The primary battleground at COP28 seems to revolve around the role of fossil fuels in the future, causing division among countries on whether they should be part of the equation. A preliminary document from the United Arab Emirates, subject to upcoming negotiations, indicates a wide range of possibilities.
Countries might propose a gradual reduction in fossil fuel usage, permit their use with emissions-capturing technology, or opt to remain silent on the matter, as seen in past COPs. Some nations, including Saudi Arabia, are not supportive of emphasizing fossil fuel language, potentially obstructing progress.
“A whole number of countries are not really supportive” of language on fossil fuels, said Alden Meyer, a senior associate at consultancy E3G, noting that Saudi Arabia has worked for years to thwart any de-emphasis on fossil fuel. “Now at the end of the day, will they stand in the way and block something? That is the art of negotiations.”
“A whole number of countries are not really supportive” of language on fossil fuels”
Alden Meyer, a senior associate at consultancy E3G
During the initial talks in Dubai, leaders had the opportunity to express their positions. Some, like Egypt’s Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, India’s Narendra Modi, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, addressed climate change issues without explicitly mentioning fossil fuels. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, standing in for Xi Jinping, emphasized accelerating the green transition and increasing the share of renewable energy. Kenyan President William K. Ruto advocated for a significant reduction in fossil fuel dependency.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, speaking in lieu of Xi Jinping, did not talk about the global role of fossil fuels, but said the world should “accelerate” the green transition and “actively raise the share of renewable energy in our mix.”
Kenyan President William K. Ruto called for a “significant reduction in fossil fuel dependency.”
And European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the world “must phase out fossil fuels.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took a stronger stance, stating that the world must phase out fossil fuels. In contrast, the leader of Guyana, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, despite significant oil discoveries, called for a reduction in fossil fuel use rather than their complete elimination. He cautioned against framing the COP28 debate as a binary choice between maintaining current fossil fuel production and advocating for an outright end, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach for a successful outcome.
“If the debate at COP28 is framed by two camps, one calling for no cuts in fossil fuel production, including the most polluting form such as coal, and the other saying the only solution to net zero is an end to fossil fuels, then we will fail once again to achieve a viable outcome.”
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Source: COP28
