An end to coal, oil and gas, expansion of renewable energies – Chancellor Scholz came to the climate conference with specific demands. Also towards the Gulf states and China. Criticism came from environmentalists.
As we all know, a little optimism at the beginning of a speech shouldn’t hurt. “It is still possible that we can reduce emissions so far this decade that we meet the 1.5 degree target,” said the Chancellor before the plenary session of the World Climate Conference in Dubai. And Germany’s head of government immediately added: “We have to hurry up.”
Scholz had concrete suggestions for the global community. “Let’s agree on two binding goals here in Dubai: on the one hand, tripling the expansion of renewable energies, and on the other hand, doubling energy efficiency. Both by 2030.”
Oxfam: Exciting is different
When it comes to climate financing and the establishment of a fund for climate-related damage and losses, Scholz emphasized that Germany has already met its goals. He appealed to countries such as China and the Gulf States to also participate. These are the countries that, despite increased economic growth, are still considered developing countries according to the outdated UN statutes and are therefore more likely to demand money than pay it in.
“The countries whose prosperity has grown enormously over the past three decades and which now account for a large share of global emissions also bear responsibility. We also need their support,” said Scholz.
Above all, the issue of phasing out fossil fuels will be discussed in Dubai – here the Chancellor clearly called for an end to coal, oil and gas. “We must now all demonstrate a firm determination to phase out fossil fuels.”
The Chancellor, who was creating a new infrastructure for liquid gas at home, criticized the environmental organization Greenpeace. And Oxfam summed up the speech succinctly: There is a different way to get moving. It’s about deciding on the “fossil fuel phase-out” – i.e. gradually reducing the use of fossil fuels to zero – at this COP, emphasized Luisa Neubauer from “Fridays for Future”. “This is incredibly essential. We are racing into a world that is three degrees hotter. This has to finally happen now.”
“We won’t stop investing in climate protection”
Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze is also taking part in the climate conference. She is concerned with the specific design of the newly established fund for climate-related damage and losses for particularly vulnerable states. Germany is contributing $100 million to the fund – as is the United Arab Emirates.
When asked at the summit whether Germany could afford such a large sum given the budget crisis, Schulze was clear. “We want catastrophes like those on the Ahr to be avoided as much as possible in the future,” she said. A lot was destroyed there. “And that’s why it’s a good investment that we’re making here. We won’t stop investing in climate protection.” That is absolutely necessary. “Not investing would mean producing even more costs.”
Hundreds of billions of dollars are needed
A total of around $500 million has now been raised for the fund. But observers agree: In order to really offset the climate-related damage and losses in poor countries, hundreds of billions of dollars would be needed – every year. As an example: the flood in the Ahr Valley alone cost around 30 billion euros.
Anna Osius, ARD Cairo, currently Dubai, tagesschau, December 2nd, 2023 12:17 p.m