EU agrees to push for global fossil fuels phase-out

EU countries have agreed to pursue diplomatic efforts for a global phase-out of fossil fuels in the lead-up to the COP28 climate summit later this year.

PHOTO: EU flags outside the European Commission Building in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images

Ministers from EU member states have approved a text on their diplomatic priorities ahead of the upcoming COP28, which is scheduled to begin on 30 November in Dubai.

“The Council has approved conclusions reaffirming that EU climate and energy diplomacy is a core component of EU’s foreign policy,” the EU text said.

During the COP26 Glasgow summit held in 2021, member countries of COP agreed to accelerate global efforts to phase out coal, calling it the single largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions among fossil fuels. However, COP member countries fell short of agreeing on a coal phase-out plan.

India pushed for a different proposal to include all fossil fuels in a phase-out plan at COP27 Egypt summit last November.

India's proposal received backing from 80 countries including the EU, but got pushback from oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, which argued that it would “demonise” the fossil fuel industry. A global agreement was therefore stalled.

The EU now says it will pursue all efforts to phase out fossil fuels and aims to become net zero by 2050.

By Nithin Chandran

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