DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Saudi Arabia's lavish sports push will now embrace snooker — and introduce a new golden ball
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia will hold its first major invitational snooker event in March as the kingdom continues to make sizable investments into a growing number of sports. The "Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker" will take place between March 4 to March 6 at Boulevard Arena in the capital of Riyadh. Games of snooker — a cue sport like billiards that is very popular in the U.K. and China — will take place under current World Snooker rules but with the introduction of a 23rd ball referred to as the "Riyadh Season" ball. This golden ball will be worth 20 points but will only be pottable on completing a maximum break. "We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom," said Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Persons: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan —, Luca Brecel, Turki Alalshikh, Alalshikh Organizations: Morningside Arena, Boulevard Arena, Saudi General Entertainment Authority Locations: Leicester, England, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, China

☆ U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil sues activist investors to prevent climate proposals
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in San Francisco, California, on November 15, 2023. Exxon Mobil filed a lawsuit against U.S. and Dutch activist investors in a bid to stop them from submitting climate proposals during the oil giant's annual shareholder meeting. An Exxon Mobil win in the proceedings could have a chilling impact on future shareholder petitions. The Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. financial regulator, has overseen a growing number of environmental and social shareholder proposals during the past two proxy seasons. In an emailed statement, Exxon Mobil said "the breakdown of the shareholder proposal process, one that allows proponents to advance their agendas through a flood of proposals, does not serve the interests of investors."

Persons: Darren Woods Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, Exxon Mobil, U.S, Northern, Northern District of, Arjuna, Securities, Exchange Commission Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Northern District, Northern District of Texas, Massachusetts, Amsterdam

☆ Saudi Arabia's soccer dream suffers a setback with high-profile departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Henderson acknowledges the crowd after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Damak at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Sept. 2, 2023 in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia. England international Jordan Henderson abruptly ended his playing time in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, dealing a blow to the kingdom's ambitious plans to make its domestic league an international soccer hub. Former Liverpool captain Henderson on Thursday signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Dutch side Ajax shortly after the 33-year-old agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Henderson's U-turn on playing in the Saudi Pro League comes six months after his controversial decision to sign with the club. Henderson's hasty exit from Saudi Arabia marks the end of "a miserable episode in a previously exemplary career," according to BBC Sport's chief soccer writer, and raises questions about both the midfielder's reputation as well as the image of the Saudi Pro League.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd, Henderson, Saudi Arabia's, Henderson's, Al Ettifaq Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, England, Saudi Arabia's Pro League, Liverpool, Dutch, Ajax, Saudi, BBC Locations: Prince, Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia

☆ ‘The Western world is in danger’: Argentina’s Milei, a self-described ‘anarcho-capitalist,’ urges Davos elite to reject socialism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Argentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 17, 2024. "Today, I'm here to tell you that the Western world is in danger," Milei said in a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to a translation. "Rebuilding Trust" is the overarching theme of the annual WEF meeting. WEF founder Klaus Schwab introduced Milei to the stage in Davos by saying his "more radical methods" had "introduced a new spirit to Argentina." "The main leaders of the Western world have abandoned the model of freedom for different versions of what we call collectivism.

Persons: Javier Milei, Fabrice COFFRINI, FABRICE COFFRINI, Milei, Donald Trump, WEF, Klaus Schwab Organizations: Economic, Getty, Reuters Locations: Davos, AFP, Switzerland, Swiss, Argentina

☆ Mega rich renew call on global leaders at Davos to 'tax our extreme wealth'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Austrian Marlene Engelhorn, who inherited from her family who owns the Germany's chemical giant BASF, poses with a placard reading "Tax the rich!" at the entrance of the Congress center on the opening of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, on January 15, 2024. In an open letter to political leaders gathered at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the rich signatories said they wished to deliver a clear message: "Tax our extreme wealth." "We are surprised that you have failed to answer a simple question that we have been asking for three years: when will you tax extreme wealth?" But it will turn extreme and unproductive private wealth into an investment for our common democratic future."

