Good afternoon, everyone. Hope you survived the queues this morning and are staying well coffee-d. Here’s a mid-afternoon caffeine jolt.
Growing momentum for phaseout
Momentum for fossil fuel phase out/down agreement at this COP continues to grow. On Thursday, over 100 countries, from Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and Europe called for phasing down unabated fossil fuels. And the COP28 presidency, in a joint statement with Fatih Birol, the IEA executive director issued a summary of high level discussions, acknowledging the necessity to phase down both the supply and demand of fossil fuels this decade to keep 1.5ºC in reach. This builds on the 80 governments that supported a phase out at COP27.
Further positive negotiation developments came as a number of parties, including AILAC, AOSIS, EU, EIG, Norway, Australia, Canada, Ghana, UK, and Colombia, made strong statements calling for a fossil fuel phase down/out in their inputs to the Global Stocktake (GST) discussions.
Norway becomes the 40th signatory in a partnership to end public finance for fossil fuels
In other positive government oil and gas developments, Norway joined the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (formerly the “Glasgow Statement”), promising to increase investment in renewables overseas and stop funding fossil fuels. Norway joins 39 other governments and institutions (including the UK, United States, and many European governments) in committing to end international public finance for fossil fuels. Norway must now put policies in place to end their international fossil finance within 12 months.
These government positions on a fossil phase out are being supported by the private sector too: Over 200 companies representing $1.5 trillion in global annual revenue today called on governments to phase out fossil fuels and ramp up clean energy as part of their #fossiltoclean pledge.
Colombia and Palau endorse Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
Today Colombia announced it was joining the bloc of countries seeking a negotiated mandate for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This came hot on the heels of Palua making the same announcement yesterday. Colombia is the largest fossil fuel-producing country to endorse the Treaty proposal. Alex Rafalowicz, Director of the Treaty initiative, said: “By joining the call for a Treaty, Colombia, a country highly dependent on oil and coal, is demonstrating courageous leadership in the just energy transition. From COP28, President Gustavo Petro is not only making a commitment to climate justice but also highlighting the importance of international cooperation.”
We look forward to all the above momentum translating into binding outcomes in the coming days at COP28. In particular, parties agreeing to a full, fast, fair and funded phase out of all fossil fuels combined with the key commitments to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030.
Greenwashing threat alert: O&G Decarbonization “commitment”
Hopefully that coffee is keeping you alert because amidst all the positive news, the industry is pushing back just as hard. Today, the UAE launched the “Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter,” the industry’s flagship COP announcement, which is a voluntary pledge coordinated for oil and gas companies to commit to “take action” to reduce emissions. Instead of committing to reduce burning fossil fuels – the main cause of climate chaos – the companies offer to reduce “operational emissions” that result before oil and gas are burned, ignoring 80-90% of their emissions.
This is dangerous because industry is looking for ways to make it seem like they’re serious about climate action, while in reality opening the door for even more fossil fuels. Our partners OCI put out a letter signed by more than 320 organizations opposing the effort as greenwashing.
“The Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OCDC) is a dangerous distraction from the COP28 process. We need legal agreements, not voluntary pledges. The science is clear: staying under 1.5ºC global warming requires a full, fast, fair, and funded phase out of fossil fuels, starting now.”
We also have this fact sheet on the US-led effort to develop a framework on methane “measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification” – likely to launch at COP29 – that would create a voluntary scheme for oil and gas industry companies to claim their products are “clean.” The US acknowledges that the framework is aimed at privileging U.S. gas producers in the global gas market by positioning them as a cleaner alternative compared to other exporters and as currently envisioned, this voluntary monitoring framework would rely on unreliable, easily manipulated, opaque technologies that do not adequately measure emissions. It seems that an MMRV framework would help lend credence to initiatives like the OGDC (also at various points called Global Decarbonization Alliance, Oil and Gas Charter, and Oil and Gas Decarbonization Accelerator).
Serotonin boost: Here’s US advocates confronting U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry on oil and gas policy this morning. Check out these beautiful photos from Oil Change International (please credit Konrad Skotnicki).
