2023-12-13 17:23:00
© Fadel Dawod/Getty Images
The COP28 celebrated in Dubai recognized for the first time the need to abandon the use of fossil fuelsat the end of a climate summit marred by restrictions imposed on civil society and for the UAE’s flagrant disregard for human rights, Amnesty International said.
COP28 flagship agreement on Global Stocktaking to “transition” away from fossil fuels as an energy source: this is the first time fossil fuels have been mentioned in COP decisions. The agreement recognizes their role as factors driving the climate crisis and the damage it inflicts on the climate and the environmentand conveys the eloquent message that its phasing out is inevitable and underway.
“COP28 has pointed out for the first time the need to abandon the use of fossil fuels, which reflects the campaign promoted by citizens who have been fighting for this goal for decades. However, there are still gaps in the result that allow fossil fuel producers and States to continue carrying out their activities as usual and, therefore, it remains insufficient to protect the rights of billions of people facing damages related to climate change,” said Marta Schaaf, Program Director of Amnesty International’s Climate, Economic and Social Justice and Corporate Accountability Program.
“Developed countries’ funding commitments to help other states adapt to the harmful effects of climate change are grossly inadequate, putting indigenous peoples, frontline communities and other groups at risk.” marginalized.”
A previous poor agreement reached at the COP on how to manage the Loss and Damage Fundwhich aims to provide effective resources to communities suffering the most serious negative effects of climate change, has also been undermined by the meager amounts of funding committed so far.
“It is deeply worrying that the final agreement reflects fantasies about fossil fuels, according to which unproven technologies such as carbon capture and storage, which do not yet exist, will somehow provide the answer to global warming”
Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s climate change adviser, said: “It is deeply worrying that the final agreement reflects fossil fuel fantasies, according to which unproven technologies such as carbon capture and storage, which do not yet exist, will give rise to in some way the answer to global warming. “The emphasis on the role of ‘transitional fuels’ in the energy transition and weak language on the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies gives the fossil fuel sector a waiver to continue expanding production.”
Amnesty International has stated that COP28 was marred by restrictions placed on civil society space and by the unprecedented number of fossil fuel lobbyists present at the summit. We call for the COP venue designation agreements to be strengthened and Host Country Agreements to be systematically made public to ensure respect and protection of human rights, and that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) develop a clear conflict of interest policy and a strong accountability framework.
COP28 has further been marred by the UAE government’s double standards and disregard for human rights, both inside and outside the global conference. Instead of releasing the many detained critics and showing its willingness to organize an inclusive summit, it began a new collective trial of dissidents on trumped-up terrorism charges.
Even if the media stops focusing on the UAE after the COP, Amnesty International will continue to campaign tirelessly for, among other things, human rights reforms in the UAE. demanding the release of all Emirati dissidents and calling for an end to all arbitrary detentions and unfair trials. Amnesty International will continue to campaign for release of Ahmed Mansoorthe last Emirati citizen to work openly for the promotion and protection of human rights in his country, which has been deprived of liberty since 2017. He also demands that illegitimate digital surveillance be ended and same-sex relations be decriminalized .
Ann Harrison said: “The interests of the OPEC member United Arab Emirates and its blatant human rights violations have tainted COP28 and helped facilitate, once again, the fossil fuel industry’s attempts to control a UN summit. This section includes the appointment as COP president of Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the United Arab Emirates state oil and gas company, who questions established climate science and was willing to use UN meetings to promote their interests in the field of fossil fuels.”
The UNFCCC has applied unusually strict guidelines on protests and actions at COP28, affecting attempts to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to raise concerns about the UAE’s dismal record on the issue. of human rights, including the prohibition of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the denial of other rights, including those of migrant workers.
Summits will only produce satisfactory results if all people are free to criticize, assemble and demonstrate peacefully and have the possibility to meaningfully influence the design and outcomes of global climate policies. In addition to the onerous process of obtaining approval to carry out actions in the COP28 Blue Zone, administered by the UNFCCC, without which those who demonstrated risked being expelled from the conference, video surveillance was widespread throughout the zones. All the people who participated in the actions were recorded, which generated a climate of intimidation. No one has dared to demonstrate outside the space administered by the UNFCCC, for fear of being detained under the UAE’s draconian laws that criminalize dissent.
Ann Harrison said: “The restrictions imposed on civic space at this COP have cast a long shadow on civil society’s ability to freely speak truth to power. Lessons must be learned and measures implemented to better protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in future editions of the COP. “Climate justice requires bolder, continued and participatory actions, focused on the protection and respect of human rights.”
Additional information
The total amount committed for the Damage and Loss Fund, which will initially be managed by the World Bank, subject to its acceptance of various operating conditions, was approximately US$700 million, which is barely enough to get it up and running. The choice of the World Bank was highly criticized by civil society, concerned about the lack of protection of human rights in its financing model. The funds available to help developing countries adapt to climate change only represent half of the goal of 300 million dollars, when hundreds of billions would be needed.
This COP has agreed that next year’s summit will be held in Azerbaijan. This country’s fossil fuel sector also helps finance a highly authoritarian system, and the state lavishes itself on public relations to try to cover up its deplorable record of repression, arbitrary detention of critics, torture of detainees, and crushing of democracy. civil society. The right to freedom of expression and assembly is severely restricted and LGBTI people face widespread discrimination.
#COP28 #agreement #abandon #fossil #fuels #sets #precedent #fails #safeguard #human #rights