a new draft agreement calls for “reducing” fossil fuels without abandoning them, France denounces an “insufficient” text

This text prepared by the United Arab Emirates does not mention an exit from fossil fuels, while several countries and organizations are campaigning for this more ambitious formulation.

A final draft before the final copy? A new draft agreement at COP28 on climate, prepared by the United Arab Emirates, was made public on Monday, December 11, on the eve of the planned closing of the UN conference. He calls in particular for the “reduction of both consumption and production of fossil fuels”but does not mention the word of “exit” fossil fuels, which is at the heart of the negotiations in Dubai.

Reducing the use of coal, oil and gas must be done “in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, so as to achieve net zero [la neutralité carbone] by, before or around 2050”, according to this draft agreement. On coal, the text calls for “rapidly reduce coal without carbon capture”. He also recommends limiting “permits granted for new coal-fired power plants” without carbon capture.

The project also mentions nuclear and carbon capture and storage technologies “in order to improve efforts to substitute unabated fossil fuels in energy systems”. Capture and storage technologies are required by oil and gas producing countries to continue pumping hydrocarbons, but remain in their infancy. The text finally takes up the objective of tripling global renewable energies and doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.

“Still much to do”, according to the president of COP28

“This text is insufficient”reacted the French Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, from Dubai. “There are elements that are not acceptable as they stand”particularly on coal, she said, expressing her “disappointment”. The European Union also criticized a draft agreement “clearly insufficient”while the United States called for “strongly reinforce” the contents. This text is “totally insufficient” on the issue of fossil fuels, also denounced the Alliance of Small Island States. “Our voices are not heard”lamented this group.

The project revealed “represents a significant regression compared to previous versions”commented the NGO Climate Action Network, which represents more than a thousand associations. “Staggeringly, it no longer includes an explicit formula on phasing out fossil fuels”unlike the first draft agreements of this COP28, she underlined.

“We have made progress, but we still have a long way to go”declared COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber, after the publication of the new draft compromise deemed disappointing by NGOs and many countries. “We still have to resolve many differences”he admitted in plenary session, ensuring that there was no “no time to waste”. “It’s time to decide.”he pressed.