Best,
Gabbi, Ashwini, Danae, Lerato, and the GGON team
INTEL
From Greenpeace Africa: African scientists urge African leaders to reject fossil fuels at COP28
Ahead of the COP28 climate summit, 50 African scientists and over 4000 youth across 30 African countries have called on African leaders to seize the opportunity to transition the continent to 100% renewable energy and reject the destructive path of fossil fuels.
In an open letter addressed to African Heads of State and Governments, the scientists decried a new scramble for oil, gas, and coal in the continent, driven by former colonial and neocolonial powers. The letter calls on African leaders to reject these investments and instead focus on developing modern, decentralized renewable energy sources for the continent.
RESOURCES
Check out our website for UN Climate Talks ggon.org/COP28/ and see our toolkit for media on oil and gas issues. Additionally, a detailed list of all fossil fuel related events at COP28 can be found here.
Quotes: Civil society on the High-Level Segment of the World Climate Action Summit.
Partner Reports
Stopping Asia Dash for Gas
From Center for Ecology, Energy and Development: Confronting a Fossil Future: Stopping the Gas Detour in Renewable-Rich Southeast Asia (Publishes 3 December)
Publishing a report on December 3rd exploring financiers and developers of gas expansion in Southeast Asia since 2016, and also of renewables. It's a report that makes a case for stopping gas expansion and ramping up renewable finance and development instead in the region. See below for the press conference for the report
Carbon capture is a publicly funded failure
From Oil Change International: Carbon Capture’s Publicly Funded Failure
Oil Change International published a new resource on Carbon Capture and Storage technologies today, that includes the latest data and case studies on the fossil fuel industry’s favorite distraction. Key findings:
- Governments have spent over $20 billion – and are planning up to $200 billion more – of public money on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), providing a lifeline for the fossil fuel industry.
- The majority of CCS is used to expand fossil fuel extraction. 79% of the world’s CCS operating capacity sends captured CO2 to produce more oil (via Enhanced Oil Recovery)
- Many of the largest projects in the world operate far below their stated capacity. They are designed only to capture a fraction of the emissions of the plant they serve. Full briefing here
Industry’s abatement play
From Oil Change International: We Won’t Be Tricked: How the fossil fuel industry is using the dangerous “abatement” distraction to stay in business
Oil and gas companies, and some governments, are more interested in looking like they are acting on climate change than actually acting on climate change. They spend billions on smoke and mirrors, such as “carbon capture and storage,” “certified gas”, and ammonia co-firing, and hydrogen to make us believe that they are coming up with solutions for a livable planet when, in reality, they are trying to build escape hatches to suck every last ounce of profit out of their dirty fossil fuel business. These companies and their lobbyists are counting on adding loopholes in the final UN Climate Change Conference commitments to keep business as usual. We cannot let them.
ADNOC Navigating Energy Transition and Safeguarding Investors
From IISD: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in a Changing World: Navigating the energy transition and safeguarding investors
This case study examines the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as one of the important players in a Paris-aligned transition. As ADNOC opens up to international markets, the level of potential exposure for international investors increases. At the same time, this creates opportunities for investors to engage with ADNOC in its decarbonization.
Assessing National Oil Companies Transition Plans Tools
From IISD: Assessing National Oil Companies' Transition Plans: An essential tool for banks, investors, and regulators
National oil companies (NOCs) account for half of oil and gas production, 40% of investments in the sector, and two thirds of the planet's hydrocarbon reserves. An assessment of 99 leading oil and gas companies, which includes 40 NOCs, shows that NOCs are expected to exceed international oil companies in their carbon budgets.
EVENTS PREVIEW
ALERT!! South Korea’s Oil and Gas Addiction
December 3 |17.00 ( today)
Korea pavilion(bldg.76), hosted by South Korea Energy & Services (SK E&S)
South Korea's carbon neutrality commission and SK Energy&Services, an oil and gas major, are hosting an event where they will be signing multiple MOUs to produce "Carbon Neutral LNG" with GE and Air Liquide. IEA Fatih Birol, David Livingston (US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate) will be joining to welcome the MOU. However, these are MOUs to support the controversial Barossa gas project, which is facing major legal challenges and global opposition for greenwashing fossil fuels. This is not in line with 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Contact: Ashwini Prabha +33 769748184 (WhatsApp / Signal).
