France‘s Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said she was “stunned” after the oil cartel OPEC urged its members to thwart any deal targeting fossil fuels at the Cop28 conference.
During the Cop28 climate discussions in Dubai on Saturday, the French minister expressed shock and frustration at the recent statements from OPEC.
“I am stunned by these statements from OPEC. And I am angry,” the minister said, highlighting that OPEC’s stance threatens the most vulnerable nations and populations who are already suffering from climate change.
The French minister, Pannier-Runacher, emphasized her expectation that the Cop presidency would remain impartial to these declarations and work towards an agreement that strongly supports the gradual elimination of fossil fuels.
This week, OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais wrote to the cartel’s 13 members and their 10 allies led by Russia, in response to a draft deal at the Dubai talks calling for a phase-out of fossil fuels.
In his letter, Ghais advocated for a rejection of any proposal that targets fossil fuels instead of emissions.
The letter has sparked criticism from environmental activists and the High Ambition Coalition, a diverse group of nations including Barbados, France, Kenya, and several Pacific island states.
Finding a middle ground
The mood at the Cop28 negotiations in Dubai has oscillated between optimism and apprehension as delegates engage in prolonged discussions to seek a middle ground on the future of oil, gas, and coal.
Spanish ecology transition minister Teresa Ribera, representing the EU’s current presidency, condemned the stance of OPEC countries, calling it “quite, quite a disgusting thing” that they are opposing the necessary measures.
To achieve the global objective of limiting temperature rise to 1.5° Celsius, a significant increase in renewable energy use and a reduction in fossil fuel production and consumption are essential.
Opposition from oil producers
The latest draft deal, released on Friday, offers different approaches to phasing out fossil fuels, yet it also presents the possibility of excluding any mention of them in the final agreement.
Saudi Arabia has been prominently against a phase-out or reduction of fossil fuels. Looking ahead, next year’s climate talks are set to occur in another major fossil fuel-producing nation, as Azerbaijan has announced its selection as the host for Cop29.