Persons: Marlene Engelhorn, Fabrice COFFRINI, FABRICE COFFRINI, Abigail Disney, Simon Pegg, Valerie Rockefeller, Brian Cox, Logan Roy, Cox Organizations: BASF, Economic, Getty, Oxfam Locations: Davos, AFP, Switzerland, HBO's

☆ UN chief calls for global risk management of AI, warns of 'serious unintended consequences'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"It's good to be back and see Davos highlighting the global crisis in trust," Guterres said in his opening remarks. In a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Guterres warned that the rapid development of AI could result in "serious unintended consequences." "Every new interaction of generative AI increases the risk of serious unintended consequences. "These two issues, climate and AI, are exhaustively discussed by governments, by the media and by leaders here in Davos. "The reason is simple, geopolitical divides are preventing us from coming together around global solutions for global challenges.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Fabrice COFFRINI, FABRICE COFFRINI, WEF, Guterres, António Guterres, Satya Nadella, — CNBC's Ryan Browne Organizations: Economic, Getty, United Nations, Microsoft, International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Davos, AFP, Switzerland, U.S

☆ IMF warns AI to hit almost 40% of jobs worldwide and worsen overall inequality
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The IMF noted that about 60% of jobs could be impacted by AI in high-income nations, and roughly half of these may benefit from AI integration to boost productivity. Comparatively, AI exposure was estimated to come in at 40% in emerging markets and at 26% in low-income countries, respectively. The findings suggest that emerging markets and low-income countries face fewer disruptions from AI in the short-term. The IMF also flagged that AI could affect income and wealth inequality within countries, warning of "polarization within income brackets." The IMF report comes as business and political leaders from around the world gather at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Kristalina Georgieva, Georgieva, Goldman Sachs, WEF Organizations: Economic, Bloomberg, Getty, Monetary Fund, D.C, IMF Locations: Davos, Switzerland, The Washington

☆ U.S.-owned container vessel struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile off the coast of Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S.-owned and operated container ship on Monday was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization said authorities were investigating the incident, which occurred southeast of Aden in Yemen. It comes shortly after the U.S. and U.K. launched joint strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Iran-backed group has been attacking ships traversing the Red Sea since late last year, wreaking havoc on global trade and drawing international condemnation. The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, Marshall, UKMTO Organizations: U.S . Central Command, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Locations: Israel, Sana'a, Yemen, U.S, Gibraltar, Aden, Iran, Gaza

☆ Who are the Houthis? U.S. and U.K. strikes thrust Iran-backed group into the global spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

SANA'A, YEMEN - DECEMBER 03: Members of the Houthi-run Military Special Forces guard during a funeral procession of Houthi fighters at Al-Sha'ab Mosque on December 03, 2023 in Sana'a, Yemen. The strikes come after the Houthis defied a warning to stop targeting international maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which has wreaked havoc on global trade. This includes the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on January 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt.

Persons: Mohammed Hamoud, —, Netherlands —, Joe Biden, Allah, Hussein Badr Eddin, Yemenis, Israel, Michael Page, Mohammed Abdulsalam, Sayed Hassan Organizations: Special Forces, Al, Getty, The U.S . Air Force, U.S . Central Command, Gaza, Watch, Human Rights, Hezbollah, Sea Locations: SANA'A, YEMEN, Sha'ab, Sana'a, Yemen, Iranian, Red, The, United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Netherlands, Islam, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Al, Gaza, Israel, East, North Africa, Mandeb, Aden, Iran, U.S, Palestine, Suez, Ismailia, Egypt

☆ Record thunderstorm losses and deadly earthquakes cost $250 billion in damages in 2023, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Destructive thunderstorms in North America and Europe and a series of devastating earthquakes last year cost the world around $250 billion in damages, according to a new report from the world's largest reinsurance company. In Europe, thunderstorm losses amounted to $10 billion, of which $8 billion was insured. It said such high thunderstorm losses were unprecedented for the U.S. and Europe. Munich Re said that while the economic and insured losses from 2023 may not appear extraordinary, it marks another year of "extremely high" damages even without any so-called mega-disasters in industrialized countries. In 2022, for example, Hurricane Ian was found to have resulted in overall economic losses of a whopping $100 billion and insured losses of $60 billion.

