(Dubaï) Le secrétaire général de l’Organisation des pays exportateurs de pétrole (OPEP) a demandé « en urgence » à ses 23 pays membres ou associés de « rejeter proactivement » tout accord ciblant les énergies fossiles dans les négociations climatiques à la COP28 de Dubaï, dans un courrier consulté vendredi par l’AFP.
Dans cette lettre datée de mercredi, et authentifiée par un pays membre destinataire, le secrétaire général Haitham al-Ghais « presse » ses membres et leurs délégations à la COP28 de « rejeter proactivement tout texte ou toute formulation qui cible l’énergie, c’est-à-dire les combustibles fossiles, plutôt que les émissions » de gaz à effet de serre.
« Il semble que la pression excessive et disproportionnée exercée sur les combustibles fossiles pourrait atteindre un point de basculement aux conséquences irréversibles, car le projet de décision contient encore des options sur l’élimination progressive des combustibles fossiles », affirme M. al-Ghais, disant écrire « avec un sentiment d’extrême urgence ».
« Bien que les pays membres » et leurs associés « prennent au sérieux le changement climatique […]it would be unacceptable for politically motivated campaigns to endanger the prosperity and future of our people,” the letter continues.
Contacted by AFP, OPEC did not immediately respond.
The letter is addressed to the 13 members of OPEC, including Iraq, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, which chairs this year’s United Nations climate conference, and Saudi Arabia, at the forefront of opposition away from fossil fuels.
The mail is also sent to ten associated countries, such as Mexico, Azerbaijan, Russia and Malaysia, all present in Dubai.
Iraq said it “supports” the OPEC chief’s views.
“Desperate resistance”
“Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani tasked the Iraqi delegation attending the Dubai conference to ensure that the wording of the closing communiqué emphasizes the cooperation of countries around the world on reducing emissions in order to preserve the environment and climate. He refused attempts to target fossil fuels and the violation of the rights of producing countries and their populations,” Oil Ministry spokesperson Assem Jihad told AFP.
He highlighted Iraq’s efforts to reduce its own emissions, including plans to end gas flaring.
“OPEC’s desperate resistance to a gradual elimination of fossil fuels reveals its fear that the tide is turning, which is now evident in the discussions at COP28,” Andreas Sieber of OPEC responded to AFP. NGO 350.org.
“The spotlight is on the presidency of COP28”, ensured by the boss of the Emirati national hydrocarbon company Sultan al-Jaber, to see “if it will negotiate an agreement for a just transition or if it will allow itself to be influenced by the “Saudi Arabia and the oil industry,” he added.
PHOTO THOMAS MUKOYA, REUTERS
Emirati President of COP28, Sultan al-Jaber
“It is already quite unfortunate that the second most important interest group represented at the COP is the fossil fuel lobby and now the solutions” currently being negotiated “are being blocked in real time by their interests,” denounced Amiera Sawas, from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, supported by island states and Colombia.