The holding of COP28 in December in the United Arab Emirates, a world oil power, will be an opportunity to address the “difficult questions” of fossil fuels, Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN, told AFP on Thursday. Weather. On January 12, the appointment as president of the next UN climate conference of Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the CEO of oil giant ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company), sparked strong criticism among climate activists. ‘environment.
This decision was “solely in the hands” of the United Arab Emirates, replied Simon Stiell, during an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland). But, he adds, Al Jaber expressed “an openness by saying that he wanted to make this COP an opportunity for transformation. Time will tell, over the weeks and months that separate us from COP28, what it means by transformation”.
“A transformation must apply to all areas”, including the question of “how we resolve the gap between the needs and the prospects for reducing emissions” of greenhouse gases, judged Stiell. The fact that the climate negotiations are taking place in the United Arab Emirates is a decision that was taken during the COP meetings and “must be respected, but I think it gives us the opportunity to put some difficult questions on the table” , he added.
“Difficult” Questions
COP27, in Egypt in November, concluded with an agreement on the creation of a “loss and damage” fund intended to cover the costs of the destruction that developing countries face due to natural disasters linked to climate change. . But a demand by India to also include a commitment to phase out fossil fuels has backfired.
“I think they (the Indians) intend to continue their efforts in this direction, and that they will be supported by other parties,” said Stiell, who met with an Indian delegation in Davos. “So these tough questions will have to be asked and will be addressed in the UAE,” he said.
“It’s not just about making promises”
Speakers in Davos, including UN chief Antonio Guterres, warned world political and economic leaders that the world was not on track to limit warming to 1.5°C and that it would take the devastating consequences of climate change.
“The climate crisis is a crisis that cannot be postponed, which cannot be ignored, which cannot be put on the back burner,” Stiell in turn hammered. Appointed executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in August 2022, he saw Davos as an opportunity to have “frank discussions” with business leaders on their climate change commitments. of “net zero emissions”.
UN experts issued recommendations at COP27 saying companies could not claim ‘net zero’ or carbon neutrality if they launched new fossil fuel investments, caused deforestation or offset their emissions with carbon credits instead of reducing them.
“It’s not just about making promises and pretending to be on the road to net zero,” Stiell said. “It is necessary to demonstrate that these transition plans exist, that they are credible and as broad as possible upstream and downstream of their value chains”.