Persons: Hurricane Ian, Ernst Rauch, Rauch Organizations: Munich Re, U.S, CNBC, videoconference Locations: North America, Europe, Munich

☆ Norway poised to open vast ocean area to controversial deep-sea mining
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activists take part at a "Look Down action" rally to stop deep sea mining outside the European Parliament in Brussels on March 6, 2023. In a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, lawmakers in the northern European country are expected to approve the government's proposal to open Norwegian waters for commercial-scale deep-sea mining. Critics say deep-sea mining is "extremely destructive," while scientists warn the full environmental impacts are hard to predict. Ocean Rebellions protest The Deep Sea Says No Why the deep sea? (Photo by Charles M. Vella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Persons: Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD, KENZO TRIBOUILLARD, Kenzo Tribouillard, What's, Luciana, Charles M Organizations: Getty, Afp, Environmental Justice Foundation, European Commission, SOUTH Locations: Brussels, AFP, Norway, Svalbard, ROTTERDAM, SOUTH HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS

☆ Hottest year on record puts Earth in touching distance of critical warming threshold, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Greece has been struggling with forest fires that could not be controlled for 10 days on July 27, 2023 in Rhodes, Greece. Scientists on Tuesday confirmed 2023 as the hottest year on record and warned that the planet is now within touching distance of smashing through the critical warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The 12-month period ended with a global average temperature of 14.98 degrees Celsius, almost 0.2 degree Celsius higher than the previous record set in 2016. What's more, the EU's climate change service said two days in November were found to have surpassed 2 degrees Celsius for the first time ever. Samantha Burgess, deputy director of C3S, said in a statement Tuesday that 2023 was "an exceptional year with climate records tumbling like dominoes."

Persons: C3S, Samantha Burgess Locations: Greece, Rhodes

☆ ‘Bad case of déjà vu’: Oil industry veteran to lead next round of UN climate talks in Azerbaijan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Azerbaijan's Minister for ecology and natural resources and formerly an executive at state oil company SOCAR Mukhtar Babayev (C) visits at the Norm cement plant in Baku, on February 23, 2023. Azerbaijan named on January 5, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev minister to preside over the November 2024 COP29 meeting, in Baku, on January 6, 2024. A former executive of Azerbaijan's state-owned oil and gas firm SOCAR has been picked to lead U.N. climate talks in Baku later this year, prompting critics to decry a "bad case of déjà vu." It means that a minister with vast experience in oil and gas will lead negotiations at the U.N.'s biggest and most important annual climate conference for the second consecutive year. Campaign group Global Witness said Babayev's appointment as the person to lead COP29 discussions was a "bad case of déjà vu."

Persons: SOCAR Mukhtar Babayev, Mukhtar, decry, Mukhtar Babayev, Babayev, Jaber, COP28, Alice Harrison, Harrison Organizations: Norm, United, Emirates, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Global, United Nations, CNBC Locations: Baku, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan's, Sultan Al, Dubai, Abu Dhabi

☆ Killing of senior Hamas leader in Lebanon stokes fears of Gaza war spreading beyond enclave
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The destroyed Hamas' office that was attacked by Israel on 02 January killing Palestinian leader Saleh al-Arouri and six others pictured from shattered glass in Beirut southern suburb. The killing of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon's capital of Beirut has sparked fears that the war in Gaza could spread beyond the Palestinian enclave. Lebanon has claimed Israel is responsible for the blast and accused Israel of trying to drag Beirut into a regional war. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike, while an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a "surgical" hit on Hamas, rather than an attack on Lebanon. A spokesperson for Israel's military has said it was "highly prepared for any scenario" after the assassination of al-Arouri.

