According to the latest revised text from the UN climate summit in Dubai, countries are ‘called upon’ (or in translation; requested) to transition from fossil fuels in order to achieve net zero emissions globally by 2050.
The previous draft of the document sparked outrage among European, Latin American, and vulnerable island nations after it removed all references to a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels and offered an ‘à la carte menu’ of options that countries could (if they wish) undertake.
The latest text, which is yet to be agreed upon at the plenary session of 200 countries, does not include the words ‘gradual phase-out’.
Instead, it ‘calls on parties to contribute’ to take actions including ‘transitioning from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a fair, orderly, and equitable manner, accelerating actions in this critical decade, in order to achieve net zero by 2050 in accordance with science’.
The lack of details on how poorer countries with significant debt will finance the transition from fossil fuels and adapt their economies to global warming is expected to be a focal point at the plenary session. The future role of fossil fuels has become a key topic at COP28, which is being held in the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers. Diplomats have said that Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries have strongly advocated for a weak agreement.
Rachel Cleetus from the Union of Concerned Scientists, a group consisting of over 200 scientists and researchers, told the Financial Times that the new text is ‘quite good’, especially in light of the ongoing pressure from oil and gas producers. However, she added that it is severely lacking when it comes to financing the exit from fossil fuels, particularly in poorer countries.
Lukewarm Document
The updated version arrived after a night of intense consultations between countries and Sultan al-Jaber, the president of COP28 and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
Jaber held meetings with ministers and diplomats, including U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, and officials from Samoa, Canada, and the EU.
The text also focuses on the gradual reduction of energy from coal although it does not offer a timeline. It also emphasizes the role of ‘transitional fuels’, which is likely to be very contentious as some countries and climate experts argue that it supports further use of gas.
The text also calls for a tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and for countries to accelerate the development of low-emission technologies including nuclear hydrogen production with low carbon content and carbon capture and storage. Otherwise, carbon capture systems have proven to be completely ineffective, and some studies show that such systems do more harm than good in removing CO2 from the air.
The environmental group WWF stated that the new text is ‘a desperately needed improvement, but still does not require a complete gradual phase-out of coal, oil, and gas’.
The new draft also emphasizes that countries should have different levels of responsibility in addressing climate change, depending on their economic circumstances, and recognizes that developing countries need financial support for their energy transitions.
Some developing countries argue that wealthier nations — which are the largest historical emitters of greenhouse gases — must reduce their emissions the fastest. Previous iterations of the text required developed countries to provide long-term additional financing and technology for developing countries.
