Climate change is causing widespread devastation around the world. Heat waves, fueled by record-high temperatures, are affecting millions of people across continents like Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America. These extreme heat waves are expected to continue, leading to more wildfires and other catastrophic consequences. Additionally, countries like India, Japan, China, and South Korea are experiencing heavy monsoon rainfall, resulting in flash floods, landslides, and power outages that have claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands homeless. It is now evident that no place on Earth is immune to the impacts of climate change.
Despite this grim reality, there is a tragic lack of determination and urgency to halt the burning of fossil fuels and swiftly transition to clean, renewable energy sources. The excessive and widespread use of coal, oil, and gas has contributed to a staggering 50 percent increase in carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution, and this number is still rising rapidly. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns us that our time to prevent the worst consequences of climate change is rapidly dwindling. To achieve this, we must take the following steps: 1) cease the expansion of fossil fuel extraction and production; 2) drastically reduce carbon pollution and fossil fuel usage by at least two-thirds by 2035; 3) completely eliminate the use of coal, oil, and gas in wealthy countries before 2040, and globally by mid-century; 4) rapidly develop renewable energy systems to replace fossil fuels and address energy poverty; and 5) fulfill the commitment of wealthy nations to provide climate finance for a smooth and successful energy transition in developing countries.
These demands align with the recent passionate plea from United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, who called for the phasing out of fossil fuels to prevent a climate catastrophe and emphasized the need for increased investments in renewable energy. However, the fossil fuel industry and its allies are actively working to expand fossil fuel production. Just last month, the Norwegian government approved the development of 19 oil and gas fields, claiming that these resources are vital for Europe’s energy security and will be required for decades to come. Asian governments and fossil fuel companies also echo this sentiment by advocating for the expansion of gas as a transition fuel from coal. Furthermore, major oil companies have recently backtracked on their commitments, stating that gas and oil projects must continue to ensure a smooth energy transition and a secure energy supply. These claims are deceptive and untrue. The influence of the oil and gas industry in crucial climate negotiations has been undermining efforts to make bold commitments towards reducing emissions and phasing out fossil fuels.
The president of the COP28 climate summit, scheduled for November in Dubai, announced his plan to include the “phasedown of fossil fuels.” While this may sound promising, it actually involves the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce emissions to zero by 2050. However, CCS technology is unproven when it comes to emissions reduction. Existing CCS plants have only captured about 0.1 percent of global emissions from fossil fuels, with 81 percent of the captured carbon being used to extract more oil. It is clear that the push for CCS is merely a ploy to justify the continued production of fossil fuels. Instead, the goal of COP28 should be an agreement to phase out fossil fuels entirely, which means progressively decreasing their use and production until they reach zero by 2050.
According to the International Energy Agency, concerns about energy security and volatile prices of imported fossil fuels have driven countries to increasingly turn to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. In fact, renewables are projected to account for over 90 percent of global electricity expansion in the next five years. We can and should directly transition from coal to renewable energy. The expansion of renewable energy systems can and should be pursued at a pace and scale that addresses energy security and access, while ensuring a swift, fair, and equitable phasing out of fossil fuels. Delaying the phaseout is no longer an option. Humanity is racing against time to survive the effects of global warming.
Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development, stresses the urgency of the situation. It is crucial that we take immediate action to combat climate change and protect our planet for future generations.
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