Persons: Saleh al, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sanam Vakil, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Chatham House Locations: Israel, Beirut, Lebanon's, Gaza, Al, Lebanon, East, North Africa, British

☆ El Niño's 'sweet tooth' means indulgent treats could soon be even more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-25 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Futures contracts on orange juice , cocoa , coffee and sugar have soared in part because of extreme weather and supply concerns related to El Niño. "You can say El Niño has a sweet tooth because it sort of eats or takes away much of the sugar in the world," Carlos Mera, head of agri commodities market research at Netherlands-based Rabobank, told CNBC. "Sugar prices have probably already been passed on [to consumers] but certainly for chocolate we should expect a big increase at retail level — and El Niño is certainly something to watch." Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe effects of El Niño tend to peak during December, but the impact typically takes time to spread across the globe. It also warned that several crops could be adversely affected by El Niño early next year, while acknowledging there is the potential for some crops to benefit, citing those in the United States, southern Brazil and Argentina.

Persons: El, Carlos Mera, El Niño, Joe Raedle, Dave Reiter, Reiter, Sia Kambou Organizations: Future Publishing, Rabobank, CNBC, Getty, Reiter Capital Investments, Twitter, Workers, Afp Locations: Yichang City, China's Hubei, Netherlands, El, Orange, Miami , Florida, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, Africa, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Florida, Hermankono

☆ What the COP28 deal means for the U.S. as oil and gas production hits record levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The agreement, known as the global stocktake, was hailed as "historic" by COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber during his closing speech. Samuel Corum | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesU.S. climate envoy John Kerry said Wednesday that the COP28 agreement "sends very strong messages to the world." The fight to end oil, gas and coal must now be taken up at the country level with the United States leading the way. Fossil fuels and climate financeUnder Biden, the U.S. passed the most aggressive climate investment ever taken by Congress, a bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act. Nonetheless, the White House has frequently received sharp criticism over its plans to expand oil and gas production.

Persons: Joe Biden, Cyril Ramaphosa, Joe Biden's, Sultan al, Jaber, Samuel Corum, John Kerry, Kerry, Jean Su, Jason Bordoff, Su, Nikki Reisch, Reisch, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Brandon Bell Organizations: White, Washington , D.C, Bloomberg, Getty, European Union, Washington Hilton, United, Center for Biological, . Energy, Administration, Russia, Center, Global Energy, Columbia University, CNBC, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for International Environmental, U.S, Biden, Marathon El Locations: South, Washington ,, Connecticut, Washington , DC, United States, China, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, America, Marathon El Paso Refinery, El Paso , Texas, The U.S

COP28 president Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber speaks during the Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change event on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit at Dubai Expo on December 1, 2023. "We delivered world first after world first," the UAE summit presidency said in a further social media update. And we have language on fossil fuels in our final agreement." Many believed the COP28 summit could only be considered a success if it resulted in a deal to phase out all fossil fuels. COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber sparked a backlash earlier this month after he claimed there is "no science" behind calls for a phase-out of fossil fuels.

Persons: Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Ludovic Marin, Licypriya Kangujam, Sean Gallup, Wopke Hoekstra, Alok Sharma, Sharma, CNBC's, Simon Stiell, We're, John Kerry, Selma de Montgomery, Avinash Persaud, Mikhail Gitarskiy, Sultan al, Jaber, he'd, Al Organizations: Food Systems, Dubai Expo, Afp, Getty Images, UAE Consensus, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Getty, Russian, BBC, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co Locations: Dubai, UAE, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Pacific, Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia, North America, Paris, United States, China, Denmark, Barbados, Moscow, Abu Dhabi

☆ A ‘thirsty’ generative AI boom poses a growing problem for Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, published a study in April investigating the resources needed to run buzzy generative AI models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Hundreds of millions of monthly users all submitting questions on the popular chatbot quickly illustrates just how "thirsty" AI models can be. The study's authors warned that if the growing water footprint of AI models is not sufficiently addressed, the issue could become a major roadblock to the socially responsible and sustainable use of AI in the future. For Google, meanwhile, total water consumption at its data centers and offices came in at 5.6 billion gallons in 2022, a 21% increase on the year before. watch nowIt's notable, however, that their latest water consumption figures were disclosed before the launch of their own respective ChatGPT competitors.

