Title: United Nations Secretary-General Criticizes Oil and Gas Industry’s Approach to Fossil Fuels in Veiled Swipe at COP28 UAE Guests
Introduction:
In a recent speech, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the oil and gas industry’s attempts to expand fossil fuel production with carbon capture technology. He referred to these efforts as proposals that would make the industry more efficient in wrecking the planet. Guterres’s remarks appeared to be indirectly targeted at the COP28 UAE guests, who have emphasized emission control rather than phasing out production.
Challenge to the Climate Agenda:
Guterres argued that the industry’s emphasis on capturing emissions rather than reducing fossil fuel production undermines the global climate agenda. He argued that the problem lies not only in fossil fuel emissions but also in the use of fossil fuels themselves. He expressed concern about relying on wishful thinking, unproven technologies, and quick-fix solutions when the world is hurtling towards a climate disaster.
Insufficient Investment in Clean Energy:
Highlighting the industry’s priorities, Guterres pointed out that for every dollar spent on oil and gas drilling and exploration, only 4 cents are allocated to clean energy and carbon capture technologies combined. He criticized the moral implications of exchanging the future for short-term gains and emphasized the need for fossil fuel companies to transition their entire business models to renewable energy sources.
Request for Action:
Guterres clarified that his comments were not aimed at any individual but were a plea to those with the power to change. He urged fossil fuel companies to prioritize renewable energy and shift away from fossil fuels entirely. This call for action is particularly significant as it comes ahead of COP28, which will be hosted by the UAE and led by Sultan al-Jaber, the head of state-owned oil company Adnoc.
Controversy Surrounding Jaber’s Position:
The upcoming COP28 has faced criticism from over 130 US lawmakers and members of the European Parliament, who wrote to UN officials requesting the UAE to withdraw Sultan al-Jaber from his role. They argued that his position at the head of a state oil company could undermine the negotiation process. The controversy surrounding Jaber’s involvement adds a layer of complexity to the upcoming climate summit.
Discussions at the Bonn Talks:
During the halfway mark of COP28 preparations, discussions took place in Bonn, Germany, to outline the summit’s agenda. The EU’s proposal to include an agenda item on emissions reduction faced opposition from oil and gas producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia. Eventually, the discussions on the issue were recorded in a “note” to inform the COP28 talks, highlighting the challenging dynamics of reaching collective agreements.
UN’s Call for Transparency:
One positive outcome of the Bonn talks was the United Nations’ decision to require all future climate COP participants to disclose their affiliations. This move follows years of activism calling for greater transparency in UN climate negotiations to counter pressure from the fossil fuel industry. This incremental progress in transparency is seen as a milestone leading up to COP28.
Disappointment with the UAE Presidency’s Vision:
Despite expectations, COP28’s UAE presidency did not provide a clear vision for the upcoming Dubai summit. While Jaber acknowledged the inevitability of phasing out fossil fuels, he did not present a timeline or plan for ending new oil and gas production. This lack of clarity raises concerns regarding whether the COP28 talks will include a commitment to phasing out fossil fuels.
Additional Piece: The Urgency of Transitioning to Renewable Energy
The remarks made by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the ongoing discussions surrounding COP28 highlight the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels have long been recognized as a significant contributor to climate change, and efforts to solely capture emissions rather than phase out production are insufficient in addressing the environmental crises we face.
1. The Dangers of Wishful Thinking:
Guterres aptly points out that relying solely on wishful thinking, unproven technologies, and quick-fix solutions will not adequately address the climate emergency. We need concrete action and a paradigm shift in the way we generate energy. It is no longer enough to merely reduce emissions; we must eliminate the use of fossil fuels altogether.
2. The Immorality of Prioritizing Profit:
The statistics mentioned by Guterres, indicating that a meager 4 cents out of every dollar is allocated to clean energy and carbon capture, underscore the moral dilemma posed by the fossil fuel industry. By prioritizing short-term profit over the long-term health of our planet, these companies jeopardize the future of generations to come. The transition to renewable energy is not only necessary for our survival but also a matter of ethical responsibility.
3. The Role of Fossil Fuel Companies:
Fossil fuel companies play a crucial role in the transition to renewable energy. With their vast resources and expertise, they have the power to drive change and invest in sustainable alternatives. By shifting their business models to focus on renewable energy, they can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
4. The Need for Policy and International Cooperation:
Addressing climate change requires a global effort and strong policy frameworks. COP28 presents an opportunity for countries worldwide to come together, set ambitious targets for reducing emissions, and create mechanisms for monitoring progress. Additionally, governments must provide incentives for the private sector to invest in renewable energy, fostering innovation and accelerating the transition.
