Capturing carbon as it is emitted from power stations is a potential way of limiting the environmental impact. AP
Capturing carbon as it is emitted from power stations is a potential way of limiting the environmental impact. AP
Capturing carbon as it is emitted from power stations is a potential way of limiting the environmental impact. AP
Capturing carbon as it is emitted from power stations is a potential way of limiting the environmental impact. AP

Climate

Cop28

'Unabated': The word that may point way to Cop28 fossil fuel deal

Use of carbon capture seen as route to compromise on global stocktake talks in Dubai

Tim Stickings
Tim Stickings

December 04, 2023

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  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Cop28

Getting the world to turn its back on fossil fuels completely? That is an uphill struggle. What if it is only “unabated” fossil fuels?

The extra word means coal, oil and gas are still on the table if you step in to lower their emissions.

That could point the way to a deal at Cop28, Finnish Climate and Environment Minister Kai Mykkanen told The National.

However, it relies on technology such as carbon capture and underground storage which some UN experts and activists say is unproven.

The agreed wording on fossil fuels will be key to the global stocktake – a battle plan on climate action being drawn up for the first time at Cop28 – and to the overall outcome of the summit.

An initial draft of the stocktake circulated on day two of the UAE-hosted summit left all options on the table, with an update on the negotiations expected on Sunday or Monday.

The language on “unabated fossil fuels” is supported by the US and EU, while the question of whether the stocktake calls for a “phase-out” or “phase-down” will be a second point of debate.

“The carbon capture and storage ecosystem will play an important role on the road to a sustainable future,” said Mr Mykkanen, adding it would be the only viable way to cut emissions in some sectors in the next 10 to 15 years.

“Maybe this is one room for manoeuvre in compromises, to what extent we give flexibility for carbon capture in the fossil phase-out.”

He hopes emissions cuts in the EU – which believes it is on track to exceed its 2030 targets – will mean “important players would see that this is possible without hampering economic growth”.

“We know that this is of course not a clear-cut case, it’s a challenge, but from a Nordic and Finnish perspective it’s the clear dimension where we should go forward, to replace fossils especially from the energy system and overall from society,” he said.

Fears of delay

Some campaigners at Cop28 say all fossil fuels must go and that carbon capture can't deliver ambitious targets in time.

Speaking for a High Ambition Coalition that includes several vulnerable island states, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr said a full phase-out was needed to keep global warming to 1.5°C, the world’s central climate goal.

“We also need guard rails to ensure that abatement technologies are not used to delay climate action or justify further fossil fuel expansion,” he said.

A UN technical report underpinning the stocktake says the wider use of carbon capture “hinges on resolving geophysical, environmental-ecological, economic, technological, sociocultural and institutional challenges”.

US climate envoy John Kerry is among the key negotiators to have embraced language on unabated fossil fuels. Getty Images
US climate envoy John Kerry is among the key negotiators to have embraced language on unabated fossil fuels. Getty Images

Nonetheless, key negotiators have embraced the language on “unabated fossil fuels” including US climate envoy John Kerry, who has said he has “high hopes” of making progress at Cop28.

Mr Mykkanen said Finland envisages carbon capture mainly being used in the industrial sector, and ideally the stored CO2 being reused to make materials or fertilisers.

Germany, which typically lobbies for more ambitious action, has accepted the language on “unabated fossil fuels” as a standard compromise in climate talks, one official said.

“We are realistic. We have already seen this year that in the G20 negotiations we were more in defensive mode and tried to defend commitments the G20 has made in the past,” they said.

Countries agreed at Cop26 in Britain to work towards a “phase-down of unabated coal power”, with various qualifications, after a tense climax to the summit two years ago.

A similar deal on fossil fuels more broadly would set the tone for the next round of national climate plans, which almost 200 countries are due to hand into the UN by 2025.