Persons: Shaolei Ren, Ren, Eitan Abramovich, OpenAI, Somya Joshi, Microsoft's Bing, Bard, Joshi, Paul Hanna Organizations: UNITED, EMIRATES, Tech, Microsoft, Google, University of California, Uruguay's Central Union, CNT, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Big Tech, Meta, SEI, U.S ., Stockholm Environment Institute, United, Inc, Talavera de la Reina, Bloomberg Locations: Dubai, Riverside, Montevideo, U.S, Stockholm, United Arab Emirates, Talavera de, Spain

☆ ‘It’s game on’: The world’s largest iceberg is on the move. Scientists explain why it matters
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"It's just astonishingly big and it's a reminder of how much risk we're at from sea level rise." "Antarctica has historically been quite a small contributor to sea level rise, but it is growing, and it is taking up a bigger and bigger share of the sea level rise that we see every year," he added. "So, it's a symbol of the growing dominance of Antarctica in the sea level rise equation." This temperature threshold is widely recognized as crucial because so-called tipping points become more likely beyond this level. Tipping points are thresholds at which small changes can lead to dramatic shifts in Earth's entire life support system.

Persons: Robbie Mallett, A23a, Mallett, Mallet, That's, Gail Whiteman, Taalas, Hollie Adams, NASA Modis Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Continent, University of College London, CNBC, United, NASA, World Meteorological Organization, University of Exeter, WMO, Expo, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Antarctica, New York City, United Arab Emirates, South Georgia, Dubai, COP28, Green

☆ 'Beyond justification': Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists attend COP28 climate talks in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A man wearing a thawb walks past flags of nations participating in the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference the day before its official opening on November 29, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nearly 2,500 fossil fuel lobbyists are estimated to have been granted access to the COP28 climate conference in the United Arab Emirates, according to an analysis from advocacy groups, reflecting a sharp increase from last year. A report published Tuesday by the Kick Big Polluters Out coalition found that at least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists registered to attend the two-week long summit. That's more than almost every other country delegation, except for Brazil (3,081) and COP28 host the United Arab Emirates (4,409), the analysis said. Campaigners say the number of fossil fuel lobbyists attending the talks is "beyond justification" and signals that polluting industries are seeking to advance a fossil fuel agenda at the expense of frontline communities.

Persons: Ernest Moniz, Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan, Big Organizations: United Arab Emirates, International Energy Agency, CNBC, Polluters, Climate Action Network Locations: Dubai, United Arab, DUBAI, Brazil

☆ Oil CEO says blaming the energy industry for the climate crisis ‘like blaming farmers for obesity’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

watch nowDUBAI, United Arab Emirates —The chief executive of UAE-based energy firm Crescent Petroleum on Tuesday claimed that blaming the oil and gas industry for the climate crisis "is like blaming farmers for obesity." The burning of coal, oil and gas is by far the largest contributor to climate change, accounting for more than three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. "Blaming the producers of oil and gas for climate change is like blaming farmers for obesity. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said that the announcement was "a step in the right direction" for Big Oil and showed that the fossil fuel industry was "finally starting to wake up." Others, including former U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, believe that the participation of energy giants should be welcomed at events such as COP28.

Persons: Majid Jafar, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Abu, COP28, António Guterres, Jafar, We're, Ernest Moniz Organizations: United Arab Emirates —, UAE, Petroleum, Crescent Petroleum, Crescent Petroleum Co, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, United Arab Emirates national, Expo, Bloomberg, Getty, Big Oil, U.S . Energy Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, U.N, New York

☆ Time to say 'the F-words'? A fossil fuel fight takes center stage at the COP28 climate summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Sultan al-Jaber, president of the UNFCCC COP28 climate conference, speaks during day two of the summit on Dec. 2, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesDubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — A fight over the future of fossil fuels has been thrust into the global spotlight at the COP28 climate summit. "Unabated" fossil fuels are largely understood to be produced and used without substantial reductions in the amount of emitted greenhouse gases. "[It is] important to say that more fossil fuels equal more loss and damage, so these two issues are actually quite intertwined." Notably, at last year's COP27 conference in Egypt, more than 80 countries supported a fossil fuel phase-out commitment in the final agreement.

