By Sally Goldman.
The sprawling CERAWeek energy conference in Houston turned into a rallying cry for the oil industry this week, with Sultan al-Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and former COP28 president, stealing the spotlight on March 11, 2025. Declaring “It’s time to make energy great again,” al-Jaber’s address tapped into a wave of optimism fueled by the incoming Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuel stance. As reported by Reuters, the UAE executive’s rare public appearance underscored a pivotal shift in global energy dynamics as of March 16, 2025.
The mood at CERAWeek was one of resurgence. Amin Nasser, head of Saudi Aramco, the world’s top oil producer, set the tone with a confident assertion: “We can all feel the winds of history in our industry’s sails again.” This sentiment gained momentum with the debut of U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former fracking tycoon, who took the stage to denounce climate policies as “irrational” and ineffective. “They’ve made no dent on global warming, yet they proclaim ‘energy is life’,” Wright said, earning a thunderous response from the industry audience. Al-Jaber, typically reserved with the press since his COP28 role, joined the chorus of optimism. In a candid moment with Reuters, he remarked, “It’s been a fantastic day, absolutely fantastic,” his Sheikh Zayed badge gleaming as a symbol of UAE pride.
Al-Jaber’s philosophy, dubbed “energy realism,” underpins his stance. “Energy is the lifeblood of global development,” he explained. “We must ensure it’s accessible to all, especially in the developing world, rather than restricting it.” This aligns with his critique of past climate strategies that prioritized consumption cuts over economic growth—a view gaining traction as Trump’s second term promises deregulation and energy expansion.
Al-Jaber’s leadership of COP28 in Dubai in November 2023 remains a flashpoint. Environmentalists slammed his dual role as an oil executive and climate negotiator, but he defends it as a strategic necessity. “Climate talks had stalled for over 25 years,” he told Reuters. “Oil and gas companies, vital to cutting emissions, were absent. We needed to change that.” His aim was to integrate the industry into the solution, a mission he believes reshaped the summit’s direction. “It needed a course correction because people were being unrealistic,” he added. “Progress was stuck in circles.”
The COP28 outcome—a pledge to “transition away” from fossil fuels and triple renewable capacity by 2030—reflected this balance. While hailed as a breakthrough, critics argue the agreement’s vague language favored oil interests, given Adnoc’s plans to boost production to 5 million barrels per day by 2027. Al-Jaber counters with his dual legacy: founding Masdar, the UAE’s renewable energy pioneer, alongside his oil leadership. “I wanted to use my industry ties to make energy part of the fix,” he said. Post-COP28, he’s eager to shift gears, noting, “I want the world to see the full picture of what I stand for.”
CERAWeek also highlighted a widening U.S.-Europe energy divide. European delegates expressed dismay at America’s fossil fuel pivot, with one official warning of an “ever-growing chasm” in policy approaches. Al-Jaber sees this as validation of his pragmatic stance. “I’ve met European leaders who worry about this gap,” he said, advocating for a “less ideological, more realistic” energy future. His track record—overseeing Adnoc’s oil expansion while driving Masdar’s renewable projects—embodies this duality, appealing to nations balancing economic and environmental priorities.
Trump’s return has injected new life into the oil sector. His first term’s exit from the Paris Agreement and push for energy independence set a precedent, now reinforced by Wright’s appointment. Al-Jaber’s “make energy great again” rhetoric aligns with this shift, positioning the UAE as a key ally in a fossil fuel-friendly global order. Yet, this comes as climate goals face renewed pressure. The COP28 deal, while a step forward, left timelines unclear, and a U.S. retreat could stall progress further.
Al-Jaber remains focused on a practical path. “We need energy that’s affordable, reliable, and sustainable,” he stressed, a vision that blends oil’s current dominance with renewable growth. As CERAWeek closed, the industry stood emboldened, with al-Jaber at its forefront. Whether his approach can reconcile economic power with planetary limits will shape the energy debate in the years to come.
