Baerbock: Dubai decision contributes to climate justice and multilateralism
The almost 200 "very, very different" participating states at the UN Climate Change Conference had not only voted "for an end to the fossil age, but also for real climate justice", said the Minister.
With a view to wars such as in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, she added that the agreement in Dubai was an important signal "that multilateralism works" in the current "tough geopolitical times". For her, the conclusion of the conference was "a day of joy".
"Today we can see that the world has made up its mind: Renewable energies are the solution for more climate protection, but also for global justice," said Baerbock.
Explaining why the conference ended one day late and several nights of negotiations were necessary, the Foreign Minister said: "One word can change everything." She thanked the Emirati COP President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, who was "always there, even at three in the morning" and had built up a great deal of trust among the negotiators with his team in advance.
Baerbock admitted that Germany and the EU also had to make concessions in the text negotiations. For example, the wording on the use of coal did not go beyond the resolutions of the 2021 World Climate Conference in Glasgow. However, Baerbock said that maximum demands were also not accepted in other negotiations, such as coalition talks or the budget negotiations that were successfully concluded in Berlin on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the negotiating delegations in Dubai approved a draft resolution calling for a "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems", making it the first resolution at a UN climate conference to address the future of all fossil fuels - including oil and gas as well as coal.
Germany and the EU, among others, had rejected the previous draft resolution as disappointing. However, their original demand to enshrine a global phase-out of all fossil fuels with the word "phase-out" was not successful in the face of fierce opposition from oil states such as Saudi Arabia.
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- Despite the diversity among the 190 nations attending the un climate conference, they collectively voted for an end to fossil fuels and advocated for genuine climate justice, as stated by Minister Baerbock.
- Baerbock acknowledged the importance of the Dubai decision in the context of ongoing conflicts in places like Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, as it shows that multilateralism remains effective in challenging geopolitical circumstances.
- The conclusion of the conference brought about a sense of joy for Baerbock, who affirmed that renewable energies are vital for both climate protection and global justice.
- Baerbock praised the Emirati COP President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber for his commitment, staying up late into the night and fostering trust among negotiators.
- Regarding the delay of the conference and late-night negotiations, Baerbock mentioned that merely one word could significantly impact the outcome.
- Germany and the EU made certain compromises in the text negotiations at the conference, such as not exceeding the resolutions of the 2021 World Climate Conference in Glasgow regarding coal usage.
- After approving a draft resolution demanding a transition away from fossil fuels, both Germany and the EU, along with other nations, expressed satisfaction with the change, despite failing to achieve a global phase-out of all fossil fuels due to opposition from oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia.
Source: www.stern.de
