Hello reader,

On Tuesday 5 December, I’ll be chairing a special livestreamed event with a panel of speakers including Christiana Figueres, the UN climate chief who was pivotal to the delivery of the Paris climate agreement in 2015, to discuss what fossil fuel companies and countries are doing to drive – or block – climate action. Tickets are available here.

As the climate crisis supercharges extreme weather around the world and temperature records are shattered, achieving a commitment to phase out fossil fuels at the UN’s Cop28 summit is becoming more vital than ever. This year’s summit will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer, and by Sultan Al Jaber, the head of the UAE’s state oil company, as well as chair of its renewable company Masdar.

While Al Jaber’s dual role attracted strong criticism, he argues that his experience in the energy business will prove an asset in ensuring fossil fuel companies get on board with the green transition. But can they be a positive force in delivering the climate action we desperately need? What can society, organisations and governments do to achieve real change?

Book your tickets here.

I hope to see you there.

Damian Carrington
Environment editor, the Guardian