(Reuters, Dubai, 12th) The deadline set by the United Arab Emirates, the host country of the COP28 United Nations climate summit, has passed. Opinions on fossil fuels among countries are still quite polarized, and the agreement is in trouble. Negotiators from various countries are now waiting for the updated draft agreement to be released.
The United Arab Emirates released a draft agreement yesterday, suggesting eight emission reduction options that countries “can take”.
One option is to “reduce the consumption and production of fossil fuels” in a fair, orderly, fair and reasonable manner in order to achieve the net-zero emissions target before or around 2050.
Once these provisions are included in the final agreement, it will be the first time ever that a United Nations climate summit mentions cutting the use of all fossil fuels.
However, the existing agreement text does not meet the “phasing out of coal, oil and natural gas” requirements proposed by many countries, nor does it emphasize the reduction of the use of fossil fuels before 2030. Scientists believe this is crucial to avoid escalating climate change.
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was originally scheduled to end at 7 am GMT today, but the deadline has passed. Participants pointed out that this deadline no longer applies, and COP summits in previous years rarely ended on time.
More than 100 countries and groups, including Australia, Canada, Chile, the European Union (EU), Norway and the United Nations (UN), called for a firm commitment from the summit to phase out coal, oil and natural gas.
Burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Reuters: “Most countries want a stronger agreement text, that is, a gradual reduction (consumption) to achieve a long-term phase-out or transition away from fossil fuels. .”
Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva said Brazil wants a stronger agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, but the text must specify that rich and poor countries can meet the goal on different timetables.
Silva told the media that a major shortcoming of the current draft agreement is that “it does not establish an action plan to phase out fossil fuels.”
Representatives from island nations said they would not pass an agreement that would be a “death warrant” for fragile countries. Small island nations are most affected by rising sea levels.
Schilke, leader of the Marshall Islands delegation
John Silk said: “We will never go silently to our underwater graveyard.”
According to people familiar with the matter, COP28 Chairman and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company CEO Sultan al-Jaber was pressured by Saudi Arabia to remove any mention of fossil fuels from the agreement text. words, but Jaber did not follow them. Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment today. Members of the country’s COP delegation last night declined to comment on the text of the agreement.
According to a letter seen by Reuters on the 6th, OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais wrote to all 13 member countries calling on them to reject any agreement on fossil fuels at the United Nations climate conference.
COP28 negotiators and observers told Reuters that in addition to Saudi Arabia, the strongest opponent, other OPEC and OPEC+ members, including Iran, Iraq and Russia, also strongly resisted including the phase-out of fossil fuels in the agreement text. Central News Agency (translation)
COP28 summit final day agreement stuck in difficulty fossil fuel opinions polarize
#COP28 #summit #final #day #agreement #stuck #difficulty #fossil #fuel #opinions #polarize
2023-12-12 13:37:55
