Demanding the exit from fossil fuels in the final COP28 agreement, expected on December 12 in Dubai, “is not a frivolous request” but an emergency established by science, “crystal clear”, European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. To help developing countries, the European Union is “ready to take additional steps”, particularly on compensating for climate damage, says the EU’s new Mr. Climate, met on the sidelines of the pre-COP in the UAE capital. Comments collected by AFP.
What are the main points of the negotiations that you addressed during the pre-COP28?
All the key elements that will determine the outcome and success of the COP: the global assessment of mitigation efforts [réduction des gaz à effet de serre], the fund for “loss and damage” and adaptation to climate change. For mitigation, we want a peak in emissions in 2025, an exit from fossil fuels, an acceleration of that of coal, a tripling of renewable energies, a doubling of energy efficiency, solving methane emissions, etc.
Of course, […] it will be easier to come together around targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency than on fossil fuels.
In his speech, the president of COP28 [Sultan Al Jaber] said that “science should guide us.” However, the science is crystal clear, it is not “à la carte”. So we need to do everything on mitigation, we need to do everything on adaptation and we also need to recognize that more money is needed. Scientists tell us that it is necessary and that the window is closing.
How can we resolve the problem of climate finance, which is very insufficient for developing countries?
The European Union has actively pushed in this direction. Of the hundred billion [de dollars d’aide annuelle promis par les pays riches], we took the lead by collecting 26, which is considerable if you look at what our fair share should be. We are very willing and determined to take a further step [pour concrétiser le nouveau fonds sur les pertes et dommages climatiques adopté à la COP27].
But at the same time, we have to do things right at once: this fund must be limited to the neediest and most vulnerable countries [et non pas à tous les pays en développement]. Particularly to small island states, the most affected by climate change, without any responsibility in it.
Second, we must ensure that we expand […] to all nations that have the capacity to pay. From a diplomatic point of view it is not useful at this stage to point out specific countries, but everyone can see how countries stand in terms of GDP, how the world has changed over the 20, Last 30, 40 years. Economic progress, being an economic power, comes with many responsibilities.
We are determined to make this fund work. Not just to solve the problem, but also because it is linked to this extraordinarily important, yet intangible thing called trust.
The EU wants a final agreement at COP28 with objectives to phase out fossil fuels, is this a red line?
This is not a frivolity of the European Union, nor an experiment, nor a political maneuver. No, it’s the world’s most renowned experts telling us we need more action, more ambition. And not in ten years. We need it now, because the window of opportunity is closing.
Of course, it would be much easier to continue as before or take a small detour. But future generations need us to act now. And this includes the rapid exit from fossil fuels in general, and coal in particular.