Countries have hardly any plans to phase out fossil fuels
The discussions about saving the climate at the climate conference in Dubai have been overshadowed by an evaluation that does not leave a good impression of the efforts of the states. According to the report, just three percent of countries have a plan to move away from fossil fuels. However, there is one positive example.
The phase-out of coal, oil and gas is being hotly debated at the COP28 World Climate Conference - but according to a recent analysis, the majority of oil and gas-producing countries have no phase-out plans to date. According to an evaluation of the Net Zero Tracker by international research teams, only three percent of oil-producing countries have a firm goal to phase out oil production.
The Net Zero Tracker analysis tool was developed jointly by several organizations, including the NewClimate Institute and researchers from Oxford University. Only three percent of gas-producing countries have also decided to phase out gas production. The countries included in the analysis are those that are aiming for climate neutrality in principle.
The situation is similar for the production of oil and gas: here, too, only three percent of oil and gas producing countries have committed to phasing out production. This means that only 0.8 percent of oil and gas production in countries that actually want to be climate-neutral in the future is covered.
In coal production, only three percent of countries have also decided to phase out coal, compared to 13 percent in production - although the largest producers, China, the USA, Indonesia and India, are missing. The authors cite Spain, which has transposed its phase-out targets into national legislation, as a positive example.
The global phase-out of coal, oil and gas is one of the most contentious issues in Dubai, as it is considered fundamental to achieving international climate targets. The Emirates and several other countries want to continue to rely on fossil fuels and use technologies such as CO2 storage or capture. However, experts consider these to be scientifically controversial, very expensive and not feasible on a large scale in the near future.
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Spain, being one of the exceptions, has legally enforced its phase-out targets for coal, demonstrating a commendable approach towards the transition away from fossil fuels. Despite the majority of oil and gas-producing countries lacking phase-out plans, professionals in the field express concerns about relying on technologies like CO2 storage or capture, which are considered expensive, scientifically controversial, and not feasible on a large scale in the short term. Furthermore, renewable energies could serve as an alternative to raw materials like oil, potentially reducing CO2 emissions and promoting sustainability, a critical topic at the upcoming COP28 climate conference in Dubai 2023.
Source: www.ntv.de