Conclusion:
The criticism leveled at the oil and gas industry’s approach to fossil fuels serves as a wake-up call for the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy. Phasing out fossil fuels is not just a matter of environmental sustainability; it is a moral imperative. As we look towards COP28, it is essential to prioritize action over rhetoric and work towards a greener and more prosperous future for all. The time for wishful thinking is over; the time for bold and decisive action is now.
Summary:
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the oil and gas industry’s attempts to expand fossil fuel production with carbon capture technology, stating that it undermines the global climate agenda. He urged fossil fuel companies to shift their focus to renewable energy and prioritize phasing out fossil fuels entirely. The upcoming COP28, hosted by the UAE, has faced controversy surrounding Sultan al-Jaber’s position as the head of a state oil company. Discussions at the Bonn talks encountered opposition to the inclusion of emissions reduction in the summit’s agenda. However, the United Nations’ decision to require transparency from participants marks progress in counteracting pressure from the fossil fuel industry. The imperative for transitioning to renewable energy is clear, and the need for global cooperation and policy frameworks is crucial.
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres attacked the oil and gas industry’s attempts to justify expanding fossil fuels with carbon capture technology as “proposals to become more efficient planet wreckers,” in a speech that it appeared to be a veiled criticism of the COP28 UAE guests.
Stated plans by industry to largely address the emissions driving global warming by capturing them, rather than phasing out production, were undermining the climate agenda, Guterres said.
UAE COP28 President-designate Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the head of state-owned oil company Adnoc, has consistently reflected the industry view that the focus should be on emission control.
“Let’s face the facts. The problem is not simply fossil fuel emissions. It’s fossil fuels, period,” Guterres said. “We are hurtling towards disaster, with our eyes wide open, with too many willing to bet everything on wishful thinking, unproven technologies and silver bullet solutions.”
Guterres noted that for every dollar the industry spent on oil and gas drilling and exploration, only 4 cents went to clean energy and carbon capture combined. “Exchanging the future for thirty pieces of silver is immoral,” he said.
He added on Thursday that his comments were “not aimed at any individual” but were a plea to “those with the power to change,” urging fossil fuel companies to shift their entire business to renewable energy.
Sultan al-Jaber at the climate change conference in Bonn, halfway to COP28 © BENJAMIN WESTHOFF/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The remarks come five months before the UAE hosts COP28 in Dubai, led by Jaber. More than 130 US lawmakers and members of the European Parliament wrote to UN officials and others last month request the UAE to withdraw Jaber from the rollclaiming that his position at the head of the state oil company risked “undermining the negotiations”.
The halfway point of COP28 was marked on Thursday in Bonn, Germany, with the conclusion of discussions on an agenda. Countries were stuck until the penultimate day, when they finally managed to agree on what issues could be considered at COP28.
Although the EU had proposed an agenda item on working to cut emissions, it was ultimately not included following pushback from a group of oil and gas producing nations, including Saudi Arabia. Discussions on the issue in Bonn will instead be recorded in a “note”, to inform the COP28 talks.
Pakistan’s co-chair of the Bonn talks, Nabeel Munir, at one point warned the negotiators that all their work would be wasted if an agenda was not officially adopted, accusing them of behaving like an “elementary class”. The ambassador, whose country was ravaged by floods, solicited them to “please wake up, what’s going on around you is unbelievable”.
One notable outcome in Bonn was the decision by the United Nations to require all participants in future climate COPs to disclose their affiliations. This follows years of lobbying by activists calling for more transparency at the UN climate negotiations due to concerns over pressure from the fossil fuel industry.
Progress in Bonn is seen as a milestone in the negotiations ahead of COP28. Climate experts had hoped the UAE presidency would outline its vision for the Dubai summit and expressed disappointment on Thursday.
While Jaber went a step further than before to say at a meeting in Bonn that phasing out fossil fuels was inevitable, that didn’t include a timeline or plan for ending new oil and gas production.
Whether the COP28 presidency will allow countries to have an “open and transparent discussion” on including a commitment to phase out fossil fuels in the text of the final COP decision remained the key question, said Alden Meyer, of the think tank E3G.
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