World divided over fossil fuels as COP28 conference forced into overtime

By Emre Basaran

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UN climate change conference COP28 was forced into overtime on Tuesday after participating countries failed to reach a consensus on the final communique, which omitted mentioning a phaseout of the use of fossil fuels.

Countries that owe a substantial part of their income to oil production, mainly Saudi Arabia and members of OPEC, opposed including the fossil fuel phaseout in the final text, Britain’s Financial Times reported.

The daily also quoted EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, who said that there is a “supermajority” that agrees to mention the phasing out of fossil fuels in the final text.

The first draft of the final communique mentioned a "just" and "orderly" reduction of fossil fuel consumption. The wording was found to be insufficient, particularly by island nations, whose very existence is threatened by the catastrophic effects of climate change, and Western nations.

“The draft text for COP28 does not go far enough,” said UK Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart in a post on X.

“There must be a phase out of unabated fossil fuels to meet our climate goals. The UK is working with all parties and will continue to push for an ambitious outcome that keeps 1.5 degrees (Celsius) in reach,” he said, even though he abruptly left the conference, which is being held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Stuart was blasted by environmental group Greenpeace after leaving for London before the conference ended.

“This is an outrageous dereliction of leadership at the most critical point during this conference. This is the moment when we need to see bold political commitments to unlock the gridlock on the text,” Greenpeace’s Rebecca Newsom told The Guardian.

The UN climate summit deals need a total consensus to pass, so another revision of the text might be in the works before a final communique is released.