Dubai | The United Arab Emirates oil boss leading the COP28 climate summit, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, has sparked a torrent of criticism after saying there was “no science” behind demands to phase out fossil fuels.

In comments made at a live event in late November, but which only came to light in a Guardian article on Sunday, Dr al-Jaber said: “There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says the phase-out of fossil fuels is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.”