The final declaration of the 26th United Nations climate conference (COP26) may well not mention the issue of fossil fuels, depending on what emerges from a first version of the key elements that are likely to be found there. The oil and gas industry is also well represented in Glasgow, particularly by Canadian lobbyists who want to promote the country’s resources.
The presidency of the COP26 has just published a “summary” of the elements that could be found in the final declaration of the meeting, which theoretically ends on Friday. This document contains elements of “context” identified by the different countries, but also important points concerning the “adaptation” to climate upheavals, the necessary reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, collaboration between States and the implementation. implementation of commitments.
The document is only a draft of the main points at the heart of the discussions and some elements may disappear when the final version of the declaration is drafted, which must be the subject of a consensus among states. But we can already see in the document the absence of reference to fossil fuels, while our dependence on coal, oil and natural gas is the main culprit of the worsening climate crisis.
Fellow at the Center for International Studies and Research at the University of Montreal and principal advisor at COPTICOM, Hugo Séguin believes that the issue of fossil fuels should nevertheless be included in the declaration. “With everything we know and at the point where we are, as an international community, we should be able to name things and name the main sources of climate change. And one of them is our energy system based on fossil fuels. We should therefore be able to name it, especially in a context of climate negotiations that have lasted for more than 25 years, ”he argued on Monday.
In a framework where no less than 197 parties must seek a “consensus” by the end of the meeting, he is not however surprised by this omission. According to him, it is quite possible that some fossil fuel producing countries reject the idea of explicitly including the need to reduce our dependence on oil, gas and coal in the final declaration.
That said, Mr. Séguin believes that this absence noticed by certain observers and by environmental groups has not been a brake on certain announcements which will have the effect of reducing the place of fossil fuels.
Concession to producers?
For Greenpeace, the fact of not including the need to get out of fossil fuels is a mistake and a concession to producing countries, such as Australia (coal) and Saudi Arabia (oil). The latter, as well as India, have already pleaded earlier this fall for a mitigation of the recommendations of the next report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scheduled for March 2022, concerning the exit from fossil fuels.
In a statement released on Monday, Greenpeace recalled that the International Energy Agency is nevertheless pleading for the end of all new projects for the exploration and exploitation of fossil fuels to respect the commitments of the Paris Agreement on the climate. However, this is not the path followed by the major producing and exporting countries. According to the most recent edition of the Production Gap Report, they plan to use around 110% more fossil fuels in 2030 than what would be consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement, namely that of limiting global warming to 1 , 5 ° C compared to the pre-industrial era.
The Trudeau government did not choose to put a cap on the growth of oil and gas production in Canada, but it did promise to put in place a “cap” on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This should be gradually lowered over the next few years, in order to meet Canadian climate targets.
Industry lobbying
Global Witness also unveiled on Monday a list of more than 503 COP26 participants who are associated with the fossil fuel industry. Several of them are representatives of companies which are involved in the exploitation and which advocate for the maintenance, in the long term, of oil and natural gas in the world energy consumption, which is currently met at 80% by fossil fuels.
According to what we can see in the list of participants registered as coming from Canada, there are two representatives of the Suncor oil company, which exploits oil from the tar sands and which operates one of the two refineries in Quebec. Another Canadian company, Fortis, which is active in the gas industry, is also represented.
Furthermore, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers confirmed at the To have to that three representatives are in Glasgow, including its president, Tim McMillan. The organization, which presents itself as “the voice” of the industry in the country, is also organizing a press conference on Tuesday. She intends to highlight “the need” to recognize the role of natural gas and oil to meet the energy needs of the coming years and meet “the ambition of the Paris Agreement”.
Beyond the elements that could be missing from the final declaration of COP26 and efforts to promote the fossil fuel industry, the negotiations being held at the Glasgow conference this week are likely to be difficult, according to Hugo Séguin . In a plenary session held on Monday, several countries notably called for a firm promise to respect the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement, namely to limit warming to 1.5 ° C, compared to the pre-industrial era. For the moment, the concrete actions taken by the main emitting countries, including Canada, are insufficient to achieve this.
With Agence France-Presse