COP28: Draft Deal Calls For Reduction Of Fossil Fuel Consumption And Production, But Does Not Mention ‘Phase-Out’

COP28: The text mentions that Parties recognise the need for deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

COP28: The latest draft deal released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has called for the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and production, but has not directly referred to a 'phase-out' of fossil fuels. The text mentions that Parties recognise the need for deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The text urges Parties to take actions such as tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, rapidly phasing down unabated coal, imposing limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation, accelerating efforts towards net zero emissions energy systems, utilising zero and low-carbon fuels by mid-century, accelerating zero and low emissions technologies such as renewable energy (nuclear energy), abatement and removal technologies, implementing carbon capture and storage, enhancing low-carbon hydrogen production, and enhancing efforts towards substituting unabated fossil fuels in energy systems.

The draft text also calls upon Parties to take actions towards reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050, substantially reducing non-carbon dioxide emissions, in particular methane, globally by 2030, accelerating emissions reductions from road transport through a range of pathways, such as the development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero- and low-emission vehicles, and phasing-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions. 

Harjeet Singh, Head, Global Political Strategy, Climate Action Network International, said that the latest Global Stocktake text on fossil fuels represents a significant regression from previous versions because it has dropped explicit language on phasing out fossil fuels, and has instead opted for a vague commitment to reduce both consumption and production of fossil fuels by 2050. 

He stated that this is a clear indication of the fossil fuel industry's lobbying power, including global policies to favour prolonged fossil fuel use. 

According to Singh, if a decisive and strong directive from COP28 is not issued, the crucial 1.5-degree Celsius warming threshold will be crossed, and this scenario will unleash catastrophic consequences globally. This will disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.