Press Conference: The Kick Total Out of Africa Campaign
Sunday, 3 December | 10.30 - 11:30 GST
Climate Justice Civil Society Hub (CSCJ Hub) Room 1
A coalition of African CSOs is launching a powerful campaign that identifies the real culprit of the climate crisis faced by millions of people on the continent. Greedy corporates like Total need to be put in the spotlight and made to account and pay for their decades-long transgressions. Join activists and campaigners from across the continent in this moment of decisive action.
SPEAKERS:
Side event: The Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels
Sunday, 3 December | 11:30 - 13:00 GST
Side Events (SE) Room 2, Building 78, Zone B6, Blue Zone
Featuring California Attorney General Rob Bonta discussing the state’s groundbreaking lawsuit against Big Oil followed by a panel of climate justice advocates from Asia, Africa, South America and North America highlighting recent grassroots wins and strategies against fossil fuels.
Press conference: Emissions Gap Report
Sunday, 3 December | 11:45
UNEP Pavilion
Presentation on the Emissions Gap Report has more of a focus on fossil fuels this year, including a finding that the oil, gas and coal extracted from already-existing fields and mines would exhaust the 1.5C budget 3.5 times over. Therefore some fields and mines must be closed early, and even more if new fields continue to be opened.
Press conference: 200+ civil society groups urge leaders at COP28 to transform public finance
Sunday 3 December | 12h30 to 13h00
Press Conference Room 2, Zone B6, Building 77
222 civil society groups from 55 countries have sent an open letter calling on world leaders to transform international public finance to tackle climate change and deliver a just energy transition.Speakers will comment on expected progress at COP28 towards ending fossil fuel subsidies, rich countries paying their fair share on fair terms for global renewable energy build-out, and overdue changes to global tax, debt, monetary policy, and IFI rules. They will also identify important “finance-washing” announcements to watch for that will set back rather than advance the just energy transition. View the full text of the letter available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic here
Speakers:
Press conference: Confronting a Fossil Future: Stopping the Gas Detour in Renewable-Rich Southeast Asia
Sunday, 3 December | 13:00-13:30 GST
Press Conference Room 2, Zone B6, Building 77 (Blue Zone)
In the context of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), alongside partners, is publishing a new report that delves into Southeast Asia’s massive plans for gas expansion and advance of LNG, including who the developers and financiers are behind this planned gas boom. It also dives into the current renewable energy landscape and the possibility of upscaling renewables in the region, contributing to meeting the 1.5°C goal.
In a press conference, speakers from Southeast Asia will raise alarm on the massive expansion of fossil gas and the potential of shifting the focus on advancing renewables for SEA. Global speakers will also dive into the bigger picture of the urgency of stopping fossil fuel proliferation and finance, especially gas, the responsibility of developed countries like Japan, and why COP 28 should deliver a global commitment for a just and rapid transition to 100% renewable energy and to end fossil fuels.
Speakers: Gerry Arances, Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED); Sigit Budiono, People’s Coalition for The Rights to Water (KRuHA); Hiroki Osada, Friends of the Earth Japan; Tzeporah Berman, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty; Katrin Ganswindt, urgewald
Press Conference: Report: Protected Areas Worldwide Remain Unprotected From Fossil Fuel Expansion
Sunday, 3 December, 2023 | 16:30-17:00 GST
Press Conference Room 2, Zone B6, Building 77 (Blue Zone) | Livestream
A new study, released at COP28 in Dubai, spotlights fossil fuel expansion threats to protected areas around the globe and calls for a global moratorium on all fossil fuel development and expansion — as well as a phase-down of current fossil fuel infrastructure — in the world’s protected areas.
The report zooms in on current fossil fuel infrastructure around the world, as well as future threats to vital protected areas in the mega-biodiverse pantropics, and is centered on the question: If we can’t safeguard protected areas from fossil fuels, how will we ever stop expansion in the rest of the world?
