The discussion at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai thrusts the fight over the future of fossil fuels into the global spotlight. Policymakers from nearly 200 countries have gathered at the COP28 in the United Arab Emirates. The key focus is on the burning of coal, oil and gas, which are the primary drivers of the climate crisis. Many at the COP28 want to see a deal that “phases out” all fossil fuels, instead of one that “phases down” their use.
The language of the final agreement will be scrutinized closely. There is debate over whether it should focus on “abated” fossil fuels, which are captured and stored with carbon capture and storage technologies. “Unabated” fossil fuels are produced and used without substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, emphasized the need for COP28 to be the mitigation COP. He stressed the importance of COP28 signaling the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era, signaling the bending of the curve towards the reduction of fossil fuel use.
A draft text published during the COP28 suggests that world leaders could potentially agree to “phase out” all fossil fuels. However, there’s opposition to this language from countries such as Russia and host country, the United Arab Emirates, which prefers “phase-down.” Big Oil is also pushing to reduce emissions instead of phasing out fossil fuels.
The groundbreaking proceedings at COP28 involve a landmark deal to help vulnerable countries cope with climate disasters. This decision has cleared the way for further discussions on the future of fossil fuels.
The COP28 aims to “say the F-words” and everyone is aligned on the importance of the much-needed energy transition. Parties are more organized this year, increasing momentum to address fossil fuels as the largest contributor to climate change. The conversation about the pace and scale of the energy transition continues to evolve at the COP28.
This year, the COP28 announced several initiatives to decarbonize the energy sector, including expansion of renewable energy capacity by 2030, expansion of nuclear power, and reduction of methane emissions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of moving away from a firehose of fossil fuels to prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis. He stressed the need to phase out all fossil fuels to stay aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature threshold, which is crucial in preventing tipping points in Earth’s climate and ecosystems.
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