Representatives from nearly 200 countries at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai have agreed on a climate pledge to transition away from oil and gas.
This agreement, reached after extended negotiations, signals a commitment to move away from oil and gas, although it stops short of explicitly recommending a phase-out.
The deal, marked by its absence of the term ‘phase-out,’ instead promotes a gradual shift away from oil, gas, and coal.
The text calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.”
Over 100 nations advocated for strong language in the COP28 accord to eliminate the use of oil, gas, and coal — which account for about 80% of the world’s energy. These nations faced significant resistance from the oil producer group OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, which contended that global emission reductions are achievable without the categorical exclusion of particular fuels.
This approach aims for net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, with the goal of limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. It also calls for accelerating and substantially reducing non-carbon-dioxide emissions globally, particularly methane emissions, by 2030.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” expressed COP28 president, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. “Together, we have confronted realities, and we have set the world in the right direction.”
Despite the consensus, the deal has faced criticism for not being ambitious enough, especially from environmental leaders and smaller, climate-vulnerable nations. The absence of ‘phase-out’ or ‘phase-down’ terms has been particularly contentious.
“It’s not the phase-out that the president promised, but it would be a significant step forward, especially at a COP that has been so visibly captured by the fossil fuel lobby,” said Caroline Brouillette, an environmental campaigner with Climate Action Network Canada, according to CBC.
The agreement’s focus on transitioning towards renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency by 2030 has been supported by several countries, including Canada. The agreement calls for tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The agreement also suggests using carbon capture facilities and other technologies to prevent greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) expressed concerns on Wednesday, claiming the agreement had loopholes and didn’t go far enough.
“The text does not speak specifically to fossil fuel phase-out and mitigation in a way that is, in fact ‘, the step change that is needed,’” said the AOSIS, an alliance that represents the interests in international climate change of 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states.
A major element of the summit was the establishment of a global climate damage fund. This fund aims to assist developing countries in coping with climate change impacts like floods and rising sea levels. The fund gained the support of over 120 nations.
Germany and the United Arab Emirates emerged as the leading contributors to the climate fund, each committing $100 million USD. Canada also contributed, pledging approximately $12 million USD to the initiative.
“We are what we do, not what we say,” Al Jaber remarked. “We must take the steps necessary to turn this agreement into tangible actions.”
