EU has slammed OPEC’s attempt to stop a historic agreement on ending the use of fossil fuels at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
EU’s climate chief criticised OPEC calling the attempt “out of whack” and “unhelpful”.
The COP28 summit, attended by nearly 200 countries, is discussing whether to commit, for the first time, to phasing out fossil fuels, which are the main driver of climate change.
However, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais sent a letter this week to the OPEC+ countries, urging them to reject any deal that targets fossil fuels, according to Reuters.
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, who worked for oil giant Shell for three years before becoming a Dutch foreign affairs minister, said the OPEC letter was “not in tune with where the world stands in terms of the very dramatic situation of our climate”.
“We’re not here to pay attention to our narrowly defined national or financial interests. We’re here to do what is right for the future of the world,” he said.
READ ALSO: N1.63trn Paid To Nigerian Retirees In Q2 2023 — PenOp
More than 80 countries, including the EU, the US and island nations vulnerable to climate change, are pushing for a COP28 deal that would phase out fossil fuels, as scientists warn that urgent action is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change.
“This should be the beginning of the end of fossil, and we all have to acknowledge this, whether we produce oil, consume oil, or not,” Hoekstra said.
He said it would be a “scandal” if COP28 failed to deliver a deal that would enable the world to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius – the threshold that scientists say would avoid its most catastrophic impacts. Observers and negotiators at COP28 said that Saudi Arabia and Russia – both part of OPEC and OPEC+ – have been the most vocal opponents of a fossil fuel phase-out deal at COP28.Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, are responsible for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which are causing worsening climate impacts such as deadly heat, drought and rising sea levels.
Fossil fuels have powered modern life, but developing countries at the U.N. climate talks are asking for more financial help to switch to clean energy. Despite the rise of renewables, fossil fuels still provide around 80% of the world’s energy.
Alden Meyer, a COP28 delegate from think-tank E3G, said it was the first time that OPEC’s Secretariat has interfered in UN climate talks with a letter like the one it sent this week.
“It indicates a whiff of panic,” he said.
(Reuters)