COP 28 negotiators meeting in Dubai. AMR ALFIKY / REUTERS
The text, which aims to become the first decision of a UN climate conference to address the fate of all fossil fuels, must still be adopted by consensus on Wednesday.
The Emirati presidency of COP28 unveiled on Wednesday December 13 a new compromise project to unblock the Dubai climate negotiations, calling on countries around the world to “transition away from fossil fuels” with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, in line with climate science. The document, whose publication was awaited all night by sleep-deprived negotiators, proposes for the first time in the history of United Nations climate conferences to mention all fossil fuels, largely responsible for climate change, in a decision to be adopted by all countries.
The text, every word of which was negotiated by the Emiratis, calls for “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, by accelerating action in this crucial decade, in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 in accordance with scientific recommendations”. The call to accelerate action this decade was a demand from the European Union and many other countries. But he no longer speaks of “exit” oil, gas and coal, as demanded by more than a hundred countries.
A “transition”, not an “exit”
To make history, this compromise text, the result of painful negotiations notably between the European Union, small island countries, the United States, China and Saudi Arabia, will have to be approved by nearly 200 countries per consensus. The presidency convened a plenary session at 9:30 a.m. (05:30 GMT) for this purpose, the day after the scheduled end of COP28, chaired by Emirati Sultan Al Jaber, boss of the Emirati oil company Adnoc. Only one country can object to the adoption of a decision at the COP, according to UN Climate rules.
Sultan Al Jaber had been trying for more than 24 hours to save a COP that he had announced as “a turning point”, able to preserve the most ambitious objective of the Paris agreement, adopted eight years ago: limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C. The first draft of the Emirati text, on Monday, sparked an outcry, failing to call for “exit” fossil fuels, the combustion of which since the 19th century is largely responsible for the current rise in global temperatures, of 1.2°C compared to the pre-industrial era.
“We are progressing”declared Tuesday evening John Kerry, the American envoy for the climate, heading towards yet another consultation. “Good progress” are done, added the Australian Minister of Climate, Chris Bowen. Around 130 countries (European Union, island states, United States, Brazil, etc.) demanded an ambitious text sending a clear signal to initiate the decline of fossil fuels. To date, only the “reduction” coal was approved at COP26 in Glasgow. Oil and gas had never been designated.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq on a hard line
The draft Emirates agreement includes recognition of the role played by “transition energies”allusion to gas, to ensure the “energy security” developing countries, where nearly 800 million people lack access to electricity. The text contains multiple energy-related calls: tripling renewable energy capacities and doubling the pace of energy efficiency improvements by 2030; accelerate technologies “zero carbon” And “low carbon”including nuclear power, low-carbon hydrogen, and the nascent carbon capture and storage, defended by oil-producing countries to be able to continue pumping hydrocarbons.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq took a hard line, refusing any agreement attacking the fossil fuels that make them rich. Since a conference in Doha, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad al-Barrak denounced Tuesday a “aggressive attack” from Westerners. Some of the countries most favorable to “exit” oil companies have signaled that they are prepared to sacrifice the term in exchange for meaningful commitments.