Climate summit leader dismisses scientific consensus on phasing out fossil fuels, prompting concern among scientists
COP28 climate summit leader denies scientific consensus, dismissing the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels to limit global warming to 15 degrees above pre-industrial levels
The recent comments by Sultan Al Jaber, president of the COP28 climate summit, have prompted concern among climate scientists and advocates, as he stated that there is "no science" supporting the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This issue is one of the most contentious at the summit, with some advocating for a "phase-out" of fossil fuels, while others are proposing a "phase-down." Scientific evidence has emphasized the need for a rapid reduction of fossil fuel usage in order to achieve the goal of the Paris climate agreement to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, beyond which adaptation for humans and ecosystems will become increasingly challenging.
Al Jaber's comments were made during the She Changes Climate panel event on November 21 and were brought to light in a Guardian story and a CNN video review. Former president of Ireland and current chair of the Elders Group, Mary Robinson, asked Al Jaber if he would take the lead on phasing out fossil fuels. In response, Al Jaber stated that there is no scientific evidence or scenario suggesting that the phase-out of fossil fuels will achieve the 1.5 goal. He expressed his expectation for a rational and serious conversation at the She Changes Climate meeting and stated that he was not willing to engage in alarmist discussions.
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He emphasized that the 1.5-degree goal was his guiding principle, and the gradual elimination of fossil fuels was "inevitable," but also stressed the importance of being realistic, committed, and practical about it.
As Robinson continued to press him on the issue, Al Jaber responded with a plea for assistance, asking for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels in a way that ensures sustainable socio-economic development. He warned that failure to do so would result in regressing the world back to primitive living conditions.
Al Jaber's leadership of the COP28 summit has sparked controversy, given his dual roles as the UAE's climate envoy and chairman of a renewables company, while also heading the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
According to a spokesperson for the COP28 team speaking to CNN, "This story is yet another effort to undermine the clear and transparent agenda of the Presidency, which has been supported by tangible achievements from the COP President and his team."
"The COP President is adamant that the phase-out of fossil fuels is unavoidable and that we must strive to keep 1.5C within reach," and also stated, "We are enthusiastic about the progress we have made and the implementation of a decisive and ambitious global stocktake decision. Any efforts to undermine this will not weaken our determination."
The climate crisis is primarily fueled by fossil fuels, and as the world persists in consuming oil, coal, and gas, global temperatures are reaching unprecedented highs. This year has witnessed record global heat, leading to deadly extreme weather events.
Cracking towers stand at the Ruwais refinery and petrochemical complex, operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC), in Al Ruwais, United Arab Emirates.
Christophe Viseux/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A company based in the UAE has acquired land in Africa equivalent to the size of the UK for carbon offset projects that have sparked controversy.
According to a recent report by multiple scientific organizations, including the UN Environment Programme, the production of fossil fuels in 2030 is projected to exceed the amount needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. This conclusion was reached using scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Ploy Achakulwisut, a climate researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute and one of the authors of the report, emphasized the significance of the IPCC and IEA as credible scientific sources. She told CNN that the report's conclusion highlights the necessity of phasing out all fossil fuels, especially if carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture and storage measures fail to expand. Carbon capture encompasses various techniques aimed at extracting carbon pollution from the air and capturing emissions from power plants and other facilities. While some view carbon capture as a crucial tool for reducing pollution that contributes to global warming, others argue that these technologies are costly, untested at a large scale, and divert attention from policies aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Al Jaber's comments were heavily criticized by scientists and climate groups. Romain Ioualalen, the global policy lead at the non-profit organization Oil Change International, expressed deep concerns about the Presidency's capacity to lead the UN climate talks, labeling Al Jaber's statements during the panel discussion as "alarming" and "science-denying."
Climate professor Joeri Rogelj from Imperial College London strongly advises Al Jaber to review the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "This report, unanimously approved by 195 countries including the UAE, presents numerous strategies to limit warming to 1.5°C, all of which point to a gradual elimination of fossil fuels in the first half of the century. Will this return the world to the Stone Age? Absolutely not," he stated.
Mohamed Adow, the director of climate think tank Power Shift Africa, described Al Jaber's comments as a "wake-up call" for the world and COP28 negotiators. He stated that they should not expect assistance from the COP Presidency in achieving a robust outcome on phasing out fossil fuels.
The COP summit will mark the conclusion of the first global stocktake, during which countries will evaluate their progress on climate action and determine how to steer the world towards preventing catastrophic global warming.
CNNs Angela Dewan and Rachel Ramirez contributed reporting
