The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stated that countries should aim to phase out fossil fuel emissions, not the production of oil, gas, and coal, at the upcoming United Nations climate change negotiations. The COP28 talks, set to take place in the UAE in December, have revealed deep divisions among nations over how to tackle global warming. While some wealthy Western nations and climate-afflicted island nations are pushing for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels, resource-rich countries have opposed it.
UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam Almheiri, said in an interview with Reuters that phasing out fossil fuels would be detrimental to countries that rely on them for revenue or can't easily replace them with renewable sources. Instead, she favored the use of capture and storage technologies to phase out fossil fuel emissions while ramping up renewable energy.
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“The renewable space is advancing and accelerating extremely fast, but we are nowhere near to be able to say that we can switch off fossil fuels and solely depend on clean and renewable energy,” Almheiri said. She added that a transition towards renewables needs to be just and pragmatic because not all countries have the resources.
The UAE, an OPEC member, has set a target to get 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2050 from the current level of 25% and could increase that goal, Almheiri said. The country has relied on new carbon capture technology and renewables to reduce the emissions intensity of its oil and gas operations.
The COP28 talks will also focus on global food supply, which accounts for nearly a third of global emissions, Almheiri said. Technology and innovation can solve food security problems, she added, citing the UAE's success in devising a food security strategy despite its parched desert landscape. Almheiri stressed that tackling inefficiencies in the global food system can help address problems like malnutrition, food waste, and climate change simultaneously.
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“We are making sure that the food systems dialogue is on center stage along with the energy dialogue at COP28,” she said.
Almheiri's comments reflect the ongoing debate among nations over how best to combat climate change. While some countries push for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels, others argue for a gradual transition towards renewables that considers the needs of resource-rich nations. As COP28 approaches, these discussions will continue to play a vital role in shaping the world's response to the climate crisis.
