The Independent's Climate Newsletter
Saturday, December 9, 2023 | |
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The empty seat for Saudi Arabia's delegation as Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud missed his scheduled speech during Cop28 in Dubai on Saturday (Credit:Reuters/Amr Alfiky) |
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| Welcome to a special newsletter from The Independent, bringing you the latest from Cop28 in Dubai. You are receiving this email because you are signed up to our Climate newsletter.
The gloves were well and truly off as the kumbaya atmosphere of Cop28's first week evaporated, and countries began wrangling over how to address the fossil fuels causing the climate crisis.
Late on Friday it emerged that the secretary general of Opec, the group of oil-producing countries, had written to its members calling on them to reject any language targeting fossil fuels in the final Cop28 deal.
The United Arab Emirates, which is hosting this year's climate summit, is a key member of Opec.
Opec chief Haitham Al Ghais wrote that a climate deal that targets fossil fuels "rather than emissions" can "put our people's prosperity and future at risk".
The leaked letter was met with fierce backlash at the climate summit, which is taking place during the hottest year in human history. So far, 106 countries have called for ditching fossil fuels, and a draft agreement includes a range of options on withdrawing from oil, gas and coal.
The most ambitious option calls for the "phase-out of fossil fuels in line with the best available science" while others commit to reducing use of fossil fuels this decade. But another option on the table is no mention at all of fossil fuels.
Oil-rich nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia have publicly rejected including a call to phase out fossil fuels in the Cop28 agreement while Brazil, India and China are deliberating over the details. Experts say the pressure is now on Cop28 president Sultan al Jaber, himself chief executive of the UAE's state oil company, to convince oil-producing countries to agree to a phase-out and thereby secure a strong outcome from the talks.
Several countries, including small islands, nations vulnerable to extreme impacts, and their allies, lambasted the oil cartel.
"I think that it is quite a disgusting thing that Opec countries are pushing against getting the bar where it has to be," Spanish ecology transition minister Teresa Ribera, who holds the rotating EU presidency, said.
French energy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said: "Opec's position endangers the most vulnerable countries and the poorest populations who are the first victims of this situation. I am stunned by these statements from Opec. And I am angry."
Tina Stege, climate envoy of the low-lying Marshall Islands which chairs the "High Ambition" coalition, said: "Nothing puts the prosperity and future of all people on earth, including all of the citizens of Opec countries, at greater risk than fossil fuels.
"This is why the High Ambition Coalition is pushing for a phase out of fossil fuels, which are at the root of this crisis. 1.5 [degrees Celsius] is not negotiable, and that means an end to fossil fuels."
On Saturday, activists staged a sit-in protest at the Opec pavillion inside the Dubai Expo venue, and demanded the Cop28 presidency distance itself from the letter.
"Opec's desperate resistance to a fossil fuel phase-out reveals their fear of a changing tide, evident in Cop28 discussions," said Cansın Leylim from climate advocacy firm 350.org. "The spotlight is now on the Cop28's presidency and if they will broker a deal for a just transition or instead align themselves with the oil industry."
The Independent has contacted the Cop28 presidency and Opec for comment.
In Saturday's other news:
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- National statements from heads of state continued today with many representatives from small island states, as well as India, Spain/EU, Cuba on behalf of the G77 and China group, Zambia for the Africa Group, and Russia
- The Global Day of Action for Climate Justice saw protests in 300 locations across more than 50 countries including inside the Cop28 venue
- Close to $7 trillion is invested globally each year in activities that have a direct negative impact on nature from both public and private sector sources, according to the latest State of Finance for Nature report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
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We will not go silently to our graves. |
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The median hit on GDP for the eight countries of the Arabian Peninsula by 2100 if the average global temperature stays on track for 3 degrees Celsius, according to Christian Aid |
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