Samstag, 09.12.2023, 16:25
Die Weltgemeinschaft kommt zusammen zur 28. Weltklimakonferenz in Dubai, um die internationale Klimapolitik zu verhandeln. Verfolgen Sie live die Verhandlungen zu weltweiten Klimafragen. FOCUS online Earth berichtet vor Ort für Sie.
Weltklimakonferenz in Dubai vom 30. November bis 12. Dezember. FOCUS online Earth ist für Sie vor Ort. Erhalten Sie sämtliche Neuigkeiten zur Weltklimakonferenz in Dubai (COP28) hier im Liveticker
Deutschland beabsichtigt, mit einer Allianz für gesteigerten Klimaschutz zu kämpfen
16.23 Uhr: Germany and other Western nations aim to advocate for the phase-out of coal, oil, and gas at the COP28 world climate conference with countries that are particularly threatened by the climate crisis and are economically disadvantaged. In Dubai, for the first time in a climate conference, there is an opportunity for an outcome “not characterized by old power politics, by old fossil power politics,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Saturday.
Baerbock appeared together with colleagues from Spain, Colombia, and the Marshall Islands, among others. It was the first appearance of the High Ambition Coalition. This group of states is an alliance of Western and economically disadvantaged countries that see themselves as drivers for more ambition at climate conferences. Germany had not signed individual declarations of the group recently, which is why Baerbock’s appearance was understood as Germany’s renewed commitment to the coalition.
Several representatives of the alliance emphasized that countries with high greenhouse gas emissions must take the lead and reduce their emissions. States are debating at the climate conference whether to reach a global phase-out of coal, oil, and gas or to leave loopholes open. States like Saudi Arabia or China are resisting ambitious language in the final text.
The climate envoy of the Marshall Islands threatened by rising sea levels, Tina Stege, announced that the High Ambition Coalition will continue to fight until the end. “We won’t give up, we will continue to fight,” she said.
World Community Outraged by “Desperate Attempt” to Halt Fossil Fuel Phase-Out After Letter from Oil Cartel
13.52 Uhr: Reports of a letter from the oil cartel OPEC have sparked outrage at the World Climate Conference in Dubai. OPEC Secretary-General Al-Ghais warned in the letter oil-producing member states about “inappropriate” and “disproportionate” pressure against the fossil fuel industry, triggering public outrage on Saturday.
French Minister of Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, expressed dismay about the letter calling for the blocking of ambitious decisions on the UN climate conference on fossil phase-out. The letter was first published by the British “Guardian,” and its authenticity has not yet been confirmed – however, a delegation assured the German Press Agency (DPA) that it considers the letter, which is also circulating on X (formerly Twitter) in Dubai, to be genuine.
French Minister Pannier-Runacher wrote on X, she was “stunned” and now relied on the presidency of the COP28 climate conference not to be swayed by the resistance. She continued to rely on the final document of the nearly 200 states explicitly mentioning the transition away from fossil fuels. “Climate change is killing. The most vulnerable countries are the first victims. We must act,” she added.
According to the letter, OPEC states and others are urged to “proactively” reject any proposal that targets fossil fuels – not just their emissions. Decisions to phase out oil and gas endanger “prosperity and the future.”
Some states, like the host – the United Arab Emirates – want the conference to commit to a phase-out of fossil emissions, not just fossil fuels. This would leave a loophole for carbon capture and storage technologies, known as CCS technologies, to remain open.
The executive board of Greenpeace Deutschland, Martin Kaiser, conveyed to the DPA in Dubai that the concerned tone of the letter indicates a division within the cartel. “Because there are also countries that say: of course, there must also be a perspective after the exploitation of fossil fuels.” The potential breakdown of this alliance is more of a “sign of hope for this conference”.
Harjeet Singh, head of the Climate Action Network, referred to the letter as a “desperate attempt to halt the global momentum towards a fossil fuel phase-out” in an interview with the “Guardian”.
9th December, 11:12 AM: Welcome to Day 9 of the World Climate Conference! Negotiations continue today, with the relevant ministers from most countries now arrived and taking over the discussions. Annalena Baerbock is also now on site and emphasized the German goal of a fossil phase-out at a press conference on Friday. So far, oil-producing states have been strictly against it, such as Saudi Arabia. A new study now shows why Saudi Arabia, in particular, would need to change this stance: Without a fossil fuel phase-out, the climate crisis could reduce economic development in the Gulf region by almost 70% by 2100 – as long as there is no fossil fuel phase-out and greenhouse gas emissions continue to heat the planet.
