COP28 Controversies: How Oil Companies are Impacting Climate Change Talks

In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the controversies surrounding COP28, and the climate change talks taking place in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE, known for its oil and gas production, has raised concerns as leaks suggest discussions on increasing fossil fuel production rather than reducing it. Andrew emphasizes the need for collective action and challenges the influence of the fossil fuel industry.

Tune in to stay informed on the latest news and controversies from COP28.

Links to articles:
1) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gw5km0
2) https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sultan-al-jaber-the-uae-oil-boss-steering-cop28/ar-AA1kANVx

In this episode, the host actively encourages listeners to engage with the podcast by providing feedback and sharing their passion. They provide two ways for listeners to reach out: sending emails through the website speakupforblue.com and leaving voice messages by clicking on the microphone icon on the website. This convenient and direct communication allows listeners to easily share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas with the host.

The host expresses a genuine interest in hearing from listeners and emphasizes the importance of their feedback. They specifically mention their desire to hear the passion in listeners' voices and encourage them to leave voice messages. This demonstrates the host's appreciation for the input and perspectives of their audience.

By actively encouraging feedback and engagement, the host aims to foster a community of involved and passionate listeners. They want to understand what listeners enjoy about the podcast, why they listen to it, and what they gain from it. This valuable feedback helps the host tailor future episodes and content to better meet the needs and interests of their audience.

Overall, the host's commitment to creating an interactive and listener-focused podcast is evident through their encouragement for listeners to send emails or leave voice messages. They value and appreciate the input of their audience, making the podcast responsive to feedback.

In this episode, the host highlights the importance of reducing fossil fuel dependence and promoting renewable energy. They mention Clean Energy Canada, a program in Canada that focuses on reducing the use of fossil fuel technologies and implementing alternative energy sources like heat pumps for residences instead of oil heating. The host also emphasizes the significance of sending skilled negotiators to international climate change meetings, such as COP28, to reach agreements that promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel production. This urgency to transition to renewable energy technologies is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change and protecting the planet.

The host also emphasizes the need to include oil and gas representatives in climate conversations for a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy. They explain that excluding these leaders from the talks may make them feel left out and excluded. The host argues that involving these representatives in the discussions is necessary for a successful transition to low-carbon energy processes. They mention that the president, Jabbar, supports this inclusion approach and wants oil and gas representatives to be part of COP28. Additionally, the host highlights that Jabbar, as the leader of COP28 and a chief executive in the oil industry, has been collaborating with oil and gas companies to reduce emissions. They mention that over 20 companies have committed to emission reductions at COP28, and a final deal on this commitment is expected to be announced at the conference. The host acknowledges that concerns may arise regarding potential conflicts of interest due to Jabbar's involvement in the oil and gas industry. However, they also recognize the significant role of money in these meetings and the potential for influential industry leaders to drive substantial outcomes.