Green group sees hope in COP 28 text but says falls short on details

Business a.m. Reporter

Climate advocacy organisation 350.org has expressed disappointment that the COP28 climate summit did not go far enough in addressing the pressing issue of adaptation, cleantech, carbon markets, and finance. While the agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels was significant, it is only one part of the puzzle,it said.

According to 350.org, the agreement lacks detail on how to fund the transition and who will bear the costs. In addition, it fails to address the needs of climate-vulnerable nations for adaptation and cleantech, and does not put enough restrictions on carbon markets to ensure they are effective in reducing emissions. 

The environmental watchdog noted that the fifth and final text of the Global Stocktake, adopted at COP28, marked a small but significant step forward in the fight against climate change, finally acknowledging the need to transition away from fossil fuels. While this was a hard-fought victory for climate vulnerable nations and the climate movement, it fell short of what was needed to ensure a just and equitable transition.

May Boeve, the executive director of 350.org, stressed that the collective efforts of people from around the world have pushed leaders to consider bold action on climate change, but ultimately they have fallen short of delivering the transformational change required.

Boeve expressed frustration that despite three decades of campaigning by climate activists, the language on transitioning away from fossil fuels in the COP28 text is riddled with loopholes that diminish its power and effectiveness. 

“The prize is finally on the table – a phaseout of fossil fuels and a world powered by renewable energy – but rather than clearing the way to it, we’ve been presented with yet another set of distracting doors that could still hold oil and gas expansion, and we don’t know just where the finance will come from,”he said.  

The shift in the stance of negotiators, while not as strong as what is needed, is a recognition of the power of people’s voices, according to Boeve. Over the past few weeks, communities across the world have spoken up for climate justice and demanded that their leaders take bold action. While the outcomes of COP28 may be disappointing, Boeve emphasised that the movement is more united and determined than ever to continue to fight for a livable future.

Boeve highlighted the significant role that Pacific nations and small island states played in the relative success of the negotiations on phasing out fossil fuels. Despite the absence of a clear timeline and legal framework for implementation, these countries demonstrated unwavering commitment to fighting for a livable future. They were supported by Latin American, European, Australian and some African nations, who helped push for stronger language on phasing out fossil fuels. Despite the lack of a robust deal on renewables, Boeve noted that there is still momentum for this transition.

Boeve expressed frustration that the voices of climate vulnerable nations were not given adequate consideration, and that the final language of the agreement is too vague and does not include specific timelines or commitments on finance. This is in stark contrast to the demands of countries that are most impacted by climate change, who have long called for more urgent action and financial support.

The 350.org executive director stated that the agreement appears to favour major emitters, who continue to push for loopholes and exemptions, rather than taking responsibility for their role in causing the climate crisis. 

According to Landry Ninteretse, the regional director of 350Africa.org, COP28 was expected to be a turning point in the fight against climate change, but it failed to deliver on many crucial commitments. Rather than charting a path to a sustainable future, the outcome of the negotiations seems to perpetuate the status quo, and falls short of what is needed to ensure a just and equitable future for all.

Ninteretse stressed that the lack of clear commitments on technology transfer and adaptation finance is particularly concerning, as it leaves vulnerable communities without the tools and resources they need to cope with the impacts of climate change.

Ninteretse acknowledged that the commitment to tripling the share of renewable energy is a positive step, and has given communities around the world hope for a clean energy future. However, he noted that the process of achieving this goal needs to be fair and just, and should not place the burden on the most vulnerable nations.

The regional director expressed regret that the negotiations did not result in a firm commitment to phasing out fossil fuels, which is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. He also criticised the lack of finance for adaptation and mitigation, which puts the most vulnerable communities at risk.

“To truly deliver climate justice, the biggest polluters must lead on the phaseout and commit to supporting the deployment of renewable energy in Africa,” he stated. 

Joseph Sikulu, the Pacific managing director of 350.org, stated that the outcome of COP28 is a disappointing step back from the transformational change that is required to address the climate crisis. He noted that while the negotiations included language around phasing out fossil fuels, it was not concrete enough to ensure the rapid and equitable transition that is needed. He also criticized the decision to cross the “red lines” for the survival of Pacific nations, including commitments on adaptation finance and technology transfer.

“We will not let the future of the Pacific fall through loopholes like “abatement” and “transitional fuels”, and we will hold countries like Australia accountable, who continue to delay a true phaseout with dangerous distractions. Every year, we travel across oceans to come to these negotiations and fight tooth and nail to keep 1.5 alive, and it is clear that climate vulnerable countries and frontline communities are the ones doing the heavy lifting,” he stated.  

Peri Dias, Latin America representative at COP28, said, “This year, we were outnumbered by fossil fuel lobbyists. At COP30, Indigenous people, those on the frontline and anyone contributing to climate justice must outnumber fossil fuel lobbyists and blockers.”

Dias acknowledged that the inclusion of the need to transition away from fossil fuels in the COP28 text was a long-awaited step in the right direction. However, he emphasized that the next two years are critical to address the issue of financing the energy transition and adaptation measures, particularly in regions like Latin America that are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.

Agnes Hall, the global campaigns director at 350.org, expressed disappointment at the presence of 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists at COP28, whose influence resulted in many important measures being left out of the final text. Despite the efforts of the fossil fuel industry, Hall noted that the COP process was still able to move forward with plans to transition away from fossil fuels. She emphasised that this is a significant step forward, but warned that the influence of the fossil fuel industry must be addressed to ensure real progress on climate action.

“They’ve managed to sneak in loopholes to derail the climate talks once again, but their massive presence tells another story: they are scared because they know their time is over. They are pouring all their resources and all their power in a last all-in effort to try and save their business model one last time,” Hall added. 

Andreas Sieber, associate director of policy and campaigns at 350.org, acknowledged that the COP28 text included some progress on phasing out fossil fuels, but noted that it did not meet the expectations of a historic decision. Sieber emphasised that there is still a long way to go in terms of addressing the root causes of the climate crisis, including the influence of the fossil fuel industry.