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
Categories: climate
DRILL OR DROP? 
let’s just chill out keep talking about renewable energy
from where trying to stop fossil fuel your letting the old freeze to death
and the poor
just stop this nonsense
An example of ‘net zero’ madness
A Tesla battery. It takes up all of the space under the passenger compartment of the car.
To manufacture it you need:
–12 tons of rock for Lithium
— 5 tons of Cobalt minerals
— 3 tons of mineral for nickel
— 12 tons of copper ore
You must move 250 tons of soil to obtain:
— 12 kg of Lithium
— 30 pounds of nickel
— 22 kg of manganese
— 15 pounds of Cobalt
To manufacture the battery requires:
— 100 Kg of RAM chips
— 200 kg of aluminum, steel and/or plastic
The Caterpillar 994A is used for the earthmoving to obtain the essential minerals. It consumes 264 gallons of diesel in 12 hours.
Finally you get a “zero emissions” car.
Presently, the bulk of the necessary minerals for manufacturing the batteries come from China or Africa. Much of the labor for getting the minerals in Africa is done by children! If we buy electric cars, it’s China who profits most!
BTW, there is a 2021 Tesla OEM battery currently for sale on the Internet for $4,999 not including shipping or installation.
Update: What’s very interesting about a public post is the sheer number of ‘sparse’ or dead accounts that come out of the woodwork in ‘support’ of such an industry and then start saying how bad the petrol and oil industry is.
Now let’s get this straight, the oil industry is not squeaky clean and there are very obvious downsides but these electric vehicles are NOT the answer.
Got Figure…..!!
Shows how serious this is now viewed-Greta didn’t bother to attend!
This is a jolly to some far off foreign venue, all expenses paid, and no intention from the big players to put anything of note into practice. The only saving grace is that in this venue there should be some things with limited availability to add to the expenses sheet.
Japan is to end all new coal power plants-by 2050!!! With good maintenance, how long can a power plant be kept running? So, what is the reason for the fuss about Rishi? It really is as pathetic as it appears. A lot of people trying to outbid their opponents on things that will not make one jot of difference. Classic virtue signalling that when examined really has no virtue. It is not the SELF righteous who will inherit the earth!
Always good to visit the science.
“driving a Tesla for four years means that we’re saving more CO2 than we’re producing by making the battery.”
https://meche.mit.edu/news-media/how-much-co2-emitted-manufacturing-batteries
And of course during those four years there is no air pollution, pollution caused by burning fossil fuels and that kills and harms millions each year and like the poor child that died in London from air pollution from a busy road close to her house.
https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj-2023-077784#:~:text=An%20estimated%205.13%20million%20(3.63,by%20phasing%20out%20fossil%20fuels.
Talking about pollution, the UN estimate 100,000 people (mostly women and children) die each year die from smoke pollution from cooking over wood stoves. Wind and solar are either too expensive or unreliable to replace wood. What they need is bottled gas or an electrical supply infrastructure, probably powered centrally. Sometimes fossil fuels ARE the answer.
How many have died inside Tesla’s when they have caught fire, KatT? How many children have died in DRC mining cobalt? How much have EVs increased motor insurance, not only for their owners but for every other motorist?
Yes, indeed it is always interesting to view the science and the economics. However, selective viewing fools no one.
When Mr. Musk repeats on a number of occasions his product is not affordable to the average motorist then maybe there is a clue there also.
Martin:
It is a waste of time, Kat-von-D, is quite content on their first world ideology, cosy homes and food in their stomachs while the developed world struggles. Its moronic to argue with these people, the UK contributes less than 1% of GHG Emissions, 0.79% in 2023 alone.
They discuss the discuss the visiting the science. But the selfishness of the world problems has no limits, they are only interested in there own view point. Period!
And when a tesla battery does go in fire, the air pollution is extreme!
Dear me Martin you really are clutching at straws and scraping the barrel. I hardly think that the info put forward was “selective”. There are clearly far many more people being harmed and killed by air pollution caused from burning fossil fuels ie millions than have died in a Tesla car fire!
And all child labour is abhorrent but sadly it is not confined to cobalt is it, what about children mining coal in Columbia, or mining granite, sand, gold in Nigeria?
And facts show that fires in EVs occur less often than in petrol or diesel cars. But that’s if you prefer science and fact over bigotry and the right wing media campaign, likely driven by the climate change deniers, fossil fuel industry and their lobbyists.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/20/do-electric-cars-pose-a-greater-fire-risk-than-petrol-or-diesel-vehicles
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/nigeria
What selective tosh, KatT.
