DUBAI: Sultan Al Jaber, the President of COP28, has opposed the request from over 100 countries to phase out fossil fuels, arguing that such an approach would hinder development rather than aid it.
During a She Changes Climate online event alongside Mary Robinson, chair of the Elders group and former UN special envoy for climate change, Al Jaber stated, “There is no scientific evidence or scenario supporting the idea that a phase-out of fossil fuels will lead to achieving the 1.5C goal.”
His comments have drawn criticism from several scientists who claim they contradict the stance taken by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres, addressing COP28 delegates, emphasized the necessity of completely ending the use of fossil fuels to achieve the 1.5C limit, stating, “Not reduce, not abate. Phase out, with a clear timeframe.”
The joint statement by over 100 countries from Africa, Europe, the Pacific, and the Caribbean advocated for a global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels, aligning with the 1.5C goal outlined in the Paris Agreement of 2015.
Al Jaber challenged critics to present a roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuels that would enable sustainable socioeconomic development, cautioning against regressing to primitive living conditions. He discouraged blame games and urged for proactive solutions to address the climate crisis.
However, Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, opposed COP28’s stance, considering Al Jaber’s reference to reverting to caves as an outdated trope from the fossil fuel industry, akin to climate denial.
He stressed the clarity of scientific evidence supporting a phase-out by mid-century, as outlined in the International Energy Agency’s net-zero emissions scenario, highlighting its potential to enhance humanity’s overall well-being.
