Common trick
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The final text of the Dubai climate summit praises carbon capture. A boon for this technology, promoted by fossil fuel producers, but expensive, inefficient and used primarily to extract more oil.
What is behind the mysterious English word “unabate” that has become ubiquitous in climate negotiations? And behind the now exposed consequence are carbon capture technologies promoted by the final decision at COP28 in Dubai on Wednesday? Wouldn't this be the trick of the century, a brilliant idea by industrialized and fossil fuel producing countries to continue producing oil, gas and coal by claiming – falsely – that this will prevent a climate catastrophe?
For the first time in the history of the COPs, Dubai certainly mentions fossil fuels, which are by far the main contributors to global warming (they account for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions), in its final decision. But it's about opening the door better for them. Abandon the goal of “disappearing” fossils, although it is important to keep warming below +1.5°C. The document simply calls on states to contribute “each in their own way” to a “global effort” to initiate a “transition away from fossil fuels” (particularly via “transitional energies”, i.e. fossil gas…first trick). These “global efforts” specifically concern “acceleration.”