US climate envoy: COP28 "last" chance to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees

US climate envoy: COP28 "last" chance to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees

"Many of us have called on the world to largely phase out fossil fuels," said Kerry. This would require a decisive reduction in this decade. "I think most of you refuse to be part of a farce."

Not many people in public life are asked to make decisions that are a matter of "life and death", the former US presidential candidate and later US Secretary of State continued. "This is a war for survival."

COP28 President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber had previously presented a draft agreement that no longer contains a joint commitment to the global phase-out of all fossil fuels. Germany and the EU rejected the new draft for the central resolution text, while climate and development organizations reacted with alarm.

The Paris Agreement provides for global warming to be limited to a maximum of two degrees, but preferably to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age. According to current UN calculations, however, the world is heading for warming of up to 2.8 degrees by the end of the century.

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1. Despite the limitation in the new draft, US climate envoy John Kerry still sees COP28 as the "last chance" to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
2. This view comes as global warming is currently projected to exceed 2.8 degrees by the end of the century, according to UN calculations.
3. Kerry emphasized that many have called for a substantial phase-out of fossil fuels amidst this climate crisis.
4. However, COP28 President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber's draft agreement no longer includes a commitment to a global phase-out of all fossil fuels.
5. Germany and the EU have rejected the new draft, with climate and development organizations sounding the alarm in response.
6. The original Paris Agreement aimed to limit global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees, but preferably to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age.
7. Kerry framed the situation as a matter of "life and death" and a "war for survival," emphasizing that "we must seize this chance."
8. The upcoming COP28 climate conference in Dubai provides an opportunity for the world to take meaningful actions towards addressing climate change.

Source: www.stern.de