oil exporting countries “realize that they are losing control”, analyzes a participant after the OPEC letter on fossil fuels

OPEC’s call to reject an agreement on the exit from fossil fuels produced shock waves at COP28 in Dubai. Several countries, including France, have expressed their annoyance.

Feverish atmosphere at COP28 Saturday December 9. OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is putting pressure on its 23 member or associated countries to reject any agreement targeting fossil fuels in climate negotiations while many countries this time want to sign an exit from fossil fuels. The content of a letter sent by the secretary general of oil-exporting countries this week was made public on Friday by AFP and the British daily The Guardian. Since then, it has been a shock in Dubai.

It is a letter presented as urgent that OPEC sent this week to its members. There “pressure” on fossil fuels “could reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences”. This is what we can read there. A repugnant position for the Spanish Minister of Ecological Transition. Same annoyance on the part of the European Commissioner responsible for climate, Wopke Hoekstra. “Let me tell you in diplomatic terms, it’s far from impressive. It’s time for everyone to move beyond their personal interests,” he says.

Excitement in the oil sector

Anger also, for France, of Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher. “I am stunned by this statement from OPEC and therefore I am counting on the presidency not to be impressed by this direction and to allow us to obtain a good agreement.”

The Emirati presidency, the Emirates being a member of OPEC, like Saudi Arabia, have been blockers of negotiations for almost 30 years. But this letter demonstrates, according to Alden Meyer of the E3G think tank, a think tank on climate changea excitement in the oil sector that he quite likes.

“That’s a great sign for us because it shows they’re worried. They’re panicking.”

Alden Meyer, from the E3G think tank

at franceinfo

“If they were not distressed by the idea that something might happen, to affect the sale of their production, they would not have issued such a letter,” he explains. “A deal would be a threat to the prosperity of businesses and producers. But it’s not a threat to the prosperity of people around the world. That’s a key message. They’ve done everything they can for almost 30 years to slow down the negotiations. I think they realize there that they are losing control as the world becomes aware of the devastating impact of the use of their products.”

Today, fossil fuels are responsible for more than 75% of CO2 emissions.