We should have been here 10 years ago, says Big Oil at COP28

As the curtains are set to close on COP28, the oil and gas industry remains firmly in the crosshairs as nations deliberate whether an agreement can be reached to phase out fossil fuels.

Throughout the two-week climate summit, environmental activists have unleashed a torrent of criticism toward the oilpatch, not only because the industry is a major contributor to global warming, but also because of the sector's large presence at COP28.

There are at least a few thousand oil and gas representatives attending the climate summit in Dubai, according to one estimate.

"This COP28 has been quite captured by a significant number of fossil fuel lobbyists," said Dean Bhebhe, an environmental campaigner with a group called Don't Gas Africa.

"Just recently we held the largest global day of action, pushing back to end fossil fuels fast, fair and forever," he said.

The conference is being held in OPEC territory and, for the first time, the oil cartel has had its own pavilion space at the climate conference. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, who is leading the talks on behalf of the U.A.E., is also chief executive of the country's national oil company, ADNOC.

Throughout the climate summit, environmental activists have held demonstrations, which often target the oil and gas industry with signs saying 'End fossil fuels,' among many others.

The criticism isn't lost on representatives from the Canadian oil and gas sector who are attending the conference, although they have no role in the actual climate negotiations.

"Clearly, we hear that voice. It's saying, we shouldn't be here," said Kendall Dilling, president of the Pathways Alliance, which represents the major oilsands producers in Alberta.

"The combustion of the products that we produce creates the lion's share of the emissions," he said, in an interview. "We have to come and be a huge part of the solution."

It's not just environmental campaigners, but leading UN officials too, who are wanting the sector's fate to be sealed.

"We must accelerate a just, equitable transition to renewables. The science is clear: The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

"Not reduce. Not abate. Phase out — with a clear timeframe," he said in a speech during the opening days of the summit.

Despite the criticism facing the oilpatch, COP28 organizers have rolled out the red carpet for everyone to be a part of the summit. To tackle climate change, the message from organizers is it will take a co-ordinated effort.