Fossil fuels still have a role to “play” in the “foreseeable future” warned Wednesday the president of the COP28, betting in particular, against global warming, on the technology of CO2 capture.
“We know that fossil fuels will continue to play a role for the foreseeable future in helping to meet the world’s energy needs,” said Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber at a press conference at the close of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, which is expected to prepare for the upcoming COP28, to be held in Dubai in late November.
The president of COP28, who is also the boss of the oil giant ADNOC, reiterated his call to triple the production of renewable energy by 2030. “Our goal should be focused on phasing out emissions from all sectors, whether it is oil and gas or high-emitting industries,” he said at a joint press conference with Germany’s chief diplomat, environmentalist Annalena Baerbock.
He said the goal would be achieved by “relying on and capitalizing on existing, new and emerging technologies,” including CO2 capture and storage technology. However, this solution is considered very expensive and does not convince many NGOs. “We cannot pretend that the solution to the climate crisis lies in unreliable and untested technical solutions that will lead to new risks and threats,” said Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of the Climate Action Network, in a statement.
“We need real climate solutions, not just a few speculative technologies to address the existential threat of climate change,” agrees Lavetanalagi Seru, regional coordinator of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network.
These NGOs called on the COP President to make a firm commitment to the phase-out of all fossil fuels. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber “must not continue to hide behind the same blockers (those who block the negotiations) with special interests. Negotiators must go further and form a strong and united coalition” for the exit of fossil fuels, demanded Andreas Sieber, member of the Climate Action Network.
