Oil tycoon and U.S. envoy lead climate talks

The partnership will be put to the test this week as 70,000 people from nearly 200 countries are expected to gather in the Gulf city built on the UAE's oil wealth. Most importantly, the countries, companies and leaders who have benefited most from greenhouse gas pollution, those who have the power to impose change on energy markets and the money to launch huge funds to combat catastrophic climate change, have a key role to play in addressing the problem. Winning the trust of oil tycoons to negotiate comes with risks - it's even an "experiment," as Kerry acknowledged in a recent interview. However, leaked documents from South Africa's COP28 team began surfacing this week, which the BBC reports plans to use the summit to strike oil and gas deals with more than a dozen countries.

Critics in the UAE believe these possible deals only confirm their worst fears about Al Jaber's involvement in the talks. Nevertheless, Kerry has not yet voiced his concerns publicly. Instead, the U.S. hoped that Al Jaber's influence on oil and gas producers would help secure real commitments to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. It will be an opportunity for progress in the face of Republican opposition, a retreat from environmental principles in Europe, and a great power struggle with Russia and China. For Kerry, a former senator and Democratic presidential candidate, it's a chance to cement his legacy in the fight against climate change.

The strategy, meanwhile, appears discomfiting to some of Kerry's allies in the climate movement - even those who understand the logic.

Sustainability advocates, however, fear that the summit organizers are caving in to the demands of oil and gas producers by giving them a leadership role. Gore also points out that Al Jaber is playing too important a role in the negotiations.

Despite this, Kerry is trying to maximize opportunities to engage the UAE on climate cooperation. It seeks to persuade the UAE and other wealthy Gulf countries to contribute more money to fighting climate change. U.S. pressure may be somewhat successful. It has previously been reported that the UAE is considering setting up a fund worth tens of billions of dollars to spur clean energy investment around the world.

The circumstances point to a difficult period in geopolitics, and the summit is a chance for Kerry to pull the UAE closer to the United States' climate advocates. Efforts could prove crucial to achieving the goals of the climate negotiations.