Deal to keep 1.5C hopes alive is within reach,
says Cop28 president
Exclusive: Sultan Al Jaber says progress means
‘unprecedented outcome’ is possible
Fiona
Harvey Environment editor
Wed 29 Nov
2023 05.00 GMT
An
“unprecedented outcome” that would keep alive hopes of limiting global
temperature rises to 1.5C is within reach, the president-designate of the UN
Cop28 climate summit has said – and even Saudi Arabia is expected to come with
positive commitments.
Significant
progress has been made in recent weeks on key aspects of a deal at the crucial
meeting that starts in Dubai this week, with countries agreeing a blueprint for
a fund for the most vulnerable, and reaching an important milestone on climate
finance.
Sultan Al
Jaber, who will lead the talks on behalf of the Cop28 host country, the United
Arab Emirates, told the Guardian in an exclusive interview on the eve of the
talks that the positive momentum meant the world could agree a “robust roadmap”
of cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 that would meet scientific advice.
“I have to
be cautiously optimistic,” he said. “But I have the levers and the traction
that I am experiencing today that will allow for us to deliver the
unprecedented outcome that we all hope for.”
He added:
“Getting back on track, and ensuring that the world accepts a robust
understanding of a roadmap to 2030 that will keep [a temperature rise above
pre-industrial levels of] 1.5C (2.7F) within reach is my only goal.”
World
leaders and heads of state and government, including King Charles III, the UK
prime minister, Rishi Sunak, the European Commission president, Ursula von der
Leyen, and the pope, will attend the first few days of the fortnight of talks,
which begin on Thursday. Joe Biden of the US and Xi Jinping of China are not
expected to attend, but will send high-level representatives.
More than
70,000 delegates are expected, and ministers and high-ranking officials from
198 countries will try to forge agreement on how to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions urgently in order to hold global temperatures to 1.5C above
pre-industrial levels, a target that is slipping rapidly out of reach as
temperatures soar and carbon emissions continue to rise.
Al Jaber is
also chief executive of the UAE national oil company, Adnoc. Campaigners have
decried this as a conflict of interests, but Al Jaber has insisted it will help
him to engage businesses and other oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, a
close ally of UAE, and the world’s second biggest oil producer behind the US.
Saudi
Arabia has long been seen as an obstructive element in the annual conferences
of the parties (Cops) under the UN framework convention on climate change.
Al Jaber
hinted that new commitments from the country were possible, after meetings when
the government had shown “positivity, engagement, receptive to my cause and my
call to actions … towards achieving the most ambitious climate action outcome
at Cop28”.
A person
walks near signs for the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, in the United Arab
Emirates
“They have
been cooperating and they’re coming with ambition,” said Al Jaber. “They have
been engaging in a collaborative manner across all climate areas.”
There were
still questions over how exactly to address the issue of fossil fuels in the
final outcome of the two-week conference, he noted.
Some
countries want a “phase-out” of fossil fuels, while others are resisting. A
compromise commitment to a “phase-down of unabated fossil fuels”, meaning a
gradual reduction of coal, oil and gas that is used without carbon capture and
storage technology, is also seen as possible by some.
Al Jaber
said: “I am inviting and incentivising and motivating all parties to engage in
a collaborative manner to see and assess how we can include fossil fuel in the
negotiated text, that will cater for consensus and common ground, while keeping
1.5C within reach.”
Campaigners
have also questioned the presence of fossil fuel companies and lobbyists at the
talks, and leaked documents show the UAE planned to use Cop28 to promote oil
deals. Al Jaber said representation from the fossil fuel industry was needed.
“The
International Energy Agency [in a recent report] tells us that all sectors must
be part of the solution,” he said. “Real tangible climate action will only come
with everyone being held responsible and accountable. [We need] to ensure that
they all progress towards an energy transition. And you can’t do that without
including the heavy-emitting industries as well as oil and gas.”
Earlier
this month, a compromise was reached among rich and poor countries over setting
up a new fund for loss and damage – the rescue and rehabilitation of poor and
vulnerable countries struck by climate disaster. However, the fund has yet to
be filled, and both rich industrialised countries and emerging economies such
as China and oil producer countries are expected to contribute.
Al Jaber
said he was hopeful of progress on this effort. “We will leave the parties to
decide when we start seeing pledges,” he said.
Al Jaber
said he was “energised” but noted that “while I very much appreciate the
momentum we have and the very solid traction we are all experiencing, there is
still some chatter out there, if I can move things forward or not”.
He urged
countries not to stall agreement until the final days, which many poor
countries accused rich countries of doing last year, at Cop27 in Egypt, to
widespread anger. “I don’t want parties to keep their cards close to their
chests until the last minute,” he said. “The earlier they open up and engage
and collaborate, the more will be done.”
The
Guardian has approached the Saudi Arabian government for comment.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário