ACTIVISTS yesterday declared the “north star” of 1.5°C warming of the planet to be barely alive as climate negotiators at the Dubai United Nations climate summit (Cop28) agreed the world must transition away from fossil fuels.
After nearly 30 years of conferences about carbon pollution, climate negotiators in a key document explicitly took aim at what's trapping the heat: the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.
Within minutes of opening yesterday's session, Cop28 President Sultan al-Jaber announced the approval of the global stocktake that says how off-track the world is on climate and how to get back on.
Labelling the new plan as “historic” Mr al-Jaber, who is also the head of the host United Arab Emirates’ oil company, said: "We have language on fossil fuel in our final agreement for the first time ever."
The deal says that the transition would be done in a way that gets the world to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 and follows the dictates of climate science.
It projects a world peaking its ever-growing carbon pollution by the year 2025 to reach its agreed-upon threshold, but gives wiggle room to individual nations to peak later.
On behalf of the small island nations Samoa’s lead delegate, Anne Rasmussen, complained they weren't even in the room when Mr al-Jaber said the deal was done.
Bolivia blasted the agreement as a “new form of colonialism.”
Climate activists also rounded on the agreement.
Executive director of War on Want Asad Rehman, who helps to co-ordinate global climate justice movements, said: "This outcome isn't the clarion call that was needed to prevent climate catastrophe.
“The hard truth is the north star of 1.5°C is being barely kept alive.
“It still leaves us with our planet on fire, the poor left behind and fossil fuel CEOs rubbing their hands with glee.”
Mr Rehman added that “like emperors with no clothes,” Britain, the United States and the EU point blank refused to even discuss cutting their own emissions.”
Climate justice activist Nnimmo Bassey said “it took 28 years for the Cop to mention the major driver of global heating.” But, he added, “there are still serious loopholes.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said his message to those opposing a clear reference to phasing out fossil fuels was “whether you like it or not, fossil fuel phase out is inevitable. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late.”
Former US vice president Al Gore said: “The influence of petrostates is still evident in the half measures and loopholes included in the final agreement.”