Speakers: Tyson Miller, Earth Insight; Kjell Kühne, Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO); Madhu Rao, IUCN WCPA; Fany Kuiru Castro, COICA; Blaise Mudodosi, APEM
Press conference: Call for African Leadership on the Fossil Fuel Phase out
Sunday, 3 December | 16:00-16:30 GST
Press Conference Room 2, Zone B6, Building 77 (Blue Zone)
African civil society and scientists at COP28 will gather to call on Africa leaders to stop the expansion of oil and gas development on the continent and lay out the solutions for how to achieve a fossil fuel phase out. A clear indicator of success of the UN Climate Conference (COP28) will be if governments finally make fossil fuel history.
Speakers: Kwami Kponzo, Executive Director, Centre for Environmental Justice, Togo; Thandile Chinyavanhu, Climate and Energy Campaigner, Greenpeace Africa; Sonia Dunlop, CEO, Global Solar Council
Press conference New Insights in Climate Science
December 3 | 16:30
Press conference 1, Zone B8
Launching a report reviewing 10 new science insights. The second of them is "A rapid and managed fossil fuel phase-out is required to stay within the Paris Agreement target range".
Speaker: UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell
Report embargoed until 12:00 GMT / 16:00 GST, 3 Dec 2023 - Report available upon request
Photo op: Colorful Photo Opportunity Demanding End to Public Finance for Fossil Fuels!
Monday, 4 December | 9:00
Zone B1 (near networking area)
From: Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development; Oil Change International; Friends of the Earth Japan; Center for Energy, Ecology and Development; 350.org and more
A coalition of groups are organizing a colorful photo opportunity at COP28 featuring giant inflatable Pikachu suits on the thematic “Finance Day” to focus attention on dirty fossil finance and to demand that governments stop financing fossil fuels immediately and support a just, fair and fast transition to renewable-based energy systems.
OIL AND GAS IN THE NEWS
From The Guardian: Oil and gas firms must convert to renewables or face decline, says IEA chief
“Oil and gas producers must convert their operations to renewable energy or face steep economic decline, the world’s chief energy adviser has said amid the forging of a new alliance of energy companies at the UN Cop28 climate summit.
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said: “We have to find a way to reduce fossil fuel consumption, and as such there is an important role that the oil and gas industry can play. I very much hope that they can show in Dubai that they can be part of the solution when it comes to tackling climate change.”
From the Financial Times: Oil and gas companies stall on net zero plans
“In the years following the Paris climate agreement in 2015, some of the world’s largest oil and gas producers made commitments to cut their emissions as political and corporate leaders rallied around new efforts to slow global warming.
Eight years later, as politicians and executives prepare to meet in Dubai, the commitments remain in place — but the role of the hydrocarbons industry in the world’s shift towards clean energy has become more contested.
While the biggest oil and gas companies, particularly in Europe, are investing in greener products such as biofuels and renewables to lower their emissions, the energy crisis sparked by resurgent demand and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been used by some leaders to justify continued investment in fossil fuel production.”
From the BBC: COP28 host UAE to massively ramp up oil production, BBC learns
“The country hosting COP28 climate talks aimed at cutting fossil fuel emissions is massively ramping up its own oil production, the BBC has learned.
The United Arab Emirates' state oil firm Adnoc may drill 42% more by 2030, according to analysts considered the international gold standard in oil market intelligence.
Between 2023 and 2050, only Saudi Arabia is expected to produce more.”
From Environmental Defence Canada: Swarming delegations
Fossil fuel lobbyists are swarming COP28 this year, including Canada’s official delegation. According to the UN’s Provisional List of Registered Participants at COP28, 35 people with ties to the fossil fuel sector were given Party badges by Canada."
And to cap it all off…
A hot new fashion trend is spreading around Expo City: the emissions cap. At an event yesterday in the Canada Pavilion, Climate Action Network Canada’s Executive Director Caroline Brouillette offered one to Environment and Climate Change Minister Guilbeault – but explained that he isn’t allowed to wear it until he finally unveils Canada's framework to cap emissions from the oil and gas sector with a clear target that makes Canada's biggest polluters take on their fair share of emissions reductions. The minister said he'd be "shocked" if the long-awaited framework wasn't released by the end of COP.
Thanks for reading. See you in a couple days!
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