Look at the pollution from log burners-in LONDON!
Oh, so because child labour is around, the brave new world that claims higher morality wants to multiply it to attempt to get the arithmetic to add up? If you have problems with such simple data as the numbers of fossil fuel driven vehicles compared to Teslas then scraping the barrel does come to mind.
You will use the same “argument” to defend ocean mining for rare minerals and the trashing of Greenland for the same. Just like you have constantly posted about UK oil and gas not impacting energy prices, which it clearly has through redistribution of high levels of taxation gathered from it and used to discount energy prices. It may add to your narrative if you did not only have the selectivity but avoided the stuff which is factually incorrect and insulting to all those who do note with concern whether they can pay energy bills and where and why money is being provided to help.
Life expectancy has increased dramatically since fossil fuels have been utilised around the world. People still die, but after many more years of living on average, thanks in a large part to the benefits of fossil fuel which you constantly ignore, whilst unable to stop using them yourself!
I am all for people taking reasonable steps to reduce their adverse impact upon this world, but the constant nonsense being put forward to force people to pay out £6k/year/household through to 2050 will not convince me. I note no one has even risen to my challenge to explain how Fuel Duty will be replaced! Yet the decision has been taken to remove the fuel the duty is gathered from. What sheer lunacy. I suspect the someone else will pay magic tree will be the solution, but it won’t.
Not even worth responding to your reply in any detail Martin, because unlike you, I make relevant comments backed by science and fact.
Why exactly would I defend ocean mining? You have no idea about my views on such matters and just as an aside please do take your arguments up with the U.K. government, expert economists re U.K. gas and oil production, as all have stated that any U.K. production would not lower prices, I’m sure they’d be delighted to hear why you disagree with them.
And as for EG, well when you stoop to babyish name calling and false accusation you have already lost the argument.
Toodle-oo
Awww, We have hit the sensitive underbelly!
Cannot handle the facts, or the Truth
[Edited by moderator] If you don’t know why I “disagree” with them perhaps you have no idea how and why energy bills were discounted in UK last winter, and for many in the most vulnerable groups, are being discounted this winter? Even before the Windfall Tax there was a 40% tax on UK oil and gas that can be distributed as any Government would decide-perhaps like a winter fuel payment. Please explain where that will come from with imported gas and oil-or without either. Plus, without Fuel Duty!
([Edited by moderator] I disagree with someone who states Burnley may win the Premiership this season, I know if someone states Lincoln City will do so then the facts exclude that.)
I am an OAP, my bank shows £500 paid in recently. I know how and why that happened. I know how and why and what happened last winter. Thank you very much UK oil and gas producers. Shame on those who not only wish that stopped but actually then go on to claim it has not happened. It has KatT. For those wealthy enough to have missed what has been going on, joy to them. I do know some wealthy individuals who didn’t miss the events but decided to donate the support to charity, not through any dogma but through empathy for others not so fortunate.
If you wish to join others in perpetuating what is obviously incorrect for anyone in UK who has been paying an energy bill in the UK in recent months, that is your choice, KatT, but it is not scientific and is not backed up by fact. [Edited by moderator]
[Edited by moderator] UK oil and gas production has and is reducing energy bills in UK. It is currently and has been doing so for some period. That is true, and anyone claiming the opposite is avoiding that truth. [Edited by moderator]
Suffice it to say, when I am constantly being asked to consider the “experts” I do-and consider whether what they have been claimed to have stated is accurate. If it is not then I don’t consider them to be anymore credible than anyone else-indeed, less as they should know better.
Meanwhile, on a slightly different matter but connected with removing the evil fossil fuel from all walks of life. I note DPF have removed a major player from their pension fund. Who would that be? Oh yes-Tesla! Why? Because they will not recognize Unions. The same Tesla where directors accused of overpaying themselves returned a little of their remuneration-$700m! I can’t quite see why DPF should have them in a pension fund as income is not paid so reliance has to be placed on the share price increasing, so it seems odd they were still there. But, hey ho, it is a funny brave new world.
For those who did not see my original text I made my comment against KatT’s referenced sources. Sorry KatT that it was you who supplied them, but they were not commenting accurately and I have explained accurately how they were not. Why is another matter. Trying to create a false narrative? Surely not around this subject!
Meanwhile again, I note the Norwegians have been instructing their oil and gas guys and gals to drill under every last stone.
