Global Push to Phase Out Fossil Fuels Intensifies Before Cop28

The said draft, known as the global stocktake, assesses if nations are adhering to the emission commitments from the 2015 Paris agreement. It advocates for “transformations across all sectors”, emphasizing the need to boost renewable energy while discontinuing the use of all unabated fossil fuels. This emphasis in a major UN document could likely energize the upcoming discussions.

Alok Sharma, the president of the previous Cop26, welcomes the call for an uptick in renewable energy and an end to unabated fossil fuels. He mentions that achieving a consensus on phasing out fossil fuels at Cop28 would be a notable victory for both humanity and our planet.

However, Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, has called attention to the oil and gas industry’s efforts to paint new initiatives as eco-friendly, even when these actions clash with the Paris agreement’s aim to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

After the release of the global stocktake, there are growing expectations for the Cop28 agenda to prominently feature the phasing out of fossil fuels. Bob Ward, from the London School of Economics, mentions that leading oil nations, like the US and Saudi Arabia, will need to be transparent about their future plans.

Though the UAE has not committed to a specific fossil fuel phase-out date, the president of Cop28, Sultan Al Jaber, suggests a “phase down” approach. Jaber emphasizes focusing on “unabated” fossil fuels, hinting at the potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Nevertheless, experts caution against solely relying on CCS, viewing it as an untested method that shouldn’t justify continued fossil fuel use.

As discussions intensify, UN Secretary General António Guterres is set to host a pivotal round table on September 20, focusing on practical climate solutions.