COP28 and Chancellor Scholz: Under Pressure to Deliver on Climate Change
Luisa Neubauer, a prominent climate activist, expects Chancellor Olaf Scholz to make a bold commitment to phase out all fossil fuels at the World Climate Conference in Dubai. Failure to do so means missing the agreed climate targets. "There must be no loopholes or fake solutions," Neubauer stressed to the German Press Agency. "Scholz is under immense pressure. He needs to show that he's on board with the global phase-out of coal, oil, and gas."
This commitment also implies aligning with the group of the most ambitious countries, as Neubauer from the Fridays for Future movement explained. "That's what we and the global community expect from Germany's Chancellor, the world's fifth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases."
Criticism of the climate club
Neubauer criticized Germany under Scholz's leadership as a country that undermines previously made climate commitments and promotes the expansion of fossil fuels worldwide. She expressed doubts about the climate club, a new club initially established by Scholz focusing on industrial policy, which will begin its work today. The 33-member country club aims to share ideas on reducing greenhouse gases in specific sectors. But Neubauer, a Green Party member herself, voiced concerns. "We don't want a club where rich countries congratulate each other while failing to meet their own climate targets," she said. "There are fears that the budget crisis will set back climate policy even further in Germany."
Over 170 world leaders will join Scholz in Dubai at the COP28 conference, with approximately 70,000 participants registered for the two-week event.
Inside Scoop
Germany's commitment to phasing out fossil fuels at COP28 could have significant global impacts:
- Strengthening momentum: Scholz's call for a transition away from fossil fuels aligns with the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate neutrality. This commitment could incentivize other countries to follow suit, heightening the urgency of reducing carbon emissions worldwide.
- European leadership: As a major European economy, Germany's commitment to climate neutrality by 2045 sets an example for other EU countries. This influence may impact EU policies and enforce stricter climate regulations, accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels within the EU.
- Technological innovation: Scholz's emphasis on renewable energy technologies like wind power, photovoltaics, and electric motors could accelerate their development and deployment, making the shift to a low-carbon economy more feasible and efficient.
Luisa Neubauer's criticism of Germany's climate club initiative may stem from her commitment to climate justice and the urgency of action. Neubauer might advocate for more aggressive and immediate measures to address the climate crisis rather than relying solely on international agreements or club initiatives.
