As the final stocktake report of COP28 is expected to be delivered today, the COP28 UAE Presidency has urged all negotiating parties to come together and create a text that will be a source of pride for everyone involved.
Speaking to reporters on the last day of the UN Climate Summit, Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, the director general of COP28 UAE presidency, revealed that a new draft text has been prepared. This draft text aims to include historic and comprehensive plans for carbon emission mitigation.
In a prepared speech, Al Suwaidi emphasized the need to bridge the gap between the current state of the world and the necessary actions to keep the global temperature increase within reach of 1.5ºC. He stated, “We are striving to agree on a comprehensive plan that will close the gaps between where the world is and where it needs to be to keep 1.5ºC degrees within reach.”
The responsibility now lies with the 198 countries attending the UN Climate Summit. Al Suwaidi highlighted that the UAE, as the host of COP28, has made every effort to ensure that all perspectives, including those of governments and civil society organizations, are included in the discussions.
One of the main points of contention revolves around the language regarding fossil fuels in the final report. The initial draft, released on Monday, called for countries to reduce the “consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly, and equitable manner.”
While most European countries deemed this language “unacceptable” and called for a rapid phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, the United States and small island nations argued that the wording around fossil fuels was too strong.
Al Suwaidi clarified that the draft released on Monday was intended as a starting point for discussions. He acknowledged that opinions were polarized, and the release of the draft helped identify each country’s red lines. Negotiations continued until 4 am on Tuesday before a new draft text was prepared.
Now, the COP28 negotiators are urged to roll up their sleeves and work towards a text that will be a source of pride for all. Al Suwaidi stated, “Now we need them (COP28 negotiators) to roll up their sleeves and give us a text we can all be proud of.”
Source: Khaleej Times
Source: TimesKuwait
