Cop28, farewell to fossil fuels is skipped in the latest draft.Nuclear is also among the zero-emission technologies

Final rush of negotiations at the UN climate conference in Dubai.But experts at the Ecco think tank warn:«The text will be rejected, this COP will still be long»

On the eve of the conclusion of Cop28, the UN climate conference underway in Dubai, the negotiations on the statement have entered the final rush.In the latest draft of the agreement released today, Monday 11 December, by the Emirati presidency, two elements worthy of consideration appear.The first:there is no mention of the phase out, i.e. the gradual elimination of fossil fuels.The second:there are also nuclear power and plants for the capture and storage of CO2 among the zero-emission technologies considered fundamental for the energy transition.The draft document, which has been reduced from 27 to 21 pages compared to the previous version, recognizes the need for «a deep, rapid reduction in both the consumption and production of fossil fuels in a fair, orderly and equitable way, in order to reach net zero by, before, or around 2050, as recommended by science."

The compromise on leaving fossil fuels

The much desired reference to fossil fuels therefore appeared in the draft agreement, the final version of which must be approved unanimously.What changes, if anything, is the formula:not anymore phase out (phasing out), but phase down (gradual reduction).Those who insist on using this last expression, softer than the first, are above all three countries - Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia - which base a good part of their economies on oil, gas and coal.“Phase-out does not mean that all countries leave fossil fuels at the same time,” the UN Secretary General clarified today. António Guterres, returning to Dubai for the final rush of negotiations.«In the race against time – he added – I asked the parties for maximum ambition and flexibility.We need a compromise for the solution."

"Zero emissions" technologies

Among the other elements included in the latest draft of the final agreement there are other elements worthy of note.Two above all:a commitment to triple the world's renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.However, the text proposed by the COP28 presidency also indicates two technologies considered controversial:nuclear energy and CO2 abatement and removal technologies.The latter, in particular, are still not very effective, not widespread and very expensive.The Emirati presidency, we read in the document, urges all parties to "accelerate zero and low emission technologies, including, among others, renewable energy, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies, including capture, carbon utilization and storage, and the production of low-carbon hydrogen to enhance efforts to replace fossil technologies unabated in energy systems".

Negotiations still long

According to the Italian climate think tank Ecco, it is very difficult that the latest draft of the agreement proposed by the COP28 presidency can really bring together all the countries participating in the Dubai summit.«We expect rejection from many quarters – comment the Ecco experts -.In fact, the presidency leaves the door open to all technologies without choosing a clear direction of travel.The draft actually does not choose and confuses, despite placing the emphasis on tripling renewables and doubling efficiency."The risk, as has often happened in the past, is that the negotiations will extend beyond the natural end of the conference, set for 12 December.«This Cop – continues the Ecco note – will still be long if the presidency wants to come out with a compromise text signed by everyone».

Peg:"More can and must be done"

Among the most critical voices of the latest draft released by the Emirati presidency there are also many European politicians.For Wopke Bastiaan Hoekstra, EU climate commissioner, "the text as it stands is disappointing".The successor of Frans Timmermans he acknowledges that “there are some good things.”What is missing, if anything, is the explicit reference to the gradual elimination of fossil fuels.And without that, warns Hoesktra, "we cannot accept this text."The Minister of the Environment also expresses a similar opinion Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, who comments:«More can and must be done.We are working with European partners to improve the proposal of the Emirati presidency.Further effort is needed for a more ambitious text."

Cover photo:EPA/Martin Divisek | An Indian activist protests during an ongoing COP28 event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (11 December 2023)