EU condemns ‘out of whack’ OPEC attempt to block COP28 fossil fuel deal By Reuters

© Reuters. European Commissioner for Local weather Motion of the European Union Wopke Hoekstra poses for a portrait after an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the United Nations Local weather Change Convention COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 9, 2023. REU

By Kate Abnett and Mohammed Benmansour

DUBAI (Reuters) – The European Union’s local weather chief on Saturday closely criticised an try by OPEC to derail a COP28 deal on phasing out fossil fuels, calling the transfer by the oil producers’ membership “unhelpful” and “out of whack”.

Almost 200 nations assembly in Dubai for the U.N.’s COP28 local weather summit are debating whether or not to agree, for the primary time, to ultimately finish the world’s use of fossil fuels, the primary reason for local weather change.

In an uncommon intervention, OPEC Secretary Basic Haitham Al Ghais this week urged nations within the OPEC+ group to reject any COP28 deal focusing on fossil fuels, in a letter seen by Reuters.

“By many, together with by me, that has been seen as out of whack, as unhelpful, as not in tune with the place the world stands when it comes to the very dramatic state of affairs of our local weather,” EU local weather commissioner Wopke Hoekstra mentioned of the OPEC letter.

“We’re right here to not principally take note of our narrowly outlined nationwide or monetary pursuits … we’re right here to do what is true for the way forward for the world,” Hoekstra advised Reuters in an interview.

A minimum of 80 nations together with the 27-member EU, america and climate-vulnerable island nations are demanding a COP28 deal to part out fossil fuels, as scientists urge bold motion to avert the worst impacts of local weather change.

“This needs to be the start of the top of fossil, and all of us need to acknowledge this, whether or not we produce oil, eat oil, or not,” Hoekstra mentioned.

He mentioned it will be a “scandal” if COP28 failed to provide a deal that will give the world an opportunity of limiting world warming to 1.5 levels Celsius – the restrict scientists say would keep away from its most disastrous impacts.

A former Dutch international affairs minister, Hoekstra started his personal profession with a three-year stint at oil main Shell (LON:).

Observers and negotiators at COP28 mentioned nations together with Saudi Arabia and Russia – members of OPEC and OPEC+, respectively – have been the strongest opponents of a fossil gas phase-out deal at COP28.

Coal, oil and fuel account for greater than 75% of world greenhouse fuel emissions, that are fuelling worsening local weather impacts together with deadly warmth, drought and rising sea ranges.

Burning fossil fuels has served because the engine of recent life, and creating nations on the U.N. local weather talks are demanding much more monetary assist to assist them spend money on clear vitality.

Even with the expansion of renewables, fossil fuels produce round 80% of the world’s vitality.

Alden Meyer, a COP28 delegate with think-tank E3G, mentioned it was the primary time OPEC’s Secretariat has intervened in U.N. local weather talks with a letter just like the one it despatched this week. “It signifies a whiff of panic,” he mentioned.