By Dare Akogun
Despite a 24 hour extension to this year’s deliberation and for the 27th time, the UN climate talks have failed to directly address the biggest contributor to the climate crisis: the production of gas, oil and coal.
This is despite newfound momentum amongst world leaders who have called for the phase out of all fossil fuels inside the conference walls and beyond.
While the agreement to establish a loss and damage fund represents immense progress for vulnerable nations who have been calling for finance to address the impacts of climate change for many years, this win is bittersweet.
The failure to address the root cause of loss and damage through agreeing to phase out oil, gas and coal will mean more loss and damage in future.
Experts Expressed Disappoinment
Director of Power Shift Africa Mohamed Adow, at the closing remarks said it is sad to see countries just copying and pasting the outcome from last year’s COP26 in Glasgow.
“It’s deeply saddening that countries couldn’t agree to commit to a phase down of all fossil fuels, not just coal, as contained in the Glasgow Pact. The science is clear, the impacts are getting worse and we know that renewables are the future.
“Polluting countries need to leave coal, oil and gas in the ground if we’re going to keep global heating from running out of control,” he said.
The lack of progress, and in cases weakening of language, on fossil fuels since last year’s Glasgow Climate Pact means a whole year of progress lost while the urgency for action accelerates.
It instead strengthens the case for countries to join Vanuatu and Tuvalu in negotiating a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty — a proposed international mechanism that would see countries end the expansion of fossil fuels and manage a global just transition away from coal, oil and gas.
In her own contribution a Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, Mitzi Jonelle Tan, said “we have always known that the COP would not deliver what we really need to address the climate crisis, and unfortunately we’ve been proven right.
“Instead of planning to phase out all fossil fuels through a just transition, most governments are talking about buying and selling imaginary carbon units. We need to refocus on what really matters – making sure we keep the fossil fuels in the ground,” she said.
The world is on track to produce more than double the fossil fuels that are compatible with a 1.5°C target.
The fossil fuel industry is also earning 11-figure profits from this addiction while households struggle to afford basic needs and over 1 billion people live with almost no modern energy. Africa alone is home to 600 million people without access to electricity.
An Executive Director, Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, Alex Rafalowicz, said: “This COP has been stuck in slow motion on addressing fossil fuels when in the real world the climate crisis has shifted to hyper-speed.
“There were more lobbyists from coal, oil, and gas companies than there were delegates from Pacific Islands, which explains why the urgent call from Tuvalu and Vanuatu for a phase out of all fossil fuels was ignored and loopholes in the favor of industry were adopted.
“These UN conferences can only ignore the reality for so long. Already Indigneous nations, countries like Colombia, cities, the private sector and millions of people are planning for the shift off coal, oil, and gas to a clean energy future.
“In the coming year the call for a new international treaty focussed on the fast and fair shift off fossil fuels will only intensify.”
Ina Maria Shikongo, FFF Namibia, #SaveTheOkavango, stated: “While the COP decision emphasizes a ‘scaling-up’ on renewable energy, its failure to include an unabated call for phasing out all fossil fuels means this is no more than a mediocre cut and past of what was agreed last year in Glasgow.
Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebhe, Campaigns Lead for Power Shift Africa, said COP27 has once again reiterated the long history of colonial exploitation of Africa.
“It served the fossil fuel industry and government elites to cement new pacts to continue to reap ever more indecent profits.
“As long as Global North countries avoid cooperating and instead continue to feed the climate threat, no just transition is possible, neither for Africa, nor for the planet,” she said.
The global fossil fuel energy crisis is resulting in a renewed scramble for Africa, and its fossil gas, for every single country on the planet.
Winning from COP 27
At least, thanks in large part to G77 and civil society, funding arrangements for loss and damage is at last a reality.
This is a victory for everyone and it is hoped that African leadership would rise to the occasion.
Although most of the leaders seem to be abandoning the issue in favor of local, political and national interests, but thankfully, the COP has seen strong grassroot leadership, pressuring weak global political leadership as time runs out.
