Last year, several Human rights organizations allegedly praised the UAE’s unnatural attention to climate matters before the Human Rights Council. The organizations falsely expressed that the UAE offered a pioneering and outstanding experience to reach climate justice according to a humane approach.
One of the organizations among them is the United Villages Organization. Based on its activities, it has been revealed that the sole purpose of the organization is to act as a mouthpiece for the UAE and promote its false image. The organization claims to work for the protection and respect of Human Rights in the Arab world and the countries of the world. United Villages Organization also has consultative status at the United Nations.
The United Villages Organization tries to paint the human rights situation in the UAE in a positive light. In connection with this, Kossi Atsou from the United Villages Organization discussed the human rights situation in the UAE and stated that, in recent years, the UAE has launched various initiatives to protect the rights of women, children, and migrant workers. The reality, however, authorities in the United Arab Emirates are executing a widespread repressive campaign aimed at quieting any voices of opposition to their policies and legal conclusions, amid a total absence of justice and respect for human rights. The Emirati government has undertaken a campaign of arrests, summonses, and deportations, violating people’s right to freedom of speech. This is a worrying continuation of years-long limitations on freedoms in the nation, and violations have only escalated in recent months.
Concerning the UAE’s approach to climate change policies, a written statement submitted to the Human Rights Council by the United Villages Organization praising the United Arab Emirates for the climate conference “COP 28”, and the care and alert the country attaches to climate issues, and its endeavour to support international efforts Concerned with climate within the framework of the pioneering and distinguished experience delivered by the UAE to achieve climate justice according to an approach based on respect and promotion of human rights.
In fact, the United Arab Emirates’ fossil fuel industry contributes to toxic air pollution with a devastating influence on human health even as its government worked to position itself as a global authority on climate and health issues at the United Nations Climate Conference COP28.
The United Villages Organization voiced its appreciation and high confidence in the great efforts made by the United Arab Emirates in hosting the 2023 Climate Summit and for its distinguished measures to achieve climate justice in agreement with an approach based on respect and promotion of human rights, as well as in its statement submitted to the International Council for Human Rights.
But in actuality, the organisation overlooked that the UAE is one of the world’s biggest oil producers and home to seven so-called “carbon bombs,” the world’s largest fossil fuel production projects. Air pollution and climate change are directly connected, as the burning of fossil fuels assists in air pollution and drives climate change.
While the organization was praising the UAE, it came to light that, shockingly, the United Arab Emirates planned to use its role as the host of the UN climate talks as a prospect to strike oil and gas deals, as reported by the BBC. Leaked briefing papers revealed plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations. As per leaked briefings, the UAE also formulated talking points on commercial prospects for its state renewable energy company, Masdar, ahead of discussions with 20 countries, including the UK, United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kenya.
