letter dated Dec. 6, Al-Ghais warned that there was increasing pressure to target fossil fuels, which he described as “politically motivated campaigns” against oil-rich nations. The letter was sent to ministers in all 13 OPEC countries and 10 additional nations in the OPEC Plus group, including Russia. Al-Ghais urged the petroleum producers to reject any text that targets fossil fuels instead of emissions. The burning of fossil fuels is contributing to dangerous global warming. The OPEC letter sets up a potential conflict between its member states and other nations, including the United States, that want to transition away from fossil fuels. Scientists assert that countries must stop using coal, gas, and oil to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The summit in Dubai faces increasing pressure to take action as climate disasters continue to worsen globally. If nations do agree to phase out or reduce fossil fuels, it would be a historic moment, as past climate deals have avoided mentioning them. Saudi Arabia has attempted to block proposals for a fossil fuel phaseout at the summit, and there are concerns about the heavy presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at the event.
