COP28: New climate draft fails to mention fossil fuel phase-out as planet warms

The absence of a clear directive to end the era of oil, gas, and coal has drawn sharp rebuke from the United States, European Union, and countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In Short

• The world cannot effectively combat the escalating climate crisis
• US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry emphasised the need for a stronger agreement
• The draft's shortcomings have united delegates from climate-vulnerable nations in protes

As the COP28 climate summit enters its final stages, a new draft climate deal has sparked intense debate and criticism for not including a commitment to phase out fossil fuels.

The draft, which was released on Monday, outlines various measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but stops short of the decisive action many nations and environmental groups have been advocating for.

The absence of a clear directive to end the era of oil, gas, and coal has drawn sharp rebuke from the United States, European Union, and countries most vulnerable to climate change.

These nations argue that without a firm commitment to eliminate fossil fuel use, the world cannot effectively combat the escalating climate crisis.

COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber called on the nearly 200 countries participating in the summit to increase their ambition, particularly regarding fossil fuel language. The current draft offers eight options for emission reduction, including reducing consumption and production of fossil fuels and tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.

However, critics like Alden Meyer from the E3G environmental think tank describe the proposal as an "a la carte menu" that lacks the necessary force to drive collective action.

US Special Climate Envoy John Kerry emphasised the need for a stronger agreement, stating that significant reductions in fossil fuel use this decade are essential. EU chief negotiator Wopke Hoekstra echoed these sentiments, labeling the draft as insufficient.

The draft's shortcomings have united delegates from climate-vulnerable nations in protest. Representatives from Samoa and the Marshall Islands, already experiencing the devastating effects of sea-level rise, have labeled the draft a potential death sentence for their nations.

Negotiations are further complicated by the geopolitical dynamics within OPEC, with reports suggesting that the UAE has faced pressure from Saudi Arabia to avoid explicit mention of fossil fuels in the text. Other OPEC and OPEC+ members, including Russia, Iraq, and Iran, are also said to be resisting a phase-out clause.

As the summit approaches its scheduled conclusion, a revised draft is expected, leaving little time to resolve these deep-seated disagreements.

The outcome of COP28 is seen as critical, with developing nations calling for financial support to facilitate a just transition away from fossil fuels, which still account for approximately 80% of the world's energy production.

Published By:
Sibu Kumar Tripathi
Published On:
Dec 12, 2023