Climate conference
Final draft: No clear end for fossils
The World Climate Conference has been extended after a storm of protest against a draft final text. photo
© Hannes P. Albert/dpa
Many countries wanted to decide to phase out coal, oil and gas at the World Climate Conference – some stubbornly opposed this. A new draft of the final declaration is now available.
In a new draft of the final declaration of the The World Climate Conference in Dubai does not include the clear phase-out of coal, oil and gas demanded by many countries.
The text of the Emirati conference presidency was published this morning. The 21-page paper simply calls on states to move away from fossil fuels in their energy systems. More than a hundred states had previously called for a phase out.
It also includes the goal of tripling the capacity of renewable energy by 2030 and doubling the pace of energy efficiency during this period. The G20 countries have already decided to do this.
Storm of protest based on draft text
There was a wave of outrage over a draft text published on Monday. Unlike previous versions, the fossil fuel phase-out, which more than 100 countries have already spoken out for, was no longer mentioned at all. Germany, the EU, many threatened island states and other countries rejected the text as inadequate or even a “death sentence”.
The presidency then tried to limit the damage: Director General Majid Al-Suwaidi said the criticism was expected. “In fact, we wanted the text to stimulate conversation – and that’s exactly what happened.” But ultimately the responsibility lies with the government delegations, which have to achieve unanimity.
Wrestling with states from all over the world
Late in the evening, the host said that conference president Sultan al-Jaber and his team had met with the representatives of the states and country groups day and night. “This is to ensure that everyone is heard and all positions are taken into account,” said a spokeswoman.
The president of the COP28 conference is also president of the state oil company. Nevertheless, he emphasized several times during the conference that he wanted to achieve an ambitious conclusion and keep the internationally agreed goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees within reach.
Eight years after the Paris Agreement
The German group Fridays for Future pointed out on
“Today the Paris Climate Agreement turns 8 years old,” the organization wrote in the evening. “While the window for achieving this is closing, the global community at COP28 is failing to phase out fossil fuels and Germany is lagging behind in achieving its climate goals.”
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate wrote in a guest article in the Guardian: “As time runs out in Dubai, it feels as if humanity’s shared lifeboat is sinking.” Progressive states are now called upon to fight.