COUNTRIES CLASH OVER PHASE-OUT OF FOSSIL FUELS AT COP28 SUMMIT
The COP28 summit in Dubai has hit a roadblock as countries clash over the possible agreement to phase-out fossil fuels, jeopardizing attempts to end the use of oil and gas, while focusing on reducing climate pollution. Saudi Arabia and Russia are leading the push to focus only on emissions, rather than targeting the fossil fuels causing it. This has led to a divide among nations, with some insisting on the eventual end of fossil fuel use, while others prioritize a focus on emissions.
Several countries, including the United States, the European Union, and climate-vulnerable nations, are demanding a clear commitment to ultimately end the use of fossil fuels. However, OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, has sent a letter to its members urging them to reject any mention of fossil fuels in the final summit deal, warning of “undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels”.
The clash has even led to broader diplomatic grievances being aired at the summit, clouding the focus on global warming. This has resulted in the summit’s scheduled end date looming with no consensus on the issue in sight. With government ministers stepping in to resolve the impasse, all eyes are on whether a deal can be achieved before the end of the summit.
The Chair of the High Ambition Coalition, which comprises of climate-vulnerable nations pushing for stronger emissions-cutting targets and policies, stressed the importance of an end to fossil fuels to meet the global goal of limiting climate warming to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures.
The latest version of the negotiating text released shows that countries are still considering a range of options, from agreeing to a “phase out of fossil fuels in line with best available science”, to phasing out “unabated fossil fuels”. Germany’s climate envoy Jennifer Morgan expressed concern, stating that countries are moving into a critical stage of negotiations and called upon all countries to remember what is at stake.
With the stakes high and limited time left, countries are under pressure to come to an agreement on the future of fossil fuels. The COP28 summit faces a crucial moment in determining the global response to climate change, and the world is eagerly watching whether nations can overcome their differences and deliver a meaningful outcome.
As the summit, the second biggest UN climate change conference after the Paris summit, enters its final days, the international community awaits a resolution in hopes of addressing the urgent need for climate action. It remains to be seen whether countries can set aside their differences and unite to pave the way for a greener and sustainable future.