Environmental watchdog slams COP28 draft for weak language on fossil fuels

As the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) comes to a close, a draft of the final text of the conference has surfaced, raising alarm bells for climate activists and concerned citizens around the world. 350.org, a leading climate advocacy organisation, has accused the COP28 draft of containing “major gaps, deliberate omissions, and loopholes” that would allow the continued use of fossil fuels and prevent the decisive action required to address the climate crisis. 

In the view of the environmental watchdog, the only way for COP28 to truly safeguard the future of humanity and the planet is for the final text to explicitly call for a phaseout of fossil fuels and a major expansion of renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.

Cansin Leylim, associate director of global campaigns at 350.org, expressed deep disappointment in the draft text of COP28. She described the language as non-binding, vague, and elusive, and said that it falls far short of the response needed to address the climate crisis. She emphasized that communities, experts, and negotiators have been fighting for a much stronger and more decisive response, and that the current draft does not live up to those expectations.

“Like the smog-ridden Dubai skyline, the mention of fossil fuels in the final outcome is at best murky, and at worst, dangerous. This outcome leaves the doors wide open to dangerous distractions and false technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS),  which will surely blow us past the 1.5°C planetary limit, and fails to integrate the crucial finance and equitability aspects of the just transition to renewable energy that we need,” she said. 

Joseph Sikulu, the Pacific managing director of 350.org, has been equally critical of the draft text, saying that it is unacceptable and lacks the necessary ambition to protect the Pacific islands from the effects of climate change.

“This week we felt that the goal of phasing out fossil fuels was within reach, but the lack of climate leadership shown by the presidency and the blatant watering down of commitments to a “wish list” is an insult to those of us that came here to fight for our survival. How do we go home and tell our people that this is what the world has to say about our futures?” he lamented. 

Jeff Ordower, North America director, 350.org said the draft text coming out of COP28 is completely at odds with our climate goals. 

He added, “Let’s be clear: the text we see today is partly the work of the richest nations, including the US, trying to pull a bait and switch behind the scenes to distort the meaning of ‘phaseout’ so they can keep burning and profiting off of fossil fuels. So today we say to President Biden, John Kerry, and all world leaders: you either support a fossil fuel phaseout and reject this text, or you don’t support a phaseout. This is your moment of truth.”

Andreas Sieber, associate director of policy and campaigns at 350.org, has described the draft text as a disorganised list of wishes, rather than a cohesive and decisive plan for action. He emphasized that the current draft is far from what is needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C, which is the target set by the Paris Agreement.

Sieber believes that the COP28 presidency has displayed a lack of leadership, particularly in weakening commitments to phase out fossil fuels and promote renewable energy. He has criticized the use of language such as “could” rather than “shall” when referring to actions that need to be taken, as well as the lack of clarity on short-term reductions in emissions and long-term renewable targets. In his view, these shortcomings leave the draft text lacking the necessary strength and resolve.

In light of the perceived weaknesses in the draft text, Sieber has called on nations that are committed to climate action to reject it, and to insist on transformative changes that will make a real difference in limiting global warming. 

Landry Ninteretse, Africa managing director of 350Africa.org, has made it clear that his organisation will continue to push back on the draft text and demand stronger action from world leaders. He has stressed the need to address the root cause of the climate crisis – fossil fuels – and has called for a rapid and fair phaseout of these energy sources. Ninteretse has also highlighted the importance of scaling up renewable energy capacity, but has emphasized that this alone is not enough to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“The choice between whether or not to commit to the phase out of fossil fuels is not one at all – it’s an illusion of choice. If that isn’t included in the final text, this COP will be remembered as a victory of petrostates and carbon colonialists that have once again deliberately ignored the suffering and injustices of hundreds of millions in Africa,” he noted. 

Peri Dias, 350.org Latin America representative at COP28, stated, “In the coming hours, we will either witness a historic decision for the good of the planet, or one for its end. Are the parties at COP28 going to agree to a rapid and fair elimination of fossil fuels or not? The climate movement in Latin America must continue with the pressure and continue to raise our voices so that world leaders in the Global North and their petrostate allies know that we will not accept the unacceptable.”

Dias called for a formal commitment from all nations to phase out fossil fuels and promote renewable energy, stressing that this cannot be a piecemeal effort, with some countries taking action while others do not. He also argued that recommendations alone are not enough, and that concrete action is required if the world is to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement and avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.