Hosts irritated by climate conference

COP28 in Dubai - Hosts irritated by climate conference

A tough struggle for a global phase-out of coal, oil and gas is emerging at the World Climate Conference. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressly called for this move away from fossil fuels during his flying visit to Dubai at the weekend.

However, according to a report, the host of COP28 from the United Arab Emirates doubts that the phase-out is necessary from a scientific point of view in order to achieve the climate protection targets. Observers and climate activists reacted indignantly. And they want the SPD chancellor, who campaigned as "climate chancellor", to show more determination in the fight against global warming.

Several environmental associations welcomed Scholz's signal to phase out fossil fuels. The Chancellor had said on Saturday: "We must now all show a firm determination to phase out fossil fuels - first and foremost coal. We can set sail for this at this climate conference."

Climate activists see a gap between words and deeds

However, these words are not matched by "the fact that the German government is working against the Paris Agreement by building new fossil fuel infrastructure for the import of liquefied natural gas and at the same time undermining the Climate Protection Act", said Jan Kowalzig from the development organization Oxfam. "The Federal Chancellor has wisely concealed this." WWF climate chief Viviane Raddatz added that the climate conference with around 200 countries was not just about signals, but above all about implementation. "Urgency and Scholz's composure do not go together here."

The German section of Fridays for Future, with a number of activists in Dubai, considered it a success to have urged Scholz to mention the fossil fuel phase-out at a personal meeting. Luisa Neubauer also called on the Chancellor to provide "a 100 billion euro special fund for climate protection and socially just transformation".

Fossil fuel phase-out very controversial

However, it is unlikely that the countries of the world will really be able to agree on a global phase-out of coal, oil and gas in Dubai - especially as the conference president Sultan Al-Jaber plays a questionable role as head of the state oil company. The British Guardian and the Centre for Climate Reporting reported that he said in a video call with UN representatives in November that there is "no science" to prove that phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times. He also claimed that development without the use of fossil fuels is not possible "if we don't want to catapult the world into the Stone Age". Climate researchers and activists reacted with outrage, with some once again questioning his suitability as a host.

"This story is just another attempt to undermine the Presidency's agenda, which is clear and transparent" and has "tangible achievements", a spokesperson for COP28 told Deutsche Presse-Agentur when asked. "We are not sure what this message is supposed to say. Nothing in it is new or breaking news." It continued: "The COP President is clear that the phasing out of fossil fuels is inevitable and that we need to keep the 1.5 degree target within reach."

In a previous reaction to the Guardian report, the presidency said that Al-Jaber had referred to the fact that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also assumes in its scenarios that fossil fuels will continue to play a role in the energy system of the future - albeit a smaller one.

Oil and gas producers are blocking

A front is also already emerging among the negotiating states that wants to prevent the phase-out at all costs: Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iraq, as oil and gas exporters, are opposing it, according to activists. According to the non-governmental organization Destination Zero and other observers, the countries have openly expressed their rejection in initial negotiations.

For Pacific island states such as Tuvalu, the fossil fuel phase-out is a matter of livelihoods: The prime minister of the state with a population of just over 11,000, Kausea Natano, called for an immediate halt to all new oil and gas drilling - followed by a swift phase-out of all fossil fuels. The highest point of Tuvalu is only two meters above sea level, and up to 40 percent of the land area is already frequently flooded. Its citizens would like to be able to continue living on their land in the future.

The Prime Minister of the Caribbean island state of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, added: "Today's weapons of mass destruction are not bombs, but rising temperatures, scorching droughts and rising sea levels - all consequences of greed and indifference."

More renewables and nuclear power instead of coal, oil and gas

Less controversial than the move away from fossil fuels is the goal of tripling energy generation from renewables worldwide by 2030 and doubling the rate of energy efficiency. However, many countries also want to rely more heavily on nuclear power to meet their energy needs in the future: all G7 countries except Germany and Italy have announced their intention to triple their capacities in this area by 2050. In total, more than 20 countries signed the joint declaration.