With the Support of an American Lobby, Why Does the UAE Insist on Hosting COP28?

The Climate Conference is an important annual event and an essential pillar of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is an international treaty signed by most countries in the world in 1994, to limit the impact of bad human activity on the climate.

On November 11, 2021, Egypt and the UAE won the hosting of the 27th  and 28th sessions of the Climate Conference, known as COP27 and COP28.

At that time, the UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid, announced, via Twitter, that his country had won the hosting of the COP28 conference in 2023, stressing that it was a "choice worthy of our country."

However, observers believe that the word "deserved" is controversial for a number of pivotal reasons, as UAE has a notorious and rich record of violating human rights and the environment, inside and outside the country.

 

Suspicious Role

Even the UAE's bid to host the climate conference was not fair enough, as Intelligence Online revealed Washington's prominent role in the UAE's hosting of the United Nations climate conference.

Days before the launch of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, the French magazine confirmed on October 13, 2022, that the UAE had strong support from its ally Washington to host COP28.

It explained that American Democrats directly supported Abu Dhabi's offer through a major public relations campaign run by GMMB, an American pressure group.

It also stated that Washington has promoted that COP28 will be held in November 2023 at the site Expo 2020 Dubai, which has turned into a center for renewable energy under the name Expo City Dubai, in order to persuade the majority of UN member states to vote in favor of the UAE.

The magazine said that Mohammed bin Zayed used the American Communications Group (GMMB), which worked in the past on the campaigns of previous presidential elections for US presidents: Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and current President Joe Biden.

Following the success of his plan, bin Zayed said in a tweet that UAE is pleased to host the UAE Climate Conference in 2023, coordinating efforts in climate action among the countries of the world, as it is an opportunity to enhance environmental protection and achieve sustainable economic growth. He said that he welcomes cooperation with the international community to ensure the prosperity of mankind.

 

Kerry and the Emirates

The GMMB was set up by Jim Margolis, a former personal relations advisor to three US presidents.

This group allowed the UAE to have the right to host the 28 Cup through a campaign that began long before it officially requested to host the event in May 2021.

It received final approval at COP26, hosted by Glasgow in November 2021.

GMMB found in the person of the US special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry, an ideal supporter of this campaign, as Margulis served as an advisor during his presidential campaign in 2004.

Through the large communications operations organized by the American company, Kerry praised, during his various media appearances, the efforts of the UAE and Mohammed bin Zayed in the field of sustainable development.

Kerry's role is a pivotal and differentiator in the UAE's hosting of the event, as he is one of the most prominent figures internationally.

Kerry served as Secretary of State under former US President Barack Obama (2013-2017) and attended the regional climate dialogue organized by Abu Dhabi in April 2021, accompanied by a high-level US delegation.

He also held meetings with the close circle of then Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, including his son Khaled and National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed.

The conference was used to urge countries worldwide to participate in supporting the UAE's request to host COP28.

Indeed, Kerry's trip at the time was crowned with success, especially after his meeting with the Bahraini special envoy for climate, Mohammed bin Mubarak, who was actively involved at that time in Bahrain's efforts to establish advanced relations with "Israel."

 

'Israel's Favorite'

The choice of GMMB was not random. Margulis was already involved in the UAE's successful bid in 2009 to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which served as the preferred meeting place for Israeli and Emirati diplomats during the pre-normalization period.

On that occasion, GMMB hired the little-known company Unkommon, whose team spent two months in Abu Dhabi, to develop a media penetration strategy to support the Emirati bid.

In the 2000s, that company led the GMMB's "Save Darfur" campaign, which doubled the percentage of donations to Save Darfur, a coalition of humanitarian NGOs working for political ends.

All of these UAE-paid organizations, companies, and lobbyists played a role in facilitating its hosting of the 2023 Climate Summit.

However, the choice of the UAE to host COP28 caused controversy among international human rights organizations, and Amnesty International condemned the decision to choose the UAE and Egypt to organize the climate conference in November 2021.

Amnesty said that what it is doing on climate change ensures human rights in climate change.

"Given the urgency of the climate crisis, our role is to help galvanize the human rights community by showing how climate change is impacting people's rights," it added.

Amnesty also stated that the choice of two countries (the UAE and Egypt) around which there are doubts about their human rights record collides with Amnesty International's support for indigenous peoples, trade unions, and affected local communities.

It indicated that it would resort to lawsuits and use national and regional human rights mechanisms as additional tools to maintain pressure on them.

 

Bad Record

Abu Dhabi is eagerly awaiting the convening of COP28 on its soil as an opportunity to showcase its own bright face in its own experience in the transformation of renewable energy.

For years, the UAE has been seeking, through international forums, such as the climate conference or the membership of the United Nations, to wash its reputation as a result of its appalling human rights record, which has exposed it in recent years.

On October 14, 2021, for the third time, the UAE was elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, despite the many reports from international human rights organizations that talk about violations committed inside and outside the country, especially in countries such as Yemen and Libya.

Although the leaders of the Emirates, headed by Mohammed bin Zayed, made great efforts to present the country as progressive, tolerant, and respectful of rights.

But the opposite is true, as the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) asserted that governments like the UAE that seriously violate human rights, inside and outside the country, should not belong to the Human Rights Council.

The organization said in a statement that it called for the release of prisoners of conscience.

Ahmed Mansoor (detained since 2017), Mohammed al-Roken (since 2012), and many others are detained in the UAE for their peaceful expression of their views. They must all be released immediately, according to the organization.

The international organization stressed that for years, the UAE has ignored the mechanisms and experts of the Human Rights Council and has not allowed any United Nations special rapporteur to visit the country since 2014.

On October 11, 2021, Salma el-Hosseiny, Director of the Human Rights Council Program at the International Service for Human Rights, said that the fact that the UAE was eventually elected is infuriating.