More than 100 members of the US Congress and the European Parliament called Tuesday for oil executive Sultan al-Jaber to be removed as head of the next UN climate change conference in the UAE.

The choice of Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or Adnoc, to head December’s Cop28 summit in Dubai, has angered activists claiming that fossil fuel companies were exerting “undue influence” over UN climate talks.

The lawmakers expressed “profound concern” over the appointment in a letter to US President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.

“We cannot allow special interests to create more hurdles in the race against climate change,” tweeted Sheldon Whitehouse, a US senator known for his environmental activism.

A Cop28 spokesperson pushed back on the criticism, citing Jaber’s work in the renewables sector, as well as his current mandate at Adnoc to “transform, decarbonize and future proof” the oil giant.

Other western officials, including US climate envoy John Kerry and European Green Deal chief Frans Timmermans, have backed Jaber.

The appeal is largely toothless, as Abu Dhabi has shown little appetite to appease western climate critics. A previous attempt by 27 Democratic members of the US Congress urging Kerry to lobby the UAE against Jaber failed. 

Jaber’s lead of Cop28 reflects an emboldened Gulf region basking in its return to influence over energy markets and climate talks.