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Climate activists demand a global 'power-up' of renewables and phase out of fossil fuels to keep 1.5C in reach at the Cop28 venue in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Friday (Credit: 350.org) |
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| Welcome to a special newsletter from The Independent, bringing you the latest on everything from Cop28 in Dubai. You are receiving this email because you are signed up to our Climate newsletter.
After a one-day "weekend" on Thursday (for some) at Cop28, the venue was packed early on Friday. Those pouring through security checkpoints at 9am were immediately met by a protest from youth activists on a day that was dedicated to them at the summit.
A group including the Pacific Climate Warriors and the Indigenous Environmental Network, had travelled from their countries with an artwork demanding a global "power-up" of renewables and phase out of fossil fuels.
"We are here every year, fighting for our survival and are undermined at every point by the polluting nations and corporations. Don't tell me a phaseout of fossil fuels is complex when our people are finding ways to raise entire islands," said Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific managing director.
Later on Friday, the Cop28 president demanded that countries get out of their "comfort zones" amid growing momentum behind a deal that will call time on the fossil-fuel era. National ministers returned to the Dubai summit to pick up the baton from their delegations and reach a final agreement.
The central issue that has emerged is the phasing down, or out, of fossil fuels, the root cause of the climate crisis. If these words make it into the final text, which must have consensus from the 196 countries in attendance, it would be the first time that fossil fuels are addressed in a global climate summit deal.
The UAE's Cop28 President Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, urged countries to "get the job done".
"I need you to step up and I need you to come out of your comfort zones," he said on Friday afternoon.
His words were echoed by Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). "Cop28 must deliver a big switch: not just 'what' governments must do, but also 'how' to get the job done. The technologies and tools all exist. This week negotiators must agree on putting them to work," he said.
"In short, it's go-time for governments at Cop28 this week."
The coaxing appeared to be heeded by some. A draft of the final agreement was released later on Friday. It included a range of options:
- A phase out of fossil fuels in line with best available science;
- Phasing out of fossil fuels in line with best available science - but also "the principles and provisions of the Paris Agreement";
- A phase-out of unabated fossil fuels" recognizing the need for a peak in their consumption in this decade and underlining the importance for the energy sector to be predominantly free of fossil fuels well ahead of 2050";
- Phasing out unabated fossil fuels and to rapidly reducing their use so as to achieve net-zero [carbon dioxide] in energy systems by or around mid-century'
- No mention of fossil fuels.
Over the next four days (or possibly five if the summit overruns, as it tends to do) these phrases will be hotly debated among countries.
Many are currently far apart on what their energy futures should look like. There is reason for hope: more than 100 countries have called for phasing out of fossil fuels. However, a minister from the petro-state of Saudi Arabia said "absolutely not" when asked about phasing out fossil fuels earlier this week. Russia has also opposed the demand.
Sultan Al-Jaber, who also leads the UAE's state oil company Adnoc, has said that he wants an "orderly" end to the summit at 11am on 12 December, which is officially the last day.
In Friday's other news:
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- Canada and Egypt are the "Ministerial Pairing" chosen by the UAE to liaise with other countries on figuring out the tricky fossil fuel issue
- Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who told Bloomberg his country is firmly against phasing down fossil fuels earlier this week, arrived at Cop28 in Dubai
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Ministers who form pairs who are tasked with finding consensus on tricky as Cop28 heads towards its final conclusion in Dubai. At Cop28, the pairings - South Africa + Denmark; Singapore + Norway; Chile + Australia; Egypt + Canada - were announced on Friday |
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