Happy COP-Friday everyone! We’re <this> close to the day before the rest day. I hope you all are getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated.
Here’s a few things for your attention.
Political developments
The draft text on the Global Stocktake that dropped in the early hours of this morning marked a historical turning point in the COP process: For the first time, we see proposed text that clearly articulates the need to phase out fossil fuels.
The drafters heard the clear message from the world leaders summit, as well as the joint statement from over 100 countries, from Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and Europe that called for a phaseout of fossil fuels. It is also a profound testament to the power of civil society who have been loudly making the case here in Dubai and for a long time before.
However, this new text is only the end of the beginning. There is still a long way to go in these negotiations. It will be vital that Parties do not allow phaseout of fossil fuels to be removed, and they must double down on removing the more worrying dangerous distractions, such as the language around “unabated” and CCS. Elsewhere in the negotiations, Parties must redouble efforts to advance fossil fuel phaseout in the Mitigation Work Program and Just Transition Work Program as well.
Outside of the negotiations, fossil phaseout momentum continued with the Clean Energy Transition Partnership, formally announcing Australia today and Norway earlier this week as signatories. This now means 41 countries have committed to end international financing of fossil fuels and instead provide support for renewable energy.
In other breaking news, and a highly significant development, the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international alliance of governments working together to facilitate the managed phase-out of oil and gas production, is due to make big announcements today (5pm Dubai), including new signatories to the alliance. Significant new funding opportunities will also be outlined for Global South governments that are exploring alternative development pathways beyond oil and gas, helping to address one of the critical challenges of this COP; namely ensuring there is adequate funding support for the energy transition.
Announcements and Events
TODAY (TUESDAY)
15:00 GST – Media huddle on Global Stocktake
Outside entrance to B8 (the building with Press Conference 1)
Huddle on Global Stocktake, including Africa, India and Global South perspectives.
Speakers: Fredrick Njehu, from Africa Civil Society Movement; Manjeev Singh Puri, Former Permanent India Representative to the UN; Linda Kalcher, Executive Director Strategic Perspectives
17:30 GST – Press conference: Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance announcements
Press Conference Room 1, Zone B8
The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international alliance of governments working together to facilitate the managed phase-out of oil and gas production, will:
- Outline significant new funding opportunities for Global South governments that are exploring alternative development pathways beyond oil and gas.
- Announce new members of the Alliance as momentum builds behind calls for the phase-out of all fossil fuels and a just transition away from oil and gas.
- Address the prospects for securing an agreement at COP28 to deliver a just transition away from fossil fuels.
For expert reaction, contact Cat Abreu, founder and executive director, catherine@destinationzero.earth; or Romain Ioualalen, global policy campaign manager at Oil Change International, Contact Al Johnson-Kurts, al@priceofoil.org
Embargoed press release available upon request
ALERT: Australia boosts 40+ signatory partnership to end international public finance for fossil fuels
Australia has joined the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP, sometimes called the Glasgow Statement) at the UN climate talks in Dubai, joining Norway, which joined on Saturday.
Read more
WEDNESDAY
11:00 GST – Media Huddle: An Equitable Fossil Fuel Phaseout Must Be Africa’s Answer
Outside the media centre
African countries are at loggerheads over the language on fossil fuel phaseout. Three West African countries – Nigeria, Senegal and Mauritania – have vehemently opposed any text on phaseout. A prolonged and protracted process to phase out fossil fuel could threaten the long-term future prosperity of the continent, which, more than any other region, is bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Oil and gas-producing African countries have not seen accelerated development from these resources. Instead, the majority remain vulnerable, with communities dealing with high prices, a lack of economic opportunities and unending socio-ecological costs.
Speakers: Rep. Sam Onuigbo, Former Member of Parliament and Sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act (Nigeria); Denis Gyeyir, Africa Program Director, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) Ghana); Barry Mamadou, Action Solidaire International, Executive Director (Senegal)
Read more. Press contact: Lerato@ggon.org, FOmondi@greenpeace.org
13:00 GST – Panel: Reform of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Latin America: An opportunity for a Just Energy Transition in the region
Peru Pavilion (Stand OS03G8), Opportunity District (Green Zone)
Organizations from Colombia, Argentina and Peru will be addressing fossil fuel subsidy reform as an opportunity for a just energy transition in the region by
discussing the opportunities, impacts, and challenges of reforms.
