DrillOrDrop’s digest of headlines from the international climate conference in Dubai, 30 November-12 December 2023.

Wednesday 13 December 2023

Nations reach first ever deal to move away from fossil fuels. Coverage of the final agreement to transition away from all fossil fuel from the United Nations, CarbonBrief, Bloomberg, BBC News, Guardian and Reuters Small island states complained the deal had been rushed through without them. It also left out earlier stronger language to phase out fossil fuels. This language had been pushed for by the US, UK, and EU.

Friends of the Earth’s climate campaigner, Rachel Kennerley, said:

“Self-interest, weak leadership and a lack of urgency by wealthy countries like the UK, Japan and US and the EU bloc, has resulted in a desperately inadequate COP28 resolution that leaves the world on a collision course with the worst of climate breakdown.  

Tuesday 12 December 2023

UK accused of ‘outrageous dereliction of leadership’ as climate change minister leaves conference. The Guardian reports on a furious reaction from climate campaigners and politicians that the UK climate change ministers, Graham Stuart, returned to London from COP28 for a parliamentary vote.

Monday 11 December 2023

Fury at COP28 as draft deal criticised as too weak on fossil fuels. BBC News reports at 5pm that the latest text of the draft agreement has no mention of plans for phase out fossil fuels. Instead it says countries “could” reduce production and consumption. More from Guardian and Sky News.

Sunday 10 December 2023

‘Come with solutions’: Cop28 president calls for compromise in final meetings. The Guardian reports comments by Sultan Al Jaber, who urged nations to be flexible as talks reach impasse over whether to phase out or phase down fossil fuels.

Saudi-led fight against COP28 deal shows ‘panic,’ German climate envoy says. Politico reports comments by Jennifer Morgan, Germany’s climate envoy, that full-scale resistance that oil-exporting countries are mounting against a COP28 deal to end fossil fuel use is a sign of “panic” .  

COP28 pledges so far not enough to limit warming to 1.5C, warns IEA. Aljazeera reports a warning by the International Energy Agency about the lack of progress in limiting global warming as the climate talks head for the final phase.

‘Small minority’ of nations blocking progress on fossil fuels at COP28, says at-risk Vanuatu. France24 reports comments by Vanuatu’s climate change minister that a small minority of countries at UN climate talks are blocking a growing consensus to phase out fossil fuels.

Saudi Arabia Is Trying to Block a Global Deal to End Fossil Fuels, Negotiators Say. The New York Times reports Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading exporter of oil, has become the biggest obstacle to an agreement at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, where countries are debating whether to call for a phaseout of fossil fuels in order to fight global warming, negotiators and other officials said.

China’s Veteran Climate Chief Works With US to Clinch COP28 Deal. Bloomberg reports China’s climate envoy said his team at COP28 is in intensive talks with the US and others to find language on fossil fuels that can bring the two-week climate summit to a successful close.

Saturday 9 December 2023

EU condemns ‘out of whack’ OPEC attempt to block COP28 fossil fuel deal. Reuters reports the European Union’s climate chief on Saturday heavily criticised an attempt by OPEC to derail a COP28 deal on phasing out fossil fuels, calling the move by the oil producers’ club “unhelpful” and “out of whack”.

Cop28 failing on climate adaptation finance so far, African group warns. The Guardian reports Africa’s chief negotiator says an agreement for fair and equitable funding is a matter of life and death.

Friday 8 December 2023

OPEC Urges Members to Reject Fossil-Fuels Targeting at COP28. Bloomberg reports OPEC’s top official urged member countries in a letter to reject any agreements that target fossil fuels at the latest climate negotiations.

Talks at Cop28 set to intensify in bid to break impasse over fossil fuels. The Guardian reports negotiations over the next few days will focus on whether to phase out or phase down fossil fuels.

Next year’s average global temperature may rise higher than 1.5C, warns Met Office. The Independent reports forecasts from the Met Office predict that next year’s average global temperature may rise higher than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in modern history.

Thursday 7 December 2023

Nuclear sector must overcome decades of stagnation to meet COP28 tripling goal. Reuters reports the goal made by more than 20 nations to triple nuclear capacity will require the industry to overcome regulatory hurdles, financing obstacles, fuel bottlenecks, and public safety concerns that have contributed to a long history of project delays and decades of stagnation.

We need power to prescribe climate policy, IPCC scientists say. The Guardian reports senior climate experts are calling for an overhaul of the structure and powers of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in despair at the slow pace of climate action.

How concerns over CCS are fuelling the COP28 stand-off. Business Green reports the role of carbon capture and carbon removals lies at the heart of the negotiations – but asks can the industry convince its many doubters that it can deliver at scale?

Western countries bear heavy historical, realistic responsibility for climate change. Xinhua reports taking responsibility and delivering on promises on climate change is a hot topic at the ongoing 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai.

Wednesday 6 December 2023

Mary Robinson reiterates call for rapid phase-out of fossil fuels. The Guardian reports that the former president of Ireland has called for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, in a diplomatic but firm response to the row over comments made to her by the Cop28 president. He said there was “no science out there” “that says that the phase out of fossil fuels is what’s going to achieve 1.5C”.

