COP28 president, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jabercalled on governments three times its capacity renewable energy We are doubling energy efficiency by 2030 Thus, the international community will move closer to harmonizing with the Paris Climate Agreement and will be able to keep the global temperature increase to 1.5°C by the end of this century.
This was stated in his speech at the opening of the International Climate and Energy Summit organized by the International Energy Agency and the Ministry of Ecological Transformation and Demographic Challenge, within the framework of the Spanish Council Presidency, at the Teatro Real in Madrid. of the European Union.
“Absolute decarbonize the energies we use today, quickly“said the COP28 president, announcing the commitment adopted this Monday by an alliance of 20 companies in the oil and gas sector to eliminate methane emissions from 2030 and demonstrate significant steps to achieve the target of net zero emissions from 2050 or earlier.
Thus, he invited other companies in the energy sector to join this coalition to “build the new energy system of the future.”
Speaking via video conference, the COP president reminded: 59 days left until the start of the 18th UN Climate Summit Recalling that the world is “not on track to keep 1.5°C achievable,” he insisted that achieving this would require reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 22 gigatonnes over the next seven years.
“This will require unity and solidarity at a global level,” said Al Jaber, explaining that COP28 will focus on action, participation and results to ensure a rapid transition towards a just energy transition, with climate finance to provide focus. people, lives” and ensure full participation.
Precisely, the president of COP28 and the minister of industry and advanced technology of the United Arab Emirates held a meeting with leaders of the oil and gas industries in Abu Dhabi this Monday. Sending “strong” demand signals encouraging the private sector to build a fossil fuel-free energy system. In this context, the alliance of companies in the sector with gas has been moved even further.
At the meeting chaired by Faith Birol, Director of the International Energy Agency, and Teresa Ribera, the third vice president of the interim Government, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a video message and reminded that the time to reach the goal of limiting the global temperature to 1.5°C is “short but possible”. stated that it was, demanded new commitments in terms of energy efficiency, and called for the tripling of renewable energy capacity; To reduce methane emissions in the energy sector by 75 percent by 2030 and ensure universal access to energy.
Additionally, Guterres thinks: These efforts must be accompanied by a “shared commitment” to accelerate the transition On switching from fossil fuels, he called on governments to accelerate the time path to achieve net zero emissions in developed countries, and for developing economies to achieve that target “as close as possible to 2050”.
On the other hand, he called on developed countries to “fulfill their commitments” to contribute $100 billion, for climate funds to be “right” and for development banks to facilitate private financing at “affordable” costs that can reduce emissions. and adapt.
The Secretary-General recalled his own “acceleration agenda” and in this context called on “all” companies, including fossil fuel companies, to create “credible” transition plans. Guterres encouraged the acceleration of this action because he believes that reaching the 1.5°C limit is “not a dream”: “It is practical and possible.”
At the opening of the meeting, Faith Birol described her five priorities that she is “looking forward to seeing” at COP28 in Dubai. In particular, it calls on countries to agree on a target of tripling global renewable capacity and doubling global energy efficiency, reducing fossil fuel use, and a mechanism to support the financing of clean energy installation in developing countries.
Credible commitments in the context of geopolitical fragmentation
The director of the International Energy Agency fully expressed his particular concern about financing clean energy in developing countries and seeing a “credible commitment” from the oil and gas industry, showing that “their actions are consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.” “.
However, he stated that he was aware of the huge “challenges” in achieving the 1.5°C target in the context of “geopolitical fragmentation in the world” and that this “poses a significant obstacle to some steps”. That’s why he regrets it “Lack of international cooperation is a big problem” But he believes a way can be found to “isolate” and focus on these geopolitical tensions between countries.
In any case, Birol assures that “solar energy is the name of the game”, like fossil fuels at other times, “the new king of the energy sector” and therefore believes that this technology is “very important for decarbonisation”.
Regarding transportation, which is another of the important issues we need to progress towards reaching Paris, the advancement of electric vehicles was emphasized; Because just two years ago one in twenty-five cars sold was electric, whereas now the rate is one in five and that’s not the case at all. not only in Europe, but also in China, India or the United States. On the other hand, he celebrated the 40 percent increase in renewable energies on a global scale, reaching 2.8 trillion dollars in the last two years.
Finally, third vice president Teresa Ribera, who hosted the meeting attended by energy ministers from around the world, said that climate change “A global problem that deserves a global response”He therefore argued that multilateralism was the way to respond to current challenges.
Celebrating the new actions of different energy organizations, companies and governments to offer “solutions”, Ribera says: “We know that we do not comply with the goals of the Paris Agreement (…) but we cannot stop here.” to the climate fight.
However, he points out that although all these issues will be discussed during COP28, it is “good to have the opportunity” to ensure in advance that the concerns of different countries in different circumstances are understood “through these talks”.
Throughout the day, they participated in various roundtable meetings where different representatives of civil society, governments, among others, presented their demands to address the global climate emergency and contributed to proposals and solutions for the next COP28 celebration.
Finally, COP28 director general Adnan Amin warned that the window to stop the global increase at 1.5°C has closed. Presidency of next summit calls for ‘action’ on four pointsIt involves seeking common and collaborative solutions in the remaining seven years of this decade. “There can be no more excuses because frankly there is no time,” he concluded.