DUBAI (Reuters) – The COP28 presidency released on Wednesday a proposed text for a final climate deal that would for the first time push nations to “transition away” from fossil fuels to avert the worst impacts of climate change.
Here is some reaction to the proposal:
Norway’s minister for climate and the environment, Espen Barth Eide:
“It is the first time that the world unites around such a clear text on the need to transition away from fossil fuels. It has been the elephant in the room, at last we address it head on. This is the outcome of extremely many conversations and intense diplomacy.”
Stephen Cornelius, WWF Deputy Global Climate and Energy Lead:
“This draft is a sorely needed improvement from the last version, which rightly caused outrage. The language on fossil fuels is much improved, but still falls short of calling for the full phase out of coal, oil and gas.”
Melanie Robinson, global climate program director at the World Resources Institute:
“This text makes a clear call for the world to transition away from fossil fuels and accelerate action this decade. This would dramatically move the needle in the fight against climate change and overcome immense pressure from oil and gas interests.”
Rachel Cleetus, policy director and a lead economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:
“The latest Global Stocktake text sends a strong signal that world leaders recognise that a sharp turn away from fossil fuels toward clean energy in this critical decade and beyond, aligned with the science, is essential to meet our climate goals.
The finance and equity provisions, however, are seriously insufficient and must be improved in the time ahead in order to ensure low- and middle-income countries can transition to clean energy and close the energy poverty gap.”
Catherine Abreu, founder of nonprofit Destination Zero:
“This text provides a very clear signal on the end of the fossil fuel era, calling on all parties to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels, beginning in this decade, in keeping with the science of 1.5.
She said she wanted the deal to be clearer on which countries should take the lead on the transition and who should finance it.
(Reporting by Sarah McFarlane, Valerie Volcovici, Gloria Dickie, Simon Jessop, William James, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
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Source: The Print