Cop28 at Expo City in Dubai - in pictures

President Sheikh Mohamed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hold a meeting at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres hold a meeting at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
Participants walk among flagpoles on day four of the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Getty Images
Participants walk among flagpoles on day four of the Cop28 summit in Dubai. Getty Images
Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair at the summit. AP
Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair at the summit. AP
Joseph Vipond from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment crosses the Blue Zone. Getty Images
Joseph Vipond from the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment crosses the Blue Zone. Getty Images
David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, addresses a session at Cop28. Getty Images
David Miliband, president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, addresses a session at Cop28. Getty Images
Delegates are photographed in the Blue Zone on the fourth day of Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National
Delegates are photographed in the Blue Zone on the fourth day of Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National
Participants walk at Expo City Dubai. EPA
Participants walk at Expo City Dubai. EPA
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, attend the Reaching the Last Mile Forum held alongside Cop28. Reuters
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, attend the Reaching the Last Mile Forum held alongside Cop28. Reuters
Cop28 visitors ride a train in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Cop28 visitors ride a train in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors in the Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors ride an electric cart in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors ride an electric cart in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National
Located in the Sustainability District, the Green Zone will host a wide variety of events and workshops until the final day of Cop28 on December 12. Pawan Singh / The National
Located in the Sustainability District, the Green Zone will host a wide variety of events and workshops until the final day of Cop28 on December 12. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors at the water feature in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National
Visitors at the water feature in the Green Zone. Pawan Singh / The National
Members of the public ride electric scooters in the Green Zone. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Members of the public ride electric scooters in the Green Zone. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
People arrive for the fourth day of the Cop28 summit at Expo City Dubai. EPA
People arrive for the fourth day of the Cop28 summit at Expo City Dubai. EPA
A welcome sign at the Cop28 venue. AP
A welcome sign at the Cop28 venue. AP
People walk through the site near Al Wasl Dome. AP
People walk through the site near Al Wasl Dome. AP
Eleni Myrivili, global chief heat officer at UN Habitat, with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Indian social worker Reema Nanavaty at the Resilience Hub. AP
Eleni Myrivili, global chief heat officer at UN Habitat, with former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Indian social worker Reema Nanavaty at the Resilience Hub. AP
Al Gore, environmentalist and former US vice president, presents the Climate Trace global greenhouse gases emissions database on day four of Cop28. Getty Images
Al Gore, environmentalist and former US vice president, presents the Climate Trace global greenhouse gases emissions database on day four of Cop28. Getty Images
Elizabeth Yee and John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, at a session at the US Centre. AP
Elizabeth Yee and John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, at a session at the US Centre. AP
About 200 countries are taking part in the Cop28 talks. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
About 200 countries are taking part in the Cop28 talks. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
Pope Francis records a video message to be broadcast during the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion, at Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. Reuters
Pope Francis records a video message to be broadcast during the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion, at Casa Santa Marta, in the Vatican. Reuters
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, speaks at the Health Day opening session. Getty Images
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, speaks at the Health Day opening session. Getty Images
Attendees arrive at the Cop28 summit. AP
Attendees arrive at the Cop28 summit. AP
The Voice Action hub for peaceful protesters at Cop28, Expo City, Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Voice Action hub for peaceful protesters at Cop28, Expo City, Dubai. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Expo City farm, which will remain in operation after Cop28 ends. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
The Expo City farm, which will remain in operation after Cop28 ends. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

With the next stocktake not due until 2028, the talks in Dubai are seen as a key moment to “course-correct” before it is too late.

Any deal on fossil fuels will only be one part of the horse-trading, with diplomats seeking a package that keeps all parties satisfied on emissions, loss and damage and other issues.

“You cannot say ‘if you put a billion more on the table for loss and damage then you get that’. It's not that,” one former negotiator from a developed country told The National.

“But if you want to have an ambitious outcome, for example, on concrete targets in the mitigation sector – not just pledges by some, but referenced in the consensus document – you need to have a good outcome on loss and damage as well.

“So you need to satisfy the basic needs of all negotiation partners, giving some sense of equity and of course not stepping too much over red lines with key partners.”

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