Persons: Sultan al, Jaber, Sean Gallup, Johan Rockstrom, There's, Darren Woods, Catherine Abreu, Abreu Organizations: Getty, Getty Images, UNITED, EMIRATES, Potsdam Institute, Climate, Climate Impact Research, CNBC, AG, United Arab, Oil, Exxon Mobil Locations: Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Getty Images Dubai, COP28, Salzgitter, Germany, Russia, Egypt

☆ COP28 president sparks outcry after claims there’s ‘no science’ behind fossil fuel phase out
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sultan Al-Jaber, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and president of COP28, speaks in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber is facing a backlash over his claim that there is "no science" behind calls for a phase out of fossil fuels — a demand that many believe will ultimately determine the success of the U.N. climate conference. In comments first reported on Sunday by The Guardian and investigative journalism organization the Centre for Climate Reporting, COP28 president and United Arab Emirates climate chief Al-Jaber suggested a fossil fuel phase out would not allow sustainable development "unless you want to take the world back into caves." He added that he'd been surprised by the "constant and repeated attempts to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency." "The COP President is clear that phasing down and out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we must keep 1.5°C within reach.

Persons: Sultan Al, Jaber, Abu, Michael Mann, Al, U.N, Antonio Guterres, he'd Organizations: Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, COP28, UNITED, EMIRATES —, The Guardian, Climate, United, Al, University of Pennsylvania, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, CNBC Locations: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Al

☆ IMF chief makes the case for carbon pricing as 'writing on the wall' for oil and gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, speaks during the Singapore FinTech Festival in Singapore, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — The head of the International Monetary Fund on Sunday underlined the case for carbon pricing at the COP28 climate summit, saying that the oil and gas industry recognizes "the writing on the wall." A long-time proponent of carbon pricing, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said this approach creates an incentive for polluters to rapidly decarbonize. Carbon pricing ascertains the cost that a company needs to pay for its planet-warming emissions and is widely regarded as the most cost-effective and flexible way to cut such pollution. "For those that have adopted a carbon price, how do we get big emitters to accept that we need to accelerate decarbonization?"

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, Georgieva, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Nature Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Singapore FinTech Festival, UNITED, EMIRATES, IMF Locations: Singapore, Dubai

☆ John Kerry responds to COP28 president's claim there's 'no science' behind fossil fuel phase out
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The remarks, which were made by Al-Jaber during a live online event on Nov. 21, were described as "farcical" by climate scientists. Asked to respond to Al-Jaber's comments, Kerry replied, "That's not the argument." watch nowA spokesperson for COP28 wasn't immediately available to comment when asked about Al-Jaber's comments. A spokesperson for COP28 told The Guardian: "The IEA and IPCC 1.5C scenarios clearly state that fossil fuels will have to play a role in the future energy system, albeit a smaller one. A "phase out" commitment would likely require a shift away from fossil fuels until their use is eliminated, while a "phase down" could indicate a reduction in their use — but not an absolute end.

Persons: John Kerry, Sean Gallup, Sultan Al, Jaber, Kerry, That's, CNBC's Tania Bryer, COP28 wasn't, COP28 Organizations: U.S, Getty, Getty Images, UNITED, EMIRATES —, The Guardian, Climate, COP28, United, Al, Guardian, United Arab Emirates, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Locations: China, UAE, Nigeria, Dubai, Getty Images Dubai, EMIRATES — U.S, United Arab Emirates, Al, Abu Dhabi

Search resuls for: "Sam Meredith"

25 mentions found