A new draft for the final text of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai no longer includes a phase-out of coal, oil and gas.
The 21-page paper, which was published on Monday, December 11, 2023, only mentions a reduction in the consumption and production of fossil fuels.
In a previous version, the phase-out was still mentioned as one of several options.
Environmental organisations have reacted with disappointment.
Jan Kowalzig, a senior climate expert with Oxfam, spoke of a very “weak wording’’ that was moving away from fossil fuels.
And even the other targets tripling renewable energies and doubling energy efficiency were not mentioned as a goal, but only as a possible measure. “COP28 must not end like this,’’ he said.
The 1.5-degree Celsius target set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement would “probably be thrown out of the window’’ with this draft, “in spite of assurances to the contrary elsewhere in the text,’’ Kowalzig added.
Kowalzig urged the European Union not to agree with the declaration, stating that developing countries and their allies must demand significant improvements.
Environmental watchdog group, 350.org, stated: “Hours away from the conclusion of COP28, the draft of the final text has surfaced with major gaps, deliberate omissions, and unacceptable loopholes that allow for a continued global fossil fuel dependency and fail to address the climate crisis with the urgent, course correction needed for the most pressing issue of our time.
“For COP28 to successfully safeguard the future of people and planet, the final text needs to explicitly call for an unequivocal fossil fuel phaseout and an equitable and quantifiable powering up of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.”
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns, 350.org, said: “The COP28 draft text resembles a disjointed wish list, far from the stringent measures required to limit warming to 1.5°C. The presidency, displaying a troubling lack of leadership, has notably weakened commitments to phasing out fossil fuels and promoting renewables.
“By framing actions as ‘could’ instead of ‘shall’, and with weak language on short-term declines and renewable targets, this draft falls short. Nations committed to climate action must reject this weakened proposal, insisting on transformative changes for a meaningful impact on global warming.”
Cansin Leylim, 350.org Associate Director of Global Campaigns, said: “The COP28 draft text has surfaced. Its non-binding, vague, and elusive language is extremely disappointing to say the least, and falls far short of the urgent response the climate crisis demands of us, and what so many communities, experts, and negotiators have been fighting for. Like the smog-ridden Dubai skyline, the mention of fossil fuels in the final outcome is at best murky, and at worst, dangerous.
“This outcome leaves the doors wide open to dangerous distractions and false technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which will surely blow us past the 1.5°C planetary limit, and fails to integrate the crucial finance and equitability aspects of the just transition to renewable energy that we need.”
Joseph Sikulu, Pacific Managing Director, 350.org: “The COP28 draft text is unacceptable, and far below the ambition required to keep our islands afloat. This week we felt that the goal of phasing out fossil fuels was within reach, but the lack of climate leadership shown by the presidency and the blatant watering down of commitments to a ‘wish list’ is an insult to those of us that came here to fight for our survival. How do we go home and tell our people that this is what the world has to say about our futures?”
Jeff Ordower, North America Director, 350.org: “The draft text coming out of COP28 is completely at odds with our climate goals. Let’s be clear: the text we see today is partly the work of the richest nations, including the US, trying to pull a bait and switch behind the scenes to distort the meaning of ‘phaseout’ so they can keep burning and profiting off of fossil fuels. So, today, we say to President Biden, John Kerry, and all world leaders: you either support a fossil fuel phaseout and reject this text, or you don’t support a phaseout. This is your moment of truth.”
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns, 350.org: “The COP28 draft text resembles a disjointed wish list, far from the stringent measures required to limit warming to 1.5°C. The presidency, displaying a troubling lack of leadership, has notably weakened commitments to phasing out fossil fuels and promoting renewables. By framing actions as ‘could’ instead of ‘shall,’ and with weak language on short-term declines and renewable targets, this draft falls short. Nations committed to climate action must reject this weakened proposal, insisting on transformative changes for a meaningful impact on global warming.”
Landry Ninteretse, Regional Director, 350Africa.org: “We will continue to push back on this draft text and reject it until leaders address the elephant in the room – fossil fuels – the primary cause of the climate crisis. In addition to scaling up renewable energy capacity, a fast and fair phaseout of fossil fuels is necessary to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees celsius and avert the worst impacts of climate change.
“The choice between whether or not to commit to the phase out of fossil fuels is not one at all – it’s an illusion of choice. If that isn’t included in the final text, this COP will be remembered as a victory of petrostates and carbon colonialists that have once again deliberately ignored the suffering and injustices of hundreds of millions in Africa.”
Peri Dias, 350.org Latin America representative at COP28: “In the coming hours, we will either witness a historic decision for the good of the planet, or one for its end. Are the parties at COP28 going to agree to a rapid and fair elimination of fossil fuels or not? The climate movement in Latin America must continue with the pressure and continue to raise our voices so that world leaders in the Global North and their petrostate allies know that we will not accept the unacceptable. We need a formal commitment to phaseout fossil fuels and to promote renewable energies around the world – it is not enough that some countries do it and others do not; or that we leave here with only recommendations.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Oilwatch International: “The draft text is filled with platitudes but stays away from the real needs of climate action. It is unable to come to terms with the need to phase out fossil fuels. It speaks of substitution or reduction of production and consumption of fossil fuels.
“It is also stuck with carbon removals systems which could promote risky, unproven, technologies as well as severe impacts on communities. Big shame that the fossil fingers are bent on setting the world on fire. The UNEP Emissions Gap Report clearly showed that the voluntary emissions reduction pathway set by the Paris Agreement is simply incinerating the planet. Yet this document ‘Reaffirms the nationally determined nature of nationally determined contributions.’ This emphasises that national interest trumps global needs is a hard-nosed refusal of the parties to adhere to the principle of CBDR-RC and unambiguously call for an urgent phase out of fossil fuels.
“The COP needs to believe the evidence in the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC it mentions repeatedly in the text and accept that the world needs concrete steps such as a measurable and binding emissions reduction regime based on historical and current responsibilities. This draft has done the bidding of the fossil lobby.”