The report demonstrates that the continued global warming would lead to a collapse of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the Gulf states. By 2100, a decline of up to 69% could be expected if temperatures rise by up to three degrees.
Most affected: COP host United Arab Emirates as well as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Here, the GDP could shrink by up to 72%. If we manage to limit the warming to 1.5 degrees, these countries could limit the economic damage to at least 40%.
Experts fear that the region could become uninhabitable, as it is acutely threatened by climate change due to rising temperatures. As a result, population displacement, wars, or deaths could occur.
Despite the challenges, experts anticipate that the economies of the Gulf states will still be higher than today. However, the pace of growth will depend on how much the planet warms.
While experts predict economic growth in the region in the coming years, the extent of the decline in GDP will depend on the progression of global warming. The report also shows that the Gulf states have some of the highest per capita emissions on the planet – even when not accounting for the fossil fuels extracted and exported in these countries.
UN Group Sounds Alarm on Key Climate Protection Program
6:48 PM: One of the most critical climate protection programs is being blocked in the negotiations at the World Climate Conference in Dubai, as criticized by the UN youth organization of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and sounding the alarm.
ThisThe current impasse in the negotiations over the Mitigation Work Program (MWP), which aims to negotiate the reduction of emissions by participating countries, is being caused by the Arab negotiating group.
The United Nations youth group is now calling for a turnaround in light of the lack of progress in the negotiations. “The extent to which the negotiations have been delayed by some countries means that a strong signal is necessary to make COP28 the success we hope for,” said the UN group, calling for action: “This COP is our last hope to achieve the 1.5-degree goal, which we are dangerously close to.”
What it’s about: The mitigation program, along with the Global Stocktake, which is the inventory of countries under the Paris Climate Agreement, is meant to ensure a “just, balanced, and timely phase-out of fossil fuels,” demanded by the UN youth group.
Behind the blockades in the climate program negotiations is a clinging to fossil fuel deals, explained David Ryfisch, COP observer for the NGO Germanwatch: “It is clear that they fear for their oil- and gas-based economic model. China and India are also trying to prevent any additional commitments. The EU must firmly counteract this in solidarity with the progressive voices from the Global South. We need clear signals from the program for this crucial decade.”
Update on negotiations: New options for fossil fuel phase-out
15.56 hrs: The tough negotiations at the climate conference are entering the next round. As reported on X (former Twitter), the latest draft includes five options:
- Fossil Phase Out, meaning a complete phase-out of fossil fuels
- Fossil Phase Out in line with 1.5-degree goal and IPCC pathway
- Unabated Phase Out: A phase-out of unabated fossil fuels, meaning only those whose emissions cannot be captured with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The new formulation here is: “recognizing the need for a peak in their consumption.” This means acknowledging a peak in the consumption of fossil fuels. Additionally, the passage refers to the fact that the energy sector predominantly free of fossil fuels would be necessary well before 2050.
- Unabated Phase Out with Net-Zero emissions: A phase-out of unabated fossil fuels (Likely also involving the use of CCS technologies) to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2050
- No text: This is probably an attempt to completely eliminate the question of fossil fuel phase-out.
These options show that the battle is still being fought tooth and nail. Option 1, the complete fossil fuel phase-out favored by the German government, has faced competition from the other proposals. Particularly the vague formulations such as “that the energy sector predominantly free of fossil fuels would be necessary well before 2050″ suggest that the oil- and gas-exporting states are fighting for every inch here.
Option 2 is also intriguing, explicitly mentioning the IPCC pathway: This means a 95 percent reduction in coal, 60 percent for oil, and 45 percent for gas by 2050. However, this has been criticized within the scientific community for leaving too much leeway for the fossil fuel industry and not reducing emissions enough.
Press conference in Dubai: Foreign Minister Baerbock speaks on negotiations
12.16 hrs: That was prompt. After her last words,Baerbock steps aside and swiftly departs without casting another glance. With that, the press conference, including the questions, concludes.
12.15 PM: The final question concerns the German commitments to Brazil. Baerbock suggests that she has to leave promptly to meet with a Brazilian minister on this issue. “It is important that we do not dictate to Brazil what they should do,” she emphasizes. Instead, she stresses the importance of collaboration, working together to “combine climate protection and growth”.