Panelists: María Laura Castillo Diaz. Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales- FARN. Argentina; Philip Gass, Director, Just Transition, International Institute for Sustainable Development- IISD; Germán Romero, CEO Diorama Consulting, Colombia; Augusto Durán, Specialist in Clean Energies, Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climático- MOCICC.
Press contact: Belén Felix, +5491134214728 (WP and Signal) / mbfelix@farn.org.ar
14:00 GST. Media Advisory/”Briefing Blitz”: Vulnerable Fishing Communities From Across the World Unite to Fight the Growing Threat of Offshore Oil and Gas Activity
Outside Media Room
Representatives from Colombia, Bahamas, Bangladesh and Senegal put the spotlight on the harmful impacts of offshore drilling.
Speakers: Julian Medina Salgado, artisanal fisherfolk Golfo de Morrosquillo, Colombia. Rashema Ingraham, Waterkeepers Bahamas + Our Islands Our Future. Sharif Jamil, Waterkeepers Bangladesh + COP28 Coalition. Mbacke Seck, Hann Baykeeper + Sauver La Mer et La Pêche, Senegal. Chris Wilke, Waterkeeper Alliance.
Press contact: Luisina: luisina@ggon.org Upasana Khatri: ukhatri@ciel.org
14:30 GST Press Conference: Taking Oil to court: Greenpeace vs. State of Norway
Press Room 2
Happening right now in Oslo, Greenpeace and Natur og Ungdom are facing the state of Norway in court, for approving new oil fields. A panel of legal experts will discuss the linkages to fossil fuel outcomes at COP28.
Press Contact: Gaby Flores, cflores@greenpeace.org and/or +12144543871
ICYMI: Report on Europe finance flows fuelling the climate crisis
Yesterday was Finance Day at COP28. Today is Energy Day. So it’s the perfect time to draw attention to the banks fuelling the climate crisis, and how UN climate talks need to grapple with the separate tasks of stopping the world’s finance flows from doing harm, while simultaneously scaling up climate finance for the solutions. The report exposes the EU’s COP talk of greening finance, while allowing European banks to channel USD$46 billion to fossil fuels and industrial agriculture every year, and flags some concrete opportunities to use COP28 to address the harm wreaked by the private and public banking institutions, asset funds and subsidies that continue to merrily finance the fossil fuel industry. Watch out, fossil fuel finance flows, we’re coming for you! Read more.
Reax
Avril De Torres – Deputy Executive Director, Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development
“Our continued reliance on fossil fuels casts a deadly shadow on coal-affected communities. With many coal plants being converted into gas plant projects in countries like the Philippines, and many countries in Asia jumping into a massive gas buildout just as they begin to shift away from coal, the life of fossil fuels continues to be prolonged. Compromised air quality from toxic fossil fuels puts an enormous strain on people's health, livelihoods, and the environment. It's high time for a phaseout of our use of coal, gas, and oil, and high time to leapfrog to renewables."
Romain Ioualalen – Global Policy Manager, Oil Change International
“The new draft of the Global Stocktake gets us closer to a historic opportunity to secure an agreement on a full fossil fuel phaseout. Countries must seize the opportunity to ensure the options on the table reflect a 1.5°C aligned pathway.
“We need an agreement to immediately decline fossil fuel production and use – which is currently absent from the draft Global Stocktake – as well as a full, fast, fair and funded fossil fuel phaseout. Just three years ago, it would have been unimaginable to see governments consider an inclusion of fossil fuel phaseout in any COP agreement.
“It is deeply concerning that the draft GST gives the fossil fuel industry a lifeline with dangerous distractions, like carbon capture and storage, and other abatement technologies. We urge parties to hold a strong line against these failed technologies and refuse any language that allows fossil fuel companies to justify continued oil and gas extraction, blow us well past 1.5°C, and lead to catastrophic climate consequences.
“Global leaders have to deliver a full package. We will not accept weak outcomes only on coal or renewables, and without addressing the primary driver of the climate crisis, fossil fuels. We need countries to reach an agreement that includes a just and equitable phase out of all fossil fuels, with rich countries agreeing to phase out fastest, as well as a rapid phase in of renewables, a doubling of energy efficiency, and rich countries agreeing to redirect trillions in finance from fossil fuel industry handouts to support the transition in the form of grants, not loans.”
Press contact: Nicole Rodel, nicole@priceofoil.org
As Porky Pig says... That's all (for now) folks!