World Climate Conference in Dubai decides on "transition" away from fossil fuels
After a second night of negotiations, the COP President presented the revised central text of the resolution on Wednesday morning. It calls for a "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems", making it the first resolution at a UN climate conference to address the future of all fossil fuels - including oil and gas as well as coal.
Countries such as those of the EU were thus unable to push through their demand to agree a global move away from all fossil fuels in the face of fierce opposition from oil states such as Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, the EU expressed its satisfaction. "For the first time in 30 years, we could now be reaching the beginning of the end of fossil fuels," said EU Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra on his way into the plenary hall.
The text calls for a tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and a doubling of energy efficiency in the same period. However, it also contains references to "transitional energies" such as natural gas and the controversial technologies for capturing and storing CO2.
Environmental and development organizations described the new draft resolution as a significant improvement on the previous vague draft and an "important signal", but criticized it as insufficient.
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- Despite their efforts, EU countries found it challenging to advocate for a complete withdrawal from all fossil fuels at the Dubai UN climate conference, facing resistance from oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia.
- The revised central text of the resolution, presented during the third day of negotiations, emphasizes the need for a "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems" at the World Climate Conference.
- Sultan Ahmed, the COP President, highlighted the significance of this resolution, marking it as the first to acknowledge the role of all fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, in the energy transition discussion.
- The EU viewed the resolution as a promising step towards the elimination of fossil fuels, with Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra declaring, "We could now be reaching the beginning of the end of fossil fuels."
- The resolution calls for a threefold increase in global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and a doubling of energy efficiency within the same period, encouraging the use of "transitional energies" like natural gas and CO2 capture technologies.
- As critical observers, environmental and development organizations praised the resolution for its progression from the original vague draft but argued that it falls short of adequately addressing the climate crisis.
- Deliberations at the Dubai climate conference revealed a related discussion on the potential of nuclear fusion as a solution to future energy problems, which took place alongside the conference's primary focus on fossil fuel transition.
Source: www.stern.de
