COP28 - UN climate conference has gone into extra time
As expected, the World Climate Change Conference in Dubai went into extra time on Tuesday. Conference President Sultan al-Jaber from the United Arab Emirates actually wanted to conclude the meeting of almost 200 states at 11.00 a.m. local time (08.00 a.m. CET). But the struggle for a final text continued.
On Monday evening, Al-Jaber, who is also head of the state oil company, presented a draft that the EU, the German government and dozens of other states had classified as disappointing and inadequate. Environmental associations were also largely outraged and called for improvements.
What is upsetting is that the draft text no longer mentions the phase-out of coal, oil and gas demanded by more than 100 countries - unlike in previous versions. The UN meeting with around 97,000 participants began on November 30.
Concerns about the decision to phase out
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that an extension was not a problem for the European delegation. "We have time. And we are prepared to stay a little longer," said the Green politician.
A number of countries, including oil-rich Saudi Arabia as well as China, Iraq, India and Russia, had recently expressed reservations about a decision to phase out fossil fuels.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
- Numerous oil, gas and coal lobbyists at climate conference
Source: www.stern.de
