Climate activists, policy analysts as well as a number of states have criticized the new global stocktake text issued by the COP28 presidency.
According to the new draft agreement, fossil fuel production and consumption will be reduced by 2050 in line with scientific advice.
The draft avoids the terms, “phase out or phase down,” which have been key sources of contention at this conference.
Policy analysts particularly reacted negatively to the section of the draft on fossil fuels and energy, which is introduced as “actions that could [be] included”, not actions that must be taken.
One called it a “choose your own adventure” approach to climate action, describing it as “absolutely disappointing.”
Harjeet Singh, Head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, stated that the Global Stocktake text on fossil fuels represents a significant regression from previous versions.
He noted that the draft dropped explicit language on phasing out fossil fuels, opting instead for a vague commitment to ‘reduce both consumption and production’ by 2050.
“This is a clear indication of the fossil fuel industry’s lobbying power, influencing global policies to favor prolonged fossil fuel use,” he added.
“If we fail to issue a decisive and strong directive from COP28, we stand at the precipice of crossing the crucial 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold. Such a scenario would unleash catastrophic consequences globally, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities.”
Harjeet Singh
Romain Ioualalen, Oil Change International Global Policy lead called the draft an “incoherent and dangerous list of weak measures completely divorced from what is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.”
“We need a fossil fuel phaseout, not an optional “reduction” in fossil fuels, and certainly not a massive deployment of failed “abatement” technologies such as CCS that exist only as a lifeline for the oil and gas industry. References to so-called “low carbon fuels” used beyond mid-century are coded language for promoting fossil gas far into the future.”
Romain Ioualalen
Ioualalen urged ministers and diplomats to remember what is at stake, “the future of billions of people and the fate of entire nations, whose future depends on clear and coherent policies to phase out fossil fuel production and use.”
Tuvalu’s Minister of finance, Seve Paeniu, said that the text has no reference to phasing out fossil fuels.
“That is a worry. It’s providing countries with options rather than obligations,” he noted.
He added, “We will continue to fight for strong language over the next few hours….We want to see phase out reflected.”
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) which represents 39 countries, was critical of new text on Global Stocktake.
Chair of AOSIS and a cabinet minister of Samoa, Cedric Schuster, said in a statement, “We will not sign our death certificate. We cannot sign on to text that does not have strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels.”
Brazil To Host COP In 2025
Brazil has been formally chosen to host the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change.
Before that, there will be COP29, which will be held in Azerbaijan, the third petrostate in a row to host the conference.
COP30 will take place in the city of Belém between November 10 and 21, 2025.
This will be the first COP to be held in the Amazon rainforest, which will be an opportunity to put nature back at the forefront of the climate debate, rather than it being marginalised by energy, technology and markets.
Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the environment and climate change, said, “With its immense biodiversity and vast territory threatened by climate change, the Amazon will show us the way.”
It will also remind us of how the three Rio conventions are intertwined not only in their challenges, but also in the synergistic solutions it provides.
Holding Cop30 in the heart of the forest is a strong reminder of our responsibility to keep the planet within our 1.5C mission.”
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