Fossil pledge still sought
Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has joined a last-ditch effort to phase out fossil fuels at the COP28 summit.
Bowen has described carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a “backstop” solution following an emergency closed-door meeting prompted by Saudi Arabia's persistent opposition to scrapping fossil fuels.
The standoff threatened to derail consensus-based talks with only two days of COP28 remaining.
COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber urged nations to prioritise the “common good” over self-interest.
Amidst Saudi resistance, Bowen proposed ambitious targets, suggesting fossil fuels should peak by 2025, greenhouse gas emissions cut by 43 per cent by 2030, and 60 per cent by 2035, while renewable energy capacity triples.
To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, Bowen said; “We don't need to phase out fossil-fuel emissions; we need to end the use of fossil fuels in our energy systems.”
The minister said CCS and other abatement measures could be part of the solution, but not an excuse for delay.
However, green groups criticise carbon capture and storage as costly and unproven at scale, fearing it may enable nations to defer emissions cuts.
As COP28 confronts potential deadlock, speculation suggests President al-Jaber is challenging the Saudi veto.
While some observers anticipate new draft text circulation, consensus on Bowen's ambitious proposal appears unlikely.
Petrostates, particularly Middle Eastern oil producers, resist a fossil fuel phase-out, emphasising emissions reduction and expanded use of carbon capture. Global players like China and India also aim to protect existing coal-fired power plants.
Bowen, leading a group of developed-world oil and gas producers, is attempting to strike a balance between supporting a phase-out and avoiding a disruptive energy transition.
As negotiations intensify, Bowen's optimism faces significant opposition, with OPEC warning against endangering prosperity by targeting fossil fuels.
COP28, occurring amid record-breaking temperatures, also strives for commitments to triple renewable energy, and double energy efficiency by 2030.
The summit is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, but is likely to run over time.