UN Climate Change Conference: Broad alliance supports expansion of renewable energies
"Let's agree on two binding targets here in Dubai: firstly, tripling the expansion of renewable energies and secondly, doubling energy efficiency - both by 2030," demanded Scholz in his speech in the summit segment of the conference, which was attended by more than 140 heads of state and government on Friday and Saturday.
This energy transition also includes a move away from fossil fuels, said Scholz: "We must now all show a firm determination to phase out fossil fuels, first and foremost coal." Where gas is still needed temporarily, it should be produced and transported in the "most climate-friendly way possible".
The number of signatories to the call for renewables was announced by the Emirati COP presidency. The aim is to increase the global capacity of energy generation from solar, wind and hydropower from the current 3400 gigawatts to 11,000 gigawatts. Annual progress in increasing energy efficiency is to increase from two to four percent by 2030.
"I call on everyone to include these targets in the final declaration of the climate conference," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. In addition to the EU, this is being driven primarily by the countries of the High Ambition Coalition, which also includes numerous developing countries severely affected by climate change, including many island states.
There were still reservations in Dubai about the move away from oil, coal and gas, which the EU and others are also calling for. Instead, the host United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia presented a joint initiative with the oil industry for lower CO2 emissions in the fossil fuel industry. The storage or use of carbon dioxide (CCS or CCU) is to play an important role in this. However, these technologies are not yet available on a large scale and are also very expensive.
Meanwhile, led by the USA, around 20 countries are pushing for the expansion of nuclear power. The output of nuclear power plants should be tripled by 2050, according to a statement presented by US climate envoy John Kerry. Otherwise, climate neutrality by 2050 is "not achievable". According to the declaration, which was also supported by France and other EU states, international financial institutions should also promote the expansion of nuclear power.
Another topic in Dubai was once again climate financing. "Germany has already exceeded its target of providing at least six billion euros per year for international climate financing in 2022," said Scholz in his speech. He also welcomed the fact that the fund for climate-related damage, to which Germany is contributing an initial 100 million dollars (around 92 million euros), had already become operational on Thursday, as did the host Emirates.
The fund is intended to support particularly vulnerable countries. The starting capital now amounts to more than half a billion euros - in addition to the contributions from Germany and the Emirates, mainly due to offers from Italy and France of 100 million euros each. Other countries are participating with smaller sums, but initially no other emerging countries such as China or Saudi Arabia in addition to the Emirates.
US Vice President Kamala Harris announced at the conference that the USA would pay three billion dollars into the Green Climate Fund (GCF), an important instrument for international climate financing.
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Source: www.stern.de
