Does the Dubai agreement "blesses nuclear power"?Not exactly.Here's what the COP28 final document (really) says

The text approved in the United Arab Emirates includes atomic energy among zero-emission technologies for the first time, but does not consider it "strategic"

«Finally the exit from fossil fuels».«A historic agreement?I don't think so."«The full maturity of renewables is recognized in the text».«No way goodbye to fossil fuels:the agreement blesses gas and nuclear power."The final text approved yesterday at COP28 in Dubai may have also brought agreement to the 198 delegates present at the UN conference, but the interpretation given by Italian politicians and newspapers today is anything but univocal.In the document produced by the United Arab Emirates summit, everyone read what they wanted to read.We go to the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, which speaks of a "historic agreement" to the French president Emmanuel Macron who simply defines it as "an important stage".In Italy, the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto speaks of "a balanced and acceptable compromise", while second Angelo Bonelli – spokesperson for Green Europe – «the approval of the text is not a victory, but not a defeat either».In short, the interpretations of the agreement are tinged with different nuances.However, there are two points on which, at least in Italy, a bit of confusion seems to have arisen:the agreement on the exit from fossil fuels and the recognized role of nuclear energy.Let's try to clarify things a little.

Exit from fossil fuels yes or no?

Regarding the exit from fossil fuels, the confusion is partly justified.On this point, in fact, the text approved by COP28 uses rather vague language, but capable of making everyone agree.

The formula chosen, therefore, is not the "phase-out", i.e. the gradual elimination of fossil fuels loudly requested by the European Union.To find an agreement that everyone could agree on, the delegates opted for a milder formula:«transitioning away», which can be translated into Italian with the verb «to move away».According to Tim McPhie, spokesperson for the European Commission, "they are different words to say the same thing".He has a different opinion The Truth, which today is titled «No way, goodbye to fossil fuels».In reality, the position on oil, gas and coal is definitely there.And, however cumbersome, the formula used in the COP28 final document has historic significance.In fact, this is the first time that the UN conference has managed to put in black and white the need to free ourselves from fossil fuels once and for all.Giving the most correct reading is Ferdinando Cotugno, who above Tomorrow he speaks of a "tiring formula" but "with enormous political value".

«Strategic» nuclear power?Not exactly

The actual clash, however, concerns a topic that has always been controversial:nuclear energy.The deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani wrote onMinister Pichetto is also on the same line, according to which "among the many appreciable results" of COP28 is "the recognition of a key role for nuclear and hydrogen".Responding to the statements of the two government representatives are the parliamentarians of the 5 Star Movement, who write in a note:«In the text there is no recognition of nuclear power as a strategic technology […], rather it is relegated to a secondary option compared to the clear and strong commitments on renewables, energy efficiency and batteries.So stop with the usual propaganda and go and re-read the document carefully."Not only opposition members contested the statements of Pichetto and Tajani.Luca Bergamaschi, director of the Ecco think tank, also spoke on the matter.According to the expert, the interpretation of the two ministers is "wrong and misleading", because the Cop28 text "does not recognize either the strategic nature of nuclear energy or its direct connection with net zero emissions by 2050".

Indeed, the Dubai agreement agrees with the M5S deputies and Luca Bergamaschi.In the 21 pages of the document, the word "nuclear" appears only once, within the list of zero or low emission technologies.This is the first time that atomic energy is explicitly mentioned in a document of this kind, but it takes a long time to define it as "strategic".

Cover photo:EPA/Martin Divisek | Cop28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber during the final plenary of the Dubai summit (13 December 2023)