‘Urgency of action’: Pressure grows for COP28 climate deal

DUBAI - United Nations climate talks negotiators were under growing pressure on Dec 10 as the deadline nears to strike a new deal aimed at keeping global warming within 1.5 deg C of pre-industrial levels.

Before COP28’s scheduled finish on Dec 12, officials warned that progress was too slow as a critical dispute remains – whether to include language on the winding down of fossil fuel production.

Germany’s chief negotiator Jennifer Morgan urged the United Arab Emirates’ COP28 presidency, led by state oil company chief executive officer Sultan Al Jaber, to push for the “most ambitious” agreement.

“There is a real urgency of action to keep the planetary pain threshold of 1.5 deg C in reach,” she said.

“Today is the day the presidency takes over primary responsibility for figuring out what the most ambitious version of an outcome package can be at this COP.

“The COP presidency has reiterated many times that they are here to facilitate an ambitious decision. This means there needs to be strong language on the phase-out of fossil fuels in line with 1.5 deg C.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged COP28 delegates to agree on big cuts to emissions and called on oil and gas companies to lead the renewable energy transition.

“I urge fossil fuel companies to use their enormous resources to lead the renewables revolution,” he told the Doha Forum in Qatar. “And I urge global leaders at COP28 in Dubai to agree on deep cuts to emissions in line with 1.5 deg C. That is the only road not only to climate sustainability, but economic sustainability.”

The International Energy Agency said non-binding pledges made by governments and the oil and gas industry so far at COP28 would reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by only 30 per cent of what is needed by 2030.

“While the pledges are positive steps forward in tackling the energy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, they would not be nearly enough to move the world onto a path to reaching international climate targets, in particular the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 deg C,” it said.

The agency released an assessment of non-binding promises made in Dubai: tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, as well as sharp cuts in methane emissions.

According to the UN climate body, 130 countries have signed the pledge on renewables and energy efficiency.

A small minority of countries at the UN climate talks are blocking a growing consensus to phase out fossil fuels, at-risk Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu told AFP.

“The majority here want fossil-fuel language, language that takes us away from fossil fuels. That indicates a desire for us to move according to the science, according to the 1.5 degree target,” he said, adding that talks were at a “critical stage”.

“So that is the will of the majority. We need the small minority of countries that are blocking progress to shift position, and that’s what we’re working on for the next couple of days.”

The low-lying Pacific Islands nation faces a severe threat from rising sea levels and has been battered by three tropical cyclones in 2023, including a category-five storm in October.

A small group of demonstrators briefly invaded the Opec pavilion, calling for the phase-out of fossil fuels.

Half a dozen activists staged their protest two days after revelations that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) had urged its members to “proactively reject” a phase-out.

“We know that Opec sent a letter to its members, asking them to reject a phase-out of fossil fuels, and we think it’s a bad sign,” Mr Nicolas Haeringer of non-governmental organisation 350.org told a startled group of visitors.

“For us, having an Opec pavilion at COP is like having a huge oil well in the negotiations.”

The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, was again shrouded by smog as Dubai’s air pollution hit “unhealthy” levels, according to the Waqi.info tracking site.

The reading of 152 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5 pollution – the fine particulate matter that is most harmful as it can enter the bloodstream – is well above levels considered safe by the World Health Organisation.

In “unhealthy” air quality, “everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects”, Waqi.info warns.

Last week, a Human Rights Watch report citing analysis of government air quality data and satellite imagery said the UAE suffers “alarmingly high” pollution levels fed by its fossil fuel industry. AFP