COP28: Is the world about to promise to ditch fossil fuels? BBC News reports CP28 is close to a big breakthrough on reducing climate-heating gases. The corporation’s climate editor reports there is “cautious optimism” of a deal to phase down or even ditch fossil fuels.

Tuesday 5 December 2023

Anger after record number of fossil fuel lobbyists given access to summit. The Guardian reports the UAE-hosted summit admitted at least 2,456 people affiliated with oil and gas industries, according to analysis by Kick Big Polluters Out. The figures show this is a record number, raising more questions over the influence of the fossil fuel industry on the summit. Also reported by BBC News and the Independent.

Agriculture and food systems left off the latest draft of the negotiating text on the global stocktake. The Guardian reports that a coalition of groups, including WWF, the Food and Land Use Coalition and the Environmental Defense Fund are calling on the UN framework convention on climate change to ensure agriculture and good become part of the stocktake, supposed to be a thorough assessment of progress to the Paris agreement targets.

Draft text at COP28 shows negotiators considering fossil fuel ‘phase out’. Reuters reports the second draft of what could be the final agreement from the COP28 U.N. climate summit shows negotiators are considering calling for an “orderly and just” phase out of fossil fuels.

Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels to hit record high in 2023 – report. Reuters reports on the Global Carbon Budget report, published today at COP28. It said global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are set to hit a record high this year, exacerbating climate change and fuelling more destructive extreme weather. Overall CO2 emissions, which reached a record high last year, have plateaued in 2023 due to a slight drop from uses of land like deforestation, the report said.

Monday 4 December 2023

Bring the vulnerable to ‘front of the line’ for climate funding. The UN reports that advocates showcased the devastating impacts of climate upheaval on their communities.

COP 28 launches ‘Steel Standards Principles’ to align emissions measuring’. Steel Times reports the WTO director general announced the launch of the Steel Standards Principles during the first day of COP 28, aimed at aligning how greenhouse gas emissions are measured in the steel sector.

COP28: Head of UN talks hits back at climate denial claims. BBC News reports the president of the ongoing UN climate talks Sultan al-Jaber has hit back at claims that he denies a core part of climate science. It follows his earlier comments that there was “no science” behind requiring the end of fossil fuels in order to limit temperature rise to 1.5C.

Global warming could cost poor countries trillions. They’ve urged the UN climate summit to help. The Independent reports comments by Mia Mottley, the Barbados prime minister and a prominent developing-world leader on the issue of climate change. She said global taxes on the financial services, oil and gas, and shipping industries could drum up hundreds of billions to poorer countries adapt to and cope with global warming.

UK would be a climate leader again under Labour, vows Starmer. The Guardian reports comments from Sir Keir Starmer at COP28. He said the UK would come back strongly to the world stage to “lead from the front” in tackling the climate crisis under a Labour government.

The Cop28 president told a shocking lie about fossil fuels – and he’s wrong about climate economics too. Geoffrey Lean, writing an opinion column in the Guardian, says Sultan Al Jaber’s claim that green policies damage economic growth is wrong and highly damaging.

COP28 crowds: a dangerous distraction or sign of success? Reuters reports that flashy country pavilions, corporate-sponsored cocktail parties and a smorgasbord of side events have turned the annual U.N. climate summit into what some say is a trade show or circus.

Warning: the UK government’s hydrogen plan isn’t green at all, it’s another oil industry swindle. Kevin Anderson and Simon Oldridge, writing an opinion column in the Guardian, say a taxpayer-funded drive for blue hydrogen is good news for fossil fuel lobbyists but bad news for the climate crisis.

Sunday 3 December 2023

Cop28 president says there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels. The Guardian reports exclusively that UAE’s Sultan Al Jaber, the president of the climate conference, has said phase-out of coal, oil and gas would take the world “back into caves”.

Phase Out, Phase Down, Unabated Emissions — The Linguistic Challenges Of Climate Negotiations At COP28. Clean Technica reports the real question at COP28 is what to do with fossil fuels and the key issue is whether to phase down or phase out.

Chinese climate envoy calls for international effort in curbing methane emissions. The Global Times reports China-US cooperation on cutting greenhouse gases is one of the biggest highlight at COP28. It reports calls by China’s climate envoy Xie Zhenhua for global unity and the urgent need for international cooperation to enhance methane control in developing countries.

Australia backs Cop28 promise to triple renewables but not nuclear capacity pledge. The Guardian reports Australia has backed a pledge at COP28 to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

Saturday 2 December 2023

US lays out plan at COP 28 to slash climate ‘super pollutant’ methane from oil and gas. CNBC reports the Biden administration unveiled final rules aimed at cracking down on US oil and gas industry methane releases.

More than 110 nations commit to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. France24 reports that more than 110 countries committed Saturday to triple renewable energy capacity worldwide by 2030 and double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements.

Rishi Sunak denies abandoning climate fight at COP28. BBC News reports the prime minister has denied leaving climate progress to other nations after watering down some net zero policies.

