COP28 will be a useful summit because of its realism

Is it an irony or a paradox, or both? Whatever the description, it is certainly a spectacular example. Some will claim that it is an equally spectacular example of hypocrisy. The United Arab Emirates, founded on wealth – spectacular wealth – from fossil fuels is holding the latest COP in Dubai. Appalled, the “Just Stop Oil” fanatics have tried to dismiss the whole affair as an irrelevance.

Yet they could not be more wrong. This will turn out to be a useful summit, because of its realism. 
From the outset, the organisers made it clear that fossil fuels will be needed for the indefinite future. Renewables: fine. More efficient use of energy: ditto. A threefold increase in nuclear power: admirable. But the oil-wells and the gas fields will stay in production.

The realism also came from the young. These were not the sort who would glue themselves to the tarmac to block the traffic in Whitehall. They were thirty-something scientifically literate financiers. They want to do good, while also making money.

Practitioners more often than theorists, they could have claimed to be acting in the best traditions of capitalism and the free market: summoning fresh supplies of creativity to deal with difficulties, while making money, much of which will eventually endow good causes. 

It is no accident that a lot of these characters are American. Old-European conservatives, always aware of limits, would regard a simple faith in progress as mere naivete. They never lose contact with pessimism: eupeptic pessimism certainly, but pessimism nonetheless.

The Yankees I met had been brought up on the unwritten item of their Bill of Rights: that this year shall be better than last year, and next year shall be better than this tear. Often, that does not work out, but whereas a European will be inclined to say: “what did you expect?” – the Yank will retort: try harder.
These youngish entrepreneurs all had interesting ideas. Nuclear fusion figured prominently. I pressed them for a date; I had been hearing about nuclear fusion for thirty years. But I was told not to worry: it is well on its way.

There was also great interest in water, including desalination. One chap claimed that he would shortly be able to market desalinated water at one dollar per one thousand litres. Abundant clean water would not only save lives. It could prevent conflicts over water supplies that could otherwise fuel the wars of the future.

Dubai itself is a remarkable city: H.G.Wells meets T.E.Lawrence. It is futurism as architecture. As such, it would horrify the English romantic Arabists: Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, Wilfred Thesiger et al. They admired the sons of the desert for their hardihood, their stoicism: their nobility. So who are these westernised creatures dressed by Savile Row while talking the language of Wall Street? 

The answer is that they are attractive, open-minded and able characters who know how to run a successful country. Granted, they had the help of oil wealth, but compare and contrast Nigeria or Venezuela. They too have huge potential, which they have hugely squandered.

We must also remember that the Arabian Peninsula has undergone immense changes over the past eighty years: more rapidly, arguably, than any other region in any period of history. So if the Saudis, say, pursue some policy which does not fit into the western playbook, we should remember what they have already achieved. Moreover, there is every sign that judicious modernisation is set to continue. MBS in Saudi and MBZ of the UAE are entitled to be regarded as statesmen.

There is another Prince who deserves far more respect than he normally receives. In the generality of the public mind, Monaco is usually thought of as a quaint Mediaeval survival merged with a Casino and a Grand Prix. But Prince Albert of Monaco is an impressive Monarch, highly regarded at the UN as an interlocutor valuable on climate change, water and related matters. 

The UN? I can sense lips curling in scepticism: frequently justified. But if that often infuriating organisation does survive – which it surely will – it is better that men like Prince Albert should guide its councils.

Not that all the promenti were wise. John Kerry is a decent old stick. Could a fellow from Massachusetts be described as a good ol’ boy? If so, he is. Apropos Massachusetts, he reminded us that he had been a senatorial colleague of Ted Kennedy’s. It is remarkable that his name can be mentioned in polite company. That said, the man who dodged a manslaughter rap over Chappaquiddick could at least claim that he tried to pollute a river, not an ocean.

On one platform, Senator Kerry appeared with Zac Goldsmith and Patricia Scotland, a Baron and a Baroness. After a bumbling opening worthy of President Biden, Mr Kerry settled down to some well-worn platitudes. As for the other two, those who believe that the Upper House includes some unworthy peers did look no further. Lord Goldsmith is charming, eager to please and shallow. His father Jimmy, who could not have been accused of charm or eagerness to please, did not believe in formal education. That shows.

As for Lady Scotland, she is easily the worst and least respected Secretary-General in the history of the Commonwealth. But these side-shows need not distract us from a serious conclusion. Although Dubai will not solve all of mankind’s problems, it will devote a godly amount of hard thinking in the direction of that uncommon quality, common sense. That more or less justifies the trouble and the travelling circus.  

Write to us with your comments to be considered for publication at letters@reaction.life