The Global Stocktake initiative was called at COP28 on Wednesday for the world to transition away from fossil fuels by 2050.
The exact text proposed by the COP28 summit presidency
If approved, the amended text proposed by the COP28 summit presidency would mark the first time in the history of international climate conferences that all fossil fuels have been addressed.
Text Details
The text calls for the “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a fair, orderly, and balanced manner, and to accelerate action in this critical decade, to achieve net-zero by 2050 in accordance with science.”
Text Assessment
The text has received mixed evaluations so far. Teresa Anderson, the global climate action lead at Action Aid, pointed out that the text contains numerous loopholes and offers many gifts for greenwashing, mentioning carbon capture and storage technologies, transitional fuels, nuclear energy, and carbon markets.
On the other hand, Melanie Robinson, director of the global climate program at the World Resources Institute, praised the plan, noting that it would significantly move the needle in combating climate change and overcome the tremendous pressures from oil and gas interests.
Participant Comments
Stephen Cornelius from WWF stated that the new draft is a notable improvement but still expresses disappointment over the absence of a “complete phase-out” of fossil fuels.
Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Espen Barth Eide, said, “This is the first time the world has united around a clear text on the need to transition away from fossil fuels. It has been the elephant in the room. We are finally addressing it directly.”
Tom Evans, a policy advisor at E3G, commented on the overall text, saying: “If this text is adopted in the later plenary, it will reflect a collective acknowledgment that we must transition away from fossil fuels and move towards a cleaner future. The champions of this vision – whether they are small island nations or major economies – have worked hard overnight. However, it is clear that not everyone is ready to recognize the truth about what is needed. This text alone may help avoid disaster in Dubai but does not prevent disaster for the planet.”
Summary
The Global Stocktake initiative was presented at COP28 in Dubai, where the global climate summit is being held, aiming to help align national climate plans with the 2015 Paris Agreement that calls for limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Fossil fuels are considered the primary cause of the climate crisis, threatening human health and leading to more costly and severe extreme weather events. This global stocktake aims to facilitate a worldwide shift away from fossil fuels and towards a cleaner future.
With news agencies
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