Climate change activists are loudly decrying the decision to allow Qatar to host the next United Nations carbon emissions summit, while executives in the region look to alter common perception of the oil-producing nation, according to an Associated Press report.
"I describe Qatar as the epicenter of climate change. There is no water, no food. It's barren desert. Any problems to harvest season or productivity outside the Gulf would immediately impact our ability to have access to food at reasonable global prices," says Doha COP18 organizing committee chairman Fahad Bin Mohammad al-Attiya
Avaaz, a climate advocacy group, argues: "having one of the OPEC leaders in charge of climate talks is like asking Dracula to look after a blood bank."
Qatar creates the highest carbon dioxide per capita in the world, casting suspicion on the nation's motivations at the international meeting. The United Arab Emirates' Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, responds: "We don't want to continue to be seen as only an exporter of oil through barrels or gas through pipelines."
He adds, "Our approach should be an energy mix approach where oil and gas continues to play a role, nuclear continues to play a catalytic role but the only energy source that will grow over time will be renewable energy. This is simply because the technology is maturing and the world better recognizes the need for advancing this technology."
Executive secretary of the United Nations Climate Change secretariat Christiana Figueres reassures critics: "I'm not concerned. We are very grateful. Qatar not only offered, but literally fought for the opportunity and privilege of hosting."
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