A comprehensive list of “touchy and sensitive issues” for the United Arab Emirates, which is running the next UN climate summit, has been revealed in a document leaked to the Guardian.

The document sets out the government-approved “strategic messages” to be used in response to media requests about the issues, which range from the UAE’s increasing production of oil and gas to people trafficking.

The document begins with three pages of “Cop28 UAE key messages” and “narrative points”. These contain no references to fossil fuels, oil or gas but do mention renewable energy and hydrogen.

Global experts are clear that cutting fossil fuel burning is the largest and most urgently needed action to curb heating. They are also clear that new fossil fuel developments are incompatible with net zero emissions by 2050, and that most of existing reserves must stay in the ground to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

The Guardian revealed in April that the UAE had the third biggest net-zero-busting plans for oil and gas expansion in the world. The leaked document, which highlights “increase in production capacity v climate ambition” as an issue, is understood to have been created after this date.

Read more at The Guardian