The UAE hired a firm to ‘counteract’ critics before the COP28 climate talks

The United Arab Emirates has hired a strategic communications firm to “counteract all negative press and media reports” about its role in hosting the next United Nations climate summit, known as COP28, according to federal disclosure filings reviewed by The Climate 202.

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The contract with First International Resources comes as the UAE faces a barrage of negative headlines over its decision to name an oil industry executive as president of the global climate gathering. Activists have called the move to appoint Sultan Al Jaber, who runs the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., “tantamount to putting the head of a tobacco company in charge of negotiating an anti-smoking treaty.”

First International Resources will aim to tell a different narrative.

The New Jersey-based firm will seek to “reinforce attitudes among decision makers in Washington, DC and across Europe regarding the strategic value of the UAE in the global fight to address climate change,” according to the filings under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which were filed Friday.

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Under the terms of the contract, the UAE will pay the firm a monthly retainer fee of $100,000. The firm’s U.S.-focused efforts are expected to cost $132,500 and will include:

Providing guidance on “responding to and deflecting negative press reports” and “proactively ‘staying on message’ in all external communications with the media.”
Working to “solidify the position of the UAE as an innovative leader in global decarbonization efforts and the transition away from fossil fuels.”
Seeking to “strengthen the overall reputation and standing of the UAE, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and COP28 among Western audiences” and to “leverage this enhanced reputation in order to most effectively inoculate Dr. Al Jaber and COP28 from any potential criticism.”

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“You don’t pay over $100,000 to a PR firm when you’re confident about your public image,” Henn told The Climate 202. “You pay that much when you want to spin the public to believe the impossible, which in this case is that the UAE and Dr. Al Jaber are really committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels.”

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