COP28 Presidency Aims for a “Historic” Result
The COP28 presidency, led by Director General Majid Al Suwaidi, aimed for a “historic” result that included a mention of fossil fuels in the final agreement. However, it is ultimately up to the participating countries to reach a consensus. Insiders familiar with the discussions revealed that COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber faced pressure from Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the OPEC group, to exclude any reference to fossil fuels. As of now, there has been no response from the Saudi Arabian government on this matter.
In a letter dated December 6th, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais urged members and allies to reject any COP28 deal that targeted fossil fuels. While Saudi Arabia has been the most vocal opponent of anti-fossil fuel language in the text, other OPEC and OPEC+ members including Iran, Iraq, and Russia have also resisted a fossil fuel phase-out agreement. This lack of ambition is concerning to Denmark’s Global Climate Minister Dan Jorgensen, who emphasized the need for bolder actions.
Concerns from Various Nations and Africa’s Stance
Australia, Canada, Chile, Norway, and many others criticized the draft deal for being too weak. Several African nations emphasized that any agreement must require wealthy countries, which have historically been major producers and users of fossil fuels, to lead the way in phasing them out. Collins Nzovu, the Minister of Green Economy for Zambia and chair of the African Group of countries in U.N. climate talks, stated that the transition should be based on differentiated pathways to achieve net-zero emissions and phase down fossil fuel use. Nzovu also emphasized Africa’s right to exploit its natural resources sustainably.
It remains uncertain whether China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, supported Monday’s draft deal. Xie Zhenhua, China’s veteran climate change envoy, expressed that progress was being made in the negotiations.