Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE)
Berlin, Germany
To the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat,
We are writing to urge the UNFCCC Secretariat to cancel the upcoming COP 28 summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As an organization committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and sustainable development, we believe that holding such a summit in the UAE sends the wrong message about the global fight against climate change.
The UAE is a country that has made significant progress in the development of renewable energy, particularly through investments in solar power. However, this progress must be viewed in the context of the country’s overall reliance on fossil fuels, particularly oil and gas. The UAE is the fourth-largest oil producer in OPEC, and according to the World Bank, oil and gas accounted for 31% of the country’s GDP in 2019.
Furthermore, the UAE has been criticized for its human rights record, including restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly. In recent years, the UAE has cracked down on political dissent, targeting activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. The country has also been accused of arbitrary detention, torture, and other forms of mistreatment of prisoners.
In addition, the UAE is a country where democratic processes and the rule of law are not fully established. The country is an absolute monarchy, and while it has an elected parliament, the parliament’s powers are limited. The UAE has also been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability, particularly in the area of public finances.
Given these factors, we believe that holding the COP 28 summit in the UAE sends the wrong message about the seriousness of the global fight against climate change. By choosing the UAE as the host country, the UNFCCC Secretariat risks sending a signal that economic interests and renewable energy investments are more important than democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
We believe that holding the summit in the UAE could also undermine the credibility of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, which are based on the principles of democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. The Paris Agreement recognizes the importance of promoting and respecting human rights in the context of climate action, and states that parties should ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, in the implementation of the Agreement.
Furthermore, holding the COP 28 summit in the UAE could pose a risk to the safety and security of participants, particularly human rights defenders and activists. The UAE has a track record of targeting and intimidating activists and journalists, and there are concerns that the country could use the summit as an opportunity to crack down on dissent.
We believe that the UNFCCC Secretariat should reconsider its decision to hold the COP 28 summit in the UAE and choose an alternative location that is committed to democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. There are several countries that could serve as alternative hosts for the summit, including Norway, Finland, or Costa Rica, which have strong commitments to human rights, democracy, and sustainability.
In conclusion, we urge the UNFCCC Secretariat to cancel the COP 28 summit in the UAE and choose an alternative location that is committed to democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. Holding the summit in the UAE would send the wrong message about the global fight against climate change and could undermine the credibility of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Deutsche Institut für Demokratie und Entwicklung (DIDE)
