Turning away from fossil fuels hot topic at world climate conference in Dubai
Baerbock and numerous other ministers from around the world intervened personally in the negotiations in Dubai on Friday. The Federal Foreign Minister warned that the 1.5-degree limit of the Paris Climate Agreement could not be met simply by expanding renewable energies and increasing energy efficiency. To achieve this, the world needs "above all to phase out fossil fuels".
According to Baerbock, the exact wording in the text of the resolution is important here. The negotiators from almost 200 countries must agree in Dubai on "the phase-out of fossil fuels and not the phase-out of fossil fuel emissions", Baerbock demanded.
She was referring in particular to efforts by Saudi Arabia and other oil states to at least weaken the COP resolutions on fossil fuels so that the use of oil and gas with methods for capturing and storing climate-damaging CO2, so-called CCS technologies, would still be possible. US climate envoy John Kerry also emphasized the opportunities of CCS once again on Wednesday.
However, climate scientists and environmental organizations warn that these technologies are not yet fully developed and therefore cannot contribute quickly and reliably enough to averting catastrophic global warming. The latest draft resolution, which was published on Friday evening (local time), still contained several conflicting options.
Middle East expert Kristian Ulrichsen said that Saudi Arabia was trying to forge an alliance with countries such as Russia and China on the issue. Other observers, however, acknowledged China's constructive role in the negotiations.
According to information from the German delegation in Dubai, Baerbock took the lead in negotiations for the EU on the issue of emissions reductions and is therefore an important voice in the dispute. The expectations of German environmental and development organizations are correspondingly high.
As a "key negotiator", Baerbock must contribute to the formation of an alliance between the most vulnerable states and progressive industrialized countries, demanded Christoph Bals, Political Director of Germanwatch. The aim is to "push both the COP presidency and the major emitters, in particular the USA and China," in order to achieve ambitious resolutions in Dubai.
Luisa Neubauer from the climate protection movement Fridays for Future said in Dubai that the final days of negotiations could be "the moment when a decision is finally, finally, finally made to phase out fossil fuels". Germany could play a decisive role in overcoming the continuing great resistance.
The Emirati COP President also urged progress. "Please, let's finish the job," al-Jaber called on the negotiating delegations. The world had "the chance for a paradigm shift".
Other points of contention at COP28 include climate aid for poorer countries and the question of what targets the states should set themselves in terms of adapting to the consequences of global warming. Al-Jaber nevertheless set the goal of ending the conference on time at 11.00 a.m. (local time, 08.00 a.m. CET) on Tuesday. In recent years, however, the UN climate conferences have always clearly overstayed their welcome.
The Climate Protection Index from Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute also shows that ambitious resolutions are necessary in the fight against global warming. According to the index, the climate policies of the 63 countries surveyed are mediocre at best. This also applies to Germany, which has climbed two places to 14th place compared to the previous year.
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- Annalena Baerbock and various other ministers from various nations engaged in personal interventions during the negotiations in Dubai.
- Baerbock highlighted the importance of specific wording in the resolution's text, advocating for the phase-out of fossil fuels, not just fossil fuel emissions.
- The discussions revolve around Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich countries attempting to weaken COP resolutions, allowing for continued use of fossil fuels with CCS technologies.
- Climate scientists and environmental organizations argue that CCS technologies are not yet fully developed and may not be a quick or reliable solution to avert catastrophic warming.
- The latest draft resolution contains conflicting options, with some countries, like Russia and China, potentially backing Saudi Arabia on this issue.
- Baerbock serves as a key negotiator for the EU, advocating for the adoption of ambitious resolutions in relation to emissions reductions.
- Environmental and development organizations expect Baerbock to foster an alliance between vulnerable nations and progressively industrialized countries to drive change.
- Luisa Neubauer, a climate activist, urges for a definitive phase-out of fossil fuels during the final stages of negotiations, with Germany playing a crucial role.
- The UAE COP President calls for progress, noting that the world has the opportunity to make a paradigm shift.
- While points like climate finance and adaptation targets remain contentious, the conference aims to end on time on Tuesday, based on al-Jaber's statement.
- The Climate Protection Index from Germanwatch shows that countries, including Germany, require ambitious resolutions to curb global warming as current policies are mediocre at best.
Source: www.stern.de