12.13 PM: When asked if she hopes for progress with China and Saudi Arabia regarding the fund, Baerbock responds, “I always have hope.” She emphasizes how many countries are already contributing and highlights the advantages. Regarding China and Saudi Arabia, she says nothing. “I am very confident that more countries will join.” However, she also notes that this is a matter for the upcoming World Climate Conference, “we must not preempt everything now.”
12.10 PM: Next is a question about cooperation with the USA as Europe in terms of climate protection. “It is important that there are no false promises,” says Baerbock. “If technologies can only be implemented in eight years, that is in the distant future. We do not have that time.” Other things that can be implemented now need to be prioritized.
12.08 PM: A journalist asks where exactly she is negotiating. “The most important thing is humanitarian pauses – everything is lacking once again.” There is also a need for more open border crossings.
12.06 PM: “The way of waging war must open up political options for us rather than close them. The war is not won if we lose the peace,” emphasizes the Federal Foreign Minister. Then the floor is opened for questions.
12.03 PM: In conclusion, Baerbock speaks about the situation in the Middle East. “The humanitarian goods barely reach beyond Rafa and hardly make it to the north of Gaza,” she says. “It cannot continue as it is now.” From the beginning, she has made it clear that “the fight is against Hamas and not the Palestinians.”
11.59 AM: Then Baerbock explains that this is not about specific small groups of nations. “Not G7, G20, but G for together.” It is all rather vague what Baerbock is reporting here.
11.56 AM: The COP has shown that “those who truly want to achieve something have finally come together.” She then explains that “for a year, we have been working behind closed doors to ensure that everyone contributes to the fund.” She thanks the United Arab Emirates for their efforts and also calls on Saudi Arabia and China to contribute to this fund. “It can only be done together.”
11.53 AM:
11.50 AM: She calls Germany’s goals “ambitious” and emphasizes “how important it is to come to the COP with our own goals.” However, achieving these goals also requires “a transition away from fossil fuels. And I deliberately say: away from fossil fuels, not from fossil emissions. It’s just a word, but a big difference.” 11.48 o’clock: Annalena Baerbock arrives! She expresses gratitude to many involved parties and then speaks about the “new climate strategy of the federal government” with which she has arrived. She says, “We can already be somewhat proud of this.” 11.35 o’clock: Journalists are still waiting, she is already 35 minutes late. It is currently unclear what the issue is. 11.14 o’clock: Germany or Dubai – delays are the common factor. As often occurs, the press conference does not begin on time, but is first delayed to 11.15 o’clock and then pushed back further. Baerbock is still about ten minutes away from the location of the press conference around 11.15 o’clock. 10.46 o’clock: At 11 o’clock German time, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will address the press to discuss the negotiations of the German delegation. Baerbock has traveled for the final phase of the meeting, which runs until December 12, and is now negotiating on behalf of Germany. A major point of contention is whether there will ultimately be a resolution on the phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. There is also discussion on whether the conference should decide on a tripling of renewable energies by 2030 and a doubling of the pace for energy efficiency. According to experts, Baerbock plays a “key role” in the negotiations: at this stage of the conference, it will be about whether particularly climate-crisis-affected countries will unite with ambitious industrialized countries to achieve more ambition in the resolutions. FOCUS online reports in the ticker.
“Because later is too late”: 800 chairpersons demand adherence to the 1.5-degree target
December 8, 09.38 o’clock: Welcome to Day 8 of the World Climate Conference. As the negotiations enter the second round, 800 individuals are exerting pressure on the heads of state, government leaders, and COP President Sultan Al-Jaber.
In a letter, the signing CEOs, athletes, scientists, and activists address Al-Jaber and demand adherence to the 1.5-degree target: The letter, titled “Because later is too late,” calls for the “best possible result” for the final negotiations of the COP in Dubai.
The letter states: “The world and its people need the best possible outcome to achieve the 1.5-degree limit. But to tackle this historic task, we must act as a team.” The undersigned, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arend and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, aim to highlight that the results of the Dubai climate conference will determine the fate of future generations.
Further demands include:
- Phasing out fossil fuels in line with the 1.5-degree target and adhering to the Triple-Double-Pledge
- Unleashing more public and private investments as well as higher carbon pricing for financing climate adaptation measures under the auspices of industrialized nations
- Stopping deforestation and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems by 2030
- Halting deforestation and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems by 2030
The letter has also been signed by 300 executives from the business sector, including those from major corporations such as Ikea, Nestlé, Unilever, and Roche. Additionally, renowned scientists like Jane Goodall have also participated.
Read more about the World Climate Conference in Dubai on the following pages.
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