COP28 proposes a “transition phase” to move away from fossil energies by 2050

The Presidency of the Dubai Climate Summit (COP28) proposed to the negotiating parties: A New agreement text It urges countries to strive for deep and rapid emissions reductions through measures such as Go Forward Abandon fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) In energy.

It is the first time that a COP declaration mentions all energies of fossil origin: Oil, gas and coal.

Finally, the project leaves expression aside “get rid of”, Which a large majority of countries wanted. A small group of countries led by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The largest oil exporting country in the world opposed this term.

the text that It must have the support of the 198 participating countries In full negotiations going forward, it stresses that limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires “deep, rapid and sustainable” cuts in emissions, with a 43% reduction by 2030 and 60% by 2035 compared to 2019 and net zero emissions By 2019. 2050.

To this end, it urges Parties to contribute to the following global efforts, taking into account the Paris Agreement and their different national circumstances, pathways and approaches, to:

• Three times the global renewable energy capacity and twice the global average annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.

• Accelerate efforts to gradually reduce the use of coal-based energy without the need for mitigation systems.

• Accelerating global efforts toward net-zero energy systems using zero or low CO2 fuels “before or around mid-century.”

• “Transition away” from fossil fuels in energy systems in a fair, orderly and equitable way, and accelerate action in “this critical decade” to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, according to science.

• Accelerate the pace of low- or zero-emission technologies, including renewables, nuclear power and carbon capture and storage, especially in hard-to-decarbonise sectors, as well as low-emission hydrogen production.

• Accelerate and significantly reduce emissions of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, especially methane, by 2030.

• Accelerate the reduction of road transport emissions through measures such as the deployment of low- or no-emission infrastructure and vehicles.

• Phase out as soon as possible “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies that neither address energy poverty nor address just transitions.

The text recognizes a role Transition fuel (Gas is considered by many to be the fuel of the transition.) It can contribute to facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security.

After a day of negotiations that continued until dawn and a first document rejected by several blocs of countries, including the European Union, the United States and the countries most threatened by global warming, The text presented now opens a horizon for abandoning fossil fuels.

The language finally reflected in the text – which in its latest version included only cutting fossil fuel production and consumption, among many other options – was somewhat softer on the demands of civil society and more ambitious states.

If they want an urgent call for governments to “gradually abandon” these types of energy, what is in the text is a call to “transition” from them in energy systems and in “this critical decade.”

The anger of the nations

The 28th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) got off to a good start on 30 November, when, after just one year of negotiations, countries agreed to: Damage and Loss Fund for the most affected countries Because of climate change.

The UAE presidency organized a huge conference, attended by more than 80,000 participants, which is a record number.

But quickly Tensions arose Between a large majority of countries wishing to take a step forward in symbolically abandoning fossil fuels, and those concerned about an unknown change in the energy matrix.

Emirati Chairman of the meetingSultan Al Jaber, He, who is also the head of his country’s oil company, was looking for a “historic agreement”, but his first draft sparked anger: it barely suggested calling on countries to consider “reducing the consumption and production of fossil fuels.”

This is part of a set of possibilities.

Over two consecutive days, negotiators from nearly 200 countries participated diplomatic conflict, Participated in the UN Conferences of the Parties (COP), in which everything must be decided by consensus.

“This is not a restaurant menu. We have to do all these things,” Canada’s environment minister told AFP on Tuesday. Stephen Guilbault.

Great step forward

Despite all the promises, the world is steadily increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and experts warn that between now and 2030,Dubai’s proposed reduction commitments would represent only a third of the necessary sacrifice.

Climate scientists say the planet has had its hottest year since records began.

Dubai Conference 28 It had to be a big step forward, Following an assessment of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change, conducted in September.

The main goal of the Paris Agreement is to keep global temperature rise to a maximum of +1.5°C, by 2050.

The health of the planet is at stake, but so are the questions of a complete energy transition that frighten less developed countries.

“The Nordic countries are the ones exploiting the oil in my country. What do they give us to make us give up (those energy sources)?” Congo’s Environment Minister Arlette Sudan Nonault asked reporters.