Climate Conference in Dubai Extends Negotiations
Originally aimed to conclude by 8:00 a.m. CET on Tuesday, the World Climate Conference in Dubai faced a setback when a draft resolution was rejected by countries including Germany and the EU. The rejected proposal, which lacked a joint commitment to a global phase-out of all fossil fuels, sparked criticism from Western negotiators who found it lacked ambition.
Countries like Saudi Arabia, a significant oil exporter, opposed the resolution calling for a worldwide phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. To push for more ambitious resolutions, NGOs organized protests on the conference grounds on Tuesday. Delegations from various nations continued talks throughout the night and into Tuesday morning, with foreign minister Annalena Baerbock from Germany clearly stating, "We have time, and we are prepared to stay a little longer."
John Kerry, the US climate envoy, emphasized the UN climate conference in Dubai as the "last chance" to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, striving to maintain the Paris Agreement's target of keeping global warming to a maximum of two degrees, preferably 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times. Current UN calculations predict a 3-degree warming by the end of the century, highlighting a pressing need for action against climate change.
Key Points from World Governments Summit 2025 Discussions:
- Participation and Stances: Countries such as Columbia and Poland have visible stances on climate change and fossil fuel phase-out. Colombia, a COP26 COP27 co-chair, is part of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, aiming to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Poland, despite its significant coal reserves, remains engaged in global climate discussions.
- Global Challenges and Agreements: The EU seeks to phase out fossil fuels more quickly than other middle-income countries, with Japan and the UK committing to carbon neutrality by 2050. Nigeria continues to build new coal-fired power stations, even though the Paris Agreement targets require nearly halving coal use by 2030.
- Reasons for Difficulty in Reaching an Agreement: Differences in regional capacities, existing investment and trade ties, and the need for equitable and just transitions make reaching a consensus challenging. This includes discussions on ceasing to support new fossil fuel projects, aligning with the Paris Agreement, and addressing the high costs of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
In light of these challenges, parties at the conference in Dubai continued to deliberate on ambitious resolutions, aiming to curb global warming.
