Race against time at COP28: Fossil fuel phase-out negotiations intensify debate

With barely four days Moving forward to negotiate the terms under which countries must declare their commitment to reduce the production and use of fossil fuels, President of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) Sultan Al Jaber Request from negotiators “Get out of your comfort zone”. In the corridors, many are skeptical and insist that his position is somewhat contradictory, as he also heads the largest oil company in the country.

Apparently, as is the case with almost everything here in Dubai, where they own almost all the records, Al-Jaber wants to show the world that he is capable of concluding the summit, the results of which have historically been usually delayed for up to 48 hours.

He confirmed in statements to the media that he wants this. “I eat too late”Negotiations end at 11 a.m. on December 12. According to Carbon Summary, the last conference where an agreement was reached on the same day as planned was COP10, held in Buenos Aires in 2004.

“Please, let us do this job.”he asked on Friday as the summit entered the most difficult phase of negotiations. “I want you to take a step forward and get out of your comfort zone,” he added.

The thing is, there are barely 120 hours left until the end of the deadline, The 196 countries present have not yet agreed, among other things, on how to determine the phase-out of fossil fuels, the main source of emissions that contribute to global warming. At least 80 countries are demanding an agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) that ends the use of fossil fuels, but language is crucial.

Terminology in dance is “phasing out” or “phasing out” Which in Spanish means reduction by an indefinite date or cancellation by a pre-determined date. But the complexity does not end there.. A new term “relentless” is at the center of controversy. The problem is that no one can give an accurate definition, and civil society organizations believe that this definition may lead to the continued use of fossil fuels with the promise of carbon sequestration using technologies that do not yet exist in some cases. This means prolonging the status quo.

The European Union, the United States, island nations and African countries insist on the need to phase out fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) as energy sources. But China and oil-producing countries, led by Saudi Arabia, believe that the final declaration should not mention fossil fuels. In addition to the previously mentioned phrase “unrelenting”. Neither the first nor the second group provided details.

Al Jaber said that the conference “sends a clear signal that all of us – young and old – are capable of making a difference.” “Let’s build on this success to get an unprecedented result.”

“If we want this COP to be a conference of progress, “We need to talk about eliminating fossil fuels.”Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who chaired the climate change agreement, told The Guardian. He added: “Only in this way will a political message be sent that will have repercussions for companies that have to decide where to invest.”

“From a planetary perspective, 1.5°C is a tangible limit. It’s just not an option.”said Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“Exceeding 1.5°C would mean we would irreversibly lose ice sheets,” that sea levels would rise by 10 metres, that coral reefs that support global fishing would disappear, and that temperatures would reach levels so extreme that “2,000 million people would live in He added: “This will exceed the human limit and constitute a danger to life.”

Meanwhile, Eastern European countries are deciding where to hold next year’s COP29 summit. Until yesterday, Azerbaijan was among the candidates, which offered to host the event with surprising support from Armenia. It is said in the corridors that Moldova and Serbia are among the possible candidates to assume the rotating presidency.