(Dubai) The new draft agreement at COP28 in Dubai calls on countries to “transition away from fossil fuels” and accelerate action “in this crucial decade, in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050”, according to the last compromise that the United Arab Emirates will try to have adopted by consensus on Wednesday.
The text, which aims to become the first decision of a UN climate conference to address the fate of all fossil fuels – oil, gas and coal – does not reintroduce the term “exit” demanded by more ambitious countries , but refused by producing countries, Saudi Arabia in the lead.
In its most scrutinized article, the text under debate proposes to recognize “the need for a strong, rapid and sustained reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, in connection with the 1.5°C trajectories and calls on the parties to contribute to the following global efforts”, a list of eight types of actions.
The lever that should be the most debated is worded as follows: “Transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, by accelerating action in this crucial decade, in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 in accordance with scientific recommendations.
The other levers cited are, among others, the tripling of renewable energies by 2030, the development of nuclear power, “low-carbon” hydrogen, and nascent carbon capture technologies, favored by oil-producing countries.
The transition in a “fair, orderly and equitable manner” means respecting a different pace depending on the countries, their development needs and their historical responsibility for global warming.
So far, the COPs have only adopted objectives for “reducing” greenhouse gas emissions, without explicitly addressing the fate of all fossil fuels, responsible for two thirds of emissions.
Only a “reduction” of coal was recorded at COP26 in Glasgow, but objectives on oil and gas were never adopted.
The subject emerged in the negotiations in the face of the acceleration of the consequences of warming, the failure of countries to maintain the 1.5°C trajectory, which is very threatened, and during the organization of the COP in a rich oil and gas country.
The presidency’s stated objective on Wednesday is to have this text adopted during a plenary session announced for 9:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m. Eastern time), one day behind the theoretical end of COP28. Consensus will be essential.