The UN Climate Change Secretariat published the latest draft of the agreement that it hopes the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai will reach on Tuesday. The draft calls for a “significant reduction” in fossil fuel consumption and production, but stops short of calling for a phase-out of all fossil fuels.
The draft also includes eight other options that countries can choose from to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These options include:
• Tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements.
• Rapidly and continuously phasing out coal, and imposing restrictions on coal-fired power generation.
• Accelerating global efforts towards net-zero emissions energy systems using zero-carbon or low-carbon fuels by mid-century or around mid-century.
• Accelerating the use of zero- and low-emissions technologies, including renewable energy, nuclear, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, and low-carbon hydrogen production, to support the ongoing replacement of fossil fuels in energy systems.
• Reducing both fossil fuel consumption and production in a fair and equitable manner to achieve net-zero by 2050 or earlier or around that time, as science-based.
• Accelerating and significantly reducing non-CO2 emissions, including methane emissions globally by 2030.
• Accelerating the reduction of emissions from road transport through a range of pathways, including developing infrastructure and rapidly deploying low- or zero-emission vehicles.
• Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies that incentivize wasteful consumption, do not address energy poverty, or promote a just transition; as soon as possible.
The draft has been met with mixed reactions. Some experts and activists have praised it as a step in the right direction, while others have criticized it for not going far enough.
“This is a significant step forward,” said COP28 President Alok Sharma. “It sets out a clear pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier, and it includes a range of ambitious measures to reduce emissions from all sectors of the economy.”
However, others have argued that the draft does not go far enough to address the urgency of the climate crisis.
“This draft is a missed opportunity,” said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International. “It doesn’t call for a phase-out of fossil fuels, and it doesn’t include enough ambition to meet the Paris Agreement goals.”
The final agreement of COP28 is expected to be adopted on Tuesday.
