In an attempt to sway opinions on fossil fuels, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) organized an event, “Special Day – OPEC and the Youth,” on the fringes of the COP28 negotiations in Dubai on Sunday. The event featured a presentation at the OPEC pavilion on the summit grounds, followed by what was termed a “campfire chat.”
Despite the divisive nature of fossil fuel discussions at the climate summit, roughly a dozen young people, including some anti-fossil fuel activists, attended the session. OPEC officials at the event conveyed a straightforward message: the world’s rapid population growth ensures a continued demand for oil, while renewable energy remains both expensive and limited.
Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC’s Secretary General, urged the audience to envision a population surge equivalent to “50 Londons” by 2030, emphasizing the substantial additional energy required. London’s current population is approximately 9 million.
During the session, an OPEC representative highlighted the vital role of fossil fuels in the medical sector, posing a question about the priority of sustainability when someone urgently needs medical attention.
Meanwhile, activists from the organization 350.org briefly entered the pavilion, chanting demands for a phase-out of fossil fuels. This references a proposed language in the COP28 final agreement, calling for the first time for a gradual elimination of fossil fuel usage, the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. OPEC vehemently opposes this proposal, having earlier urged its members and allies to reject any targeting of fossil fuels in the summit’s final deal.
Engaging in a debate outside the pavilion, another OPEC representative discussed the future of oil with some of the young activists. Within the OPEC pavilion, everyday items made from or powered by petroleum products, such as a soccer ball and a miniature school bus, were on display. A hand-written chalkboard easel declared, “Special day-OPEC and the Youth.”
Michael Matchell, representing Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, expressed disappointment, stating that OPEC missed a crucial opportunity to engage with young people about climate change, opting instead to reiterate its own arguments.