Are we truly ready to phase out fossil fuels? Before you respond to this question, here are a few facts to consider. In 1985, the share of fossil fuels in the global energy mix was about 88.6%. This share has only reduced marginally to about 82% in 2023. Thus, in about 38 years, the world has succeeded in replacing only about 6.6% of fossil fuels in the global energy mix. Transportation also continues to rely heavily on oil products for nearly 91% of its final energy, down only about 3.5% since 1970. The industrial sector’s energy mix has also remained relatively unchanged, with the share of fossil fuel around 74% in 2022. Thus, the three main sectors that drive the global economy – energy, transportation, and industrialisation – are all driven predominantly by fossil fuels. Additionally, most over the counter medications, homeopathic products and vitamins, makeup, shampoo, almost all plastics, synthetic rubbers such as shoes and tires, most cleaning products and asphalt on the 11 million miles of paved roads in the world are all products of petroleum. It is almost impossible to imagine a world without fossil fuels.
Now, here is the cost. To successfully phase out and replace all fossil fuels with renewable energy, we need to scale up wind energy by about 15 times (1 TW to 15TW), solar energy by about 25 times (1.2 TW to 26TW), power grid by 3 times (70 mil Km to 200 mil Km), green hydrogen by about 500 times (1 MT to 500 MT), electric vehicles and batteries by almost 60 times (2 M EV fleet to 1500 M) and carbon capture by at least 100 times (0.05 GtCO2 p.a to 10 GtCO2 p.a). To achieve this feat, the world will need to increase the production of rare earth metals significantly – graphite anodes by about 45%, cobalt by about 40%, lithium by at least 30%, neodymium by about 30%, nickel by about 15% and copper by at least 10%. Financially, materials and technology development will cost the world not less than USD 100 trillion.
Above all, phasing out fossil fuels today will not guarantee us a global average temperature below 1.5℃, compared to pre-industrial levels. Are we truly ready to phase out fossil fuels now?
Time to get a move on with clean wave power.
The £10 billion Morecambe Bay and Duddon project will deliver eight million megawatt hours of predictable, emission-free power annually, enough for 2 million homes, and create more than 12,000 new jobs.
The UK coastline has some of the world’s best locations for tidal range power generation and the Morecambe Bay/Duddon Estuary scheme will be a proving ground for the latest technology and create the foundation for a new tidal power industry.
That will in turn support a broader vision of tidal power installations on the West Coast from the Solway Firth to Somerset, harnessing a rolling tidal flow with the time difference in the tides of these estuaries generating power for up to 24 hours a day. That could increase the output of predictable emission-free electricity towards 120TWh p.a. – delivering 20 per cent of the UK requirement for electricity by 2050.
https://www.in-cumbria.com/news/18762071.morecambe-bay-bridge-plan-ready-take-next-step-get-government-backing/
We should not be spending more money on outdated fossil fuel infrastructure and more extraction. Harnessing the power of the sea would benefit us all.
The initial cost would be as huge as the long term financial gains. Cheap clean reliable power for all.
We found the money for the covid crisis. Let’s find it for the climate crisis.
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in very high levels of public spending. Current estimates of the total cost of government Covid-19 measures range from about £310 billion to £410 billion. This is the equivalent of about £4,600 to £6,100 per person in the UK.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9309/
£10B for a “proving ground”!! That by definition means it is a big gamble. Well, jP, gamble away. As you state the covid-19 measures cost up to £410B WHICH HAS YET TO BE PAID BACK and interest charges on debt are already huge. Then, there is the part funding of a war in Ukraine.
I am quite content for anyone to gamble with their own money but whilst I am being taxed to cover existing Government debt-remember the cheap money that was available for Governments to borrow???-I am not content with other gambles being taken with high interest rates. Net Zero is forecast to cost every UK household £6k EVERY YEAR between now and 2050 (Civitas). If households are paying that amount out they will not accept even higher taxation, and the money markets have already shown what they will do if unfunded debt is taken on to fund taxation cuts.
Don’t worry, the “other” lot want to borrow another £28B to spend on such projects, so it may get the spin of the wheel. Then inflation will be stubborn to remove and the individual will suffer, and the businesses that receive higher taxation to try and fill the holes will shed labour. Ever thus with the “other” lot, who are now acting like the “reformed” alcoholics stating they have changed and want to get back in the pub.
Must move on, as I have to start my search for a “Transit”!