Kamala Harris addresses Cop28 amid mixed reaction to US climate pledges. The Guardian reports on comments by Kamala Harris at COPP28. She said the world is facing a “pivotal movement” in the climate crisis. She came under attack for meagre assistance to developing countries and for its own booming oil and gas industry.

Friday 1 December 2023

King Charles warns of ‘vast, frightening experiment’ on natural world. The Guardian reports the speech by King Charles at the COP28 leaders’ summit. He said the world had embarked on a “vast, frightening experiment” on the natural world, which risked triggering feedback loops in the climate system that will cause irreversible disaster. See also report by ITV

Rishi Sunak says ‘climate politics is close to breaking point’. The Guardian reports the prime minister said “climate politics is close to breaking point”, adding that “the costs of inaction are intolerable but we have choices in how we act”. He said net zero would only be delivered in a way that “benefits the British people”, adding that “we have scrapped plans on heat pumps and energy efficiency that would have cost people thousands of pounds”.

Rishi Sunak insists UK remains a leader on climate despite watering down key pledges. ITV reports the prime minister Rishi Sunak has insisted that despite watering down UK climate goals in recent months, the United Kingdom remains “a leader on this issue”.

Sunak undermined by decision to row back on key green policies. Friends of the Earth’s international climate campaigner, Rachel Kennerley, responds to Rishi Sunak’s speech:

“Rishi Sunak’s call for tougher action on climate change is completely undermined by his decision to row back on key green policies and vow to “max out” North Sea gas and oil.

“Instead of eroding business confidence and the UK’s international climate credibility, the prime minister should be championing the acceleration to a green economy. This will bring enormous benefits such as new jobs and business opportunities, lower bills and a boost in energy security.

“A new UK climate action plan is urgently needed to help develop the nation’s huge renewable energy potential, insulate our heat-leaking homes and ensure that this country’s off-track climate targets are not only met, but exceeded.”

Sunak accused of retreating from global climate leadership at Cop28. The Guardian reports has been accused of “shrinking and retreating” from global leadership as he used the Cop28 summit to claim that “climate politics is at breaking point” because of the costs of net zero. The paper says while many other world leaders, including King Charles, spoke of the urgency of action on the climate, the prime minister used his brief appearance at the summit in Dubai to promote his approach to slowing the pace of net zero policies and reducing pressures on family finances.

Rishi Sunak hits back at criticism of fleeting COP28 visit. Politico reports Rishi Sunak defended his decision to only attend the COP28 climate summit for a half a day, saying it would be wrong to “measure our impact here by hours spent.”

COP28 secures more than $420mn to seed loss and damage fund. The FT reports that COP28 reached agreement on details for a new loss and damage fund to help developing countries pay for climate impacts. Details also at CarbonBrief and BBC News

Other headlines from leaders’ day at COP28. The FT reports that Japan is to end new coal power plants by 2050 and the UK unveiled £1.6bn for green finance projects but it was described as an accounting trick by ActionAid UK. The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz launched the Climate Club, an initiative of 36 countries to tackle emissions from industry and banks agreed to a voluntary standard-setting for green finance.

COP28 is underway in the United Arab Emirates. ABC News reports on what to watch, including on calls for a 200% increase in world renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade and a doubling of energy efficiency across the world in the next seven years. This year’s global stocktake will involve countries agreeing on how emissions should be brought under control.

European Council president Charles Michel calls for greater ambition. The EU reports that he called for increased and rapid global action to keep the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees. He underlined the EU’s full commitment to the fight for climate neutrality. The EU announced a contribution of E220 to the loss and damage fund to help the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

Record attendance. Engie.com reports 80,000 registered for COP28, twice as many as accreditations as for COP27.

Thursday 30 November 2023

COP28 opens. Almost 200 countries have gathered to agree the next global steps to tackling climate change, reports Sky News. The broadcaster says the conference has a ceremonial opening today, with speeches from world leaders on 1 and 2 December.

Agreement on loss and damage deal reached on first day of Cop28 talks. The Guardian reports a landmark deal to help the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries pay for the irreversible impacts of climate disaster was agreed on the first day of the UN summit.

Global deal to phase out fossil fuels is in trouble. Politico reports UAE officials running the talks are warning it may be impractical to call for the complete death of fossil fuels — infuriating activists and vulnerable countries.

UAE’s COP28 has “biggest carbon footprint” of any climate summit. The Telegraph reports at least 400,000 people are expected to travel to Dubai for the two-week event, which critics say has become too big.

‘Climate collapse in real time’: UN head António Guterres urges Cop28 to act. The Guardian reports on the UN head’s comments at the launch of the World Meteorological Organisation State of the Climate report. This concluded that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, leaving a “trail of devastation and despair”.

Wednesday 29 November 2023

Al Jaber Denies Using COP28 Presidency to Make Oil and Gas Deals. The former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said on Twitter that the COP28 presidency had been “caught red-handed” over allegations that the fossil fuel industry could be influencing proceedings. It would “be under public scrutiny like no other ever before”, she said. The UAE’s COP28 team at first refused to deny the allegations to BBC News and said that “private meetings are private”. After the story’s release, COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber released a statement saying that the allegations were “false, not true, incorrect and not accurate”, Bloomberg reported