COP 28: More than 100 nations in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and in the Pacific call for phase-out of fossil fuels
In the initial two days of the COP28 summit, leaders from various nations acknowledged the urgent need to address the planet's overheating. The conference, featuring about 150 global decision-makers, aimed to translate rhetoric into tangible action to combat climate change.
Notably absent were Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, the leaders of the United States and China, the two most carbon-polluting nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the critical situation, citing Earth's failing vital signs and urging leaders to prevent a planetary crisis. He linked climate change to issues of inequality and conflict, referencing recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
While many leaders outlined commitments to reduce heat-trapping gases, the real challenge lies in transforming these promises into concrete deals. Guterres, a vocal critic of fossil fuels, advocated for a complete phase-out of oil, coal, and gas use to limit warming to the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The conference president issued a document calling for a "phase-down" of fossil fuels, but 106 nations, spanning Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, called for a full exit. Traditional fault lines between developed and developing nations emerged, highlighting the disparities between pledges and actual political action.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the slow progress and emphasised the need for major emitters to accelerate their promises. However, Sunak's approval of new North Sea oil drilling raised concerns about the alignment of actions with climate goals.
Developing-world leaders pledged to advance renewable energies and sought support for climate resilience. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised unfulfilled climate agreements and excessive spending on weapons, calling for climate justice for nations not responsible for the issue.
Leaders like France's Emmanuel Macron and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida targeted coal use. Kishida pledged to end new construction of unabated coal-fired power plants, demonstrating a clearer commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.
Despite the absence of Presidents Xi and Biden, their deputies attended, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed hosting the climate talks in 2028. Modi also introduced India's leadership in the green credits programme to offset emissions.
Several nations, including Palau, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Libya, highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on their regions. The host country, the United Arab Emirates, continued to showcase its green initiatives, including a substantial investment in climate-friendly technology and contributions to climate damage compensation.