COP28: New draft text cops out on fossil fuel “phase out”

Draft text of COP28 global stocktake excludes language about "phase out" of fossil fuels.

PHOTO: Special envoy for Timor Leste and Indian climate activist, Licypriya Kangujam protesting at the COP28 meeting in Dubai. Twitter of @LicypriyaK

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) presented its latest draft of the proposed agreement at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

It suggests several actions countries “could include” to tackle global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These include:

• “Reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science”
• “phasing down unabated” coal power and limiting new and “unabated” coal power permits
• Tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030
• "Accelerating efforts" to use low and net-zero emissions technologies and fuels "well before or by around mid-century"
• Promoting zero and low emissions technologies, such as “renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies, including such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, and low carbon hydrogen production” to reduce fossil fuel usage.
• “Phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible”
• “Accelerating and substantially reducing” global methane and other non-CO2 emissions by 2030

The draft, however, ignores the crucial point of phasing out fossil fuels – whether abated or unabated.

Global divide over fossil fuel "phase out"

The position against fossil fuels has been strongly endorsed by many countries, including EU member states, New Zealand, island nations threatened by climate change and developing countries in Africa and Micronesia. In addition, 131 major global corporations also called on COP28 to completely end the use of fossil fuels by 2050.

The US called on COP28 participants to “largely phase out fossil fuels” starting with a “critical reduction this decade”, according to Reuters citing US special climate envoy, John Kerry.

On the other hand, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais had urged OPEC+ members to "proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions,” according to a letter accessed by Reuters.

"It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, as the draft decision still contains options on fossil fuels phase out," Reuters reported citing the letter.

Al Ghais had earlier also lashed out at the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s net-zero scenario as well as called the call to reduce fossil fuel investments a “misguided and risky narrative”.

In addition, Reuters reported last week that Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, energy minister of OPEC member UAE, also opposed phasing out fossil fuels.

"I don't think we should talk about (fossil fuel) phase out because the technologies are also improving. What if in the future we have a technology that omits all of the CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and makes it clean, as clean as any other fuel? Why should we fight it before we have the alternative?" Al Mazrouei said, as quoted by Reuters.

By Konica Bhatt

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