The climate talks at COP28 have been plagued with controversy as nations wrestle with the decision to abandon fossil fuels.
Empty pavilions that once touted carbon-free shipping and nuclear fusion energy now lie vacant, as attendees rush to catch their flights. Even those representing climate-endangered countries have abandoned their posts, leaving behind darkened rooms.
The glorious beginnings of the summit are long gone: now, remnants of national delegates labor tirelessly to tackle the contentious issue of fossil fuels, aiming for what may be the most ambitious COP result in years.
Journalists, delegates, and civil society groups continue to discuss the summit's president and his controversial comments that have cast a shadow over the negotiations.
Sultan Al Jaber's remarks, published on Sunday, sent shockwaves through Expo City Dubai during a late-November panel discussion. Al Jaber, an oil manager, claimed that the call for the removal of fossil fuels from transportation to maintain economic growth and keep global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius – the Paris Agreement's goal – is without scientific basis. He swiftly defended his commitment to climate science the following day, emphasizing the inevitable and necessary exit from fossil fuels.
On Wednesday, UN Climate Change Envoy Simon Steyer was questioned about Al Jaber's statements by reporters during a press conference. However, Steyer declined to engage in the controversy and instead focused on pressing negotiations.
John Kerry, the U.S. Climate Envoy, also dismissed similar queries. Kerry has repeatedly endorsed Al Jaber as COP president but missed the opportunity to comment during the Wednesday press conference. Earlier he told POLITICO that Al Jaber's statements may have been misunderstood and required clarification.
As never before, this year sees an urgent need to reconcile climate protection measures with scientific evidence. Officially marking the warmest year since record-keeping began, climate scientists are expressing shock over observable climate impacts that surpass their predictions. The average global temperature for this year is projected to be about 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - just below the Paris Agreement's limit.
The consequences of the climate crisis have taken a heavy toll on participants, but concerns are now emerging that Al Jaber's comments may impact the negotiations themselves.
"During the COP, there was a conflict of interest," Isabel Rutkowski from Germany, a member of the European Youth Forum, said. "It's frustrating that the science is so clear, and the COP president isn't adhering to it." "It's insane."
It remains to be seen whether Al Jaber's comments will influence the final outcome regarding fossil fuels. Countries are deeply divided on this issue.
The latest draft of the summit's central agreement presents several options: one demands a departure from fossil fuels, a formulation widely supported by climate scientists. Another, less demanding option leaves the door open to more environmental pollution that could contribute to future global warming. A third possibility negates any reference to fossil fuels altogether.
Benjamín Murguía, a technical advisor to Mexico's negotiation team, stated that Mexico supports leaving fossil fuels, acknowledging the difficulties of passing an exit plan in parliament. However, Murguia expressed no objections to Al Jaber's remarks in general.
"It's frustrating," Murguia said, voicing a desire for more progress and actions rather than distractions.
"Mexico is a fragile country, and we consider this to be our own battle," Murguia added, discussing Hurricane Otis, which caused numerous deaths and devastated coastal cities. "We're working hard to rebuild Acapulco."
Achieving consensus on fossil fuels has always been an uphill battle. UN Secretary-General Guterres said on Wednesday that multiple viewpoints on this topic existed at the summit.
Sources informing CNN claimed that the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia demanded extensive revisions of the draft before it could be published. The negotiators from these countries were urged to act as surgeons and revise the text.
A Philippine delegate from the Group of 77, a coalition of developing countries, described the U.S.'s influence on the agreement as "heavy-handed" and noted nearly 200 amendments or comments initiated by the U.S. on its behalf.
Some Indian delegates raised concerns against departing from fossil fuels, although the country had previously supported such an exit.
When contacted by CNN, the representatives from the U.S., China, Saudi Arabia, and India declined to comment. However, Tom Evans, climate diplomacy and geopolitical policy advisor at E3G, predicted a public session next week where higher-level representatives would discuss the language and its impact on negotiations.
"The fact that we are scrutinizing the industry involved in fossil fuels and the transition to it so closely may actually highlight and emphasize it - 'If things are really going off the rails, we'll raise a red flag,'" Evans said.
He warned that several countries are intentionally obstructing progress towards fossil fuel phase-out, and that failure is not solely attributable to the UAE. "We see this pressure influencing the discussion constructively," Evans added.
Ironically, the controversy surrounding Al Jaber's comments could have a positive outcome.
"The fact that we are actively, intensely scrutinizing the industry involved in fossil fuels and the transition to it may actually make it more visible and emphasize the need to address it," Evans said. "If things really are off the rails, we'll raise a red flag."
He warned that multiple countries intend to hinder the progress towards the phase-out of fossil fuels, and that failure is not solely attributed to the UAE. Instead, the pressure is driving constructive discussion, Evans concluded.
