Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault describes Wednesday's agreement at the United Nations climate summit, which agreed for the first time to “move away” from fossil fuels, as “monumental” in energy systems.
The deal, adopted by the roughly 200 participating countries, was hailed by some observers as a historic turning point in these global climate negotiations and a more viable compromise than the proposal put forward in Dubai earlier this week.
Many have warned about alleged loopholes and distractions in the agreement. These gaps could undermine the measures needed to meet the global commitment to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Minister Steven Guilbeault said Wednesday that Canada played a leading role in consolidating the deal at COP28.
The text contains crucial commitments to renewable energies, energy efficiency and the move away from fossil fuels, he wrote on Platform X.
This result is monumental […]. COP28 sets the tone for the years to come as we continue our efforts to combat the climate crisis.
Later at a press conference, Mr Guilbeault spoke of an agreement that gives us the chance to fight to maintain the vision of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He was also pleased that the final text underlines the importance of mobilizing financial resources from various sources.
The minister, who left this conference very optimistic about the future, also highlighted the creation of a fund for losses and damages related to climate change.
This fund will provide vulnerable communities and countries with the resources they need to address the worst impacts of climate change, he said Wednesday evening.
Canada will contribute $16 million.
Several defects
Minutes after opening the session on Wednesday in Dubai, COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber approved the central document – an assessment of the gap between the goals on the one hand and the reality in the world on the other, how to correct the situation – without giving critics the opportunity to give, to express oneself.
The chief negotiator for a coalition of small island states said his group was not in the room when the Emirati president claimed at COP28 that the deal was done.
The 21-page agreement calls on signatory countries to move away from fossil fuels in their energy systems in this crucial decade and accelerate action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
But Liz McDowell, senior campaign director at environmental group Stand.earth, believes the deal is being weakened by dangerous distractions. In particular, she emphasizes that this compromise leaves the door open to so-called transition fuels, such as natural gas, and does not oblige rich countries to finance this energy transition.
At home, we are committed to holding the Government of Canada accountable for the commitments made here in Dubai to transition our economy away from fossil fuels.
The Canadian government made several announcements during this two-week summit. Ottawa therefore presented its emissions cap for the oil and gas industry as well as its regulatory project aimed at significantly reducing methane emissions from this sector.
Wednesday's agreement went further than a draft agreement that caused an uproar at COP28 earlier in the week. This proposal, prepared by the Presidency of this COP, did not mention any reduction or phase-out of fossil fuels, but instead called on countries to reduce the consumption and production of fossil fuels in a fair, orderly and equitable manner.
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COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber surrounded by UN climate chief Simon Stiell and UAE chief negotiator Hana Al-Hashimi at the end of the UN climate summit in Dubai.
Photo: AP / Peter Dejong
Catherine Abreu, a leading voice in Canadian climate policy circles, said Wednesday's agreement represents an extraordinary turning point for negotiations that for 30 years have focused on emissions but not their cause.
Two years ago, the draft treaty that emerged from the Glasgow summit mentioned the use of fossil fuels for the first time, but limited it to coal. The Dubai agreement therefore represents the first negotiated text to cover all fossil fuels, after a similar attempt failed at last year's summit in Egypt.
However, Abreu also pointed out what she described as some of the agreement's shortcomings, such as simply requiring a phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
“We will ensure that the countries most responsible for the climate crisis, like Canada, which has benefited most from the destruction of our atmosphere through fossil fuel production, pay for the energy transition,” wrote Ms. Abreu, director, in a press release from Destination Zero, a nonprofit organization committed to climate justice and the transition to renewable energy.
Danielle Smith reassured
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, one of only two Canadian provincial leaders to take part in the negotiations, said Wednesday she was encouraged by the success of Alberta and Saskatchewan in fending off the voices of those obsessed with phasing out oil and natural gas be.
She also claimed that the extreme position was rejected at the conference.
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Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta
Photo: The Canadian Press / JASON FRANSON
The document agreed on Wednesday is a key part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which requires countries to regularly review their commitments to limit warming to the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold to avoid some of the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
The Dubai Summit marked the completion of the first global stocktaking process envisaged by the Paris Agreement.
So far, the planet has warmed by about 1.2 degrees since the mid-19th century, and scientists expect this year to be the warmest on record.
The global report highlights that countries are still far from on track to reduce their emissions in line with the target. Under current national commitments, global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to fall by 2% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. To achieve the 1.5 degree target, the agreement recognizes a deep, rapid and sustainable reduction in global emissions of 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 must be adopted.
To accelerate this transition, the agreement calls for tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual energy efficiency rate by 2030.