Achieving Net Zero by 2050: Why COP28 Must Prioritize Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

Human Rights Watch Urges Fossil Fuel Phaseout at COP28 Climate Talks in Bonn

The Human Rights Watch has called on governments and advocates attending the UN climate talks in Bonn from June 5 to 15, 2023, to demand ambitious and rights-respecting climate action. Bonn conference is a precursor to the UN Conference of Parties (COP28), scheduled from November 30 to December 12. Ahead of COP28, the governments should commit to a phaseout of all fossil fuels as the overarching agreement, including ensuring the UAE’s civil society can freely demand climate action before, during, and after the conference, according to HRW.

The UAE: Petrostate with Deeply Repressive Government

The UAE is a petrostate and the host of COP28, with a deeply repressive government that is aggressively expanding its fossil fuel industry, says Richard Pearshouse, environment director at HRW. Governments attending the conference should ensure that the host nation does not undermine the efforts to confront the climate crisis and protect human rights, HRW urged. Representatives should call for equitable and rights-respecting phasing out of all fossil fuels at the COP28 conference. It could prove to be an essential step in international climate negotiations as it will be the first explicit reference to all fossil fuels, HRW added.

Fossil Fuel Production and Climate Change

The production and utilization of fossil fuels increase air pollution and lead to global temperature rise, which drives sea level rise, wildfires, and increasingly frequent and more intense extreme weather patterns. Climate change linked impacts will eventually affect everyone. Causing more harm to marginalized communities already struggling to cope up with the adverse impacts on their lives. The UAE is one of the largest oil producers globally and earns most of its revenue from fossil fuels.

Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

The UAE’s repression of peaceful dissent and laws prohibiting free association and assembly make it a draconian regime. Yet, the country is hosting the conference. Governments attending the conference should actively oppose any UAE attempt to water down a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, added HRW. The appointment of Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, president of COP28, as CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a government’s foremost fossil fuel company, raises serious concerns of conflict of interest while leading the conference.

The Need for Rights-Respecting Climate Action

International climate negotiations require full, meaningful participation from civil society. However, the UAE’s decades-long crackdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association raises grave concerns about how the independent members of civil society, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists at COP28 will participate meaningfully. Respect for civil society space is critical to effective climate action, argued HRW. The UAE government must release all those detained solely for the exercise of their human rights, including Ahmed Mansoor, and others who have been held beyond their release dates.

Conclusion

The call to phase out fossil fuels as an overarching agreement’s principal outcome at COP28 is an ambitious and daunting task, considering the UAE’s deeply entrenched fossil fuel industry. However, governments attending the conference that is committed to ambitious climate action should not compromise with the petrostate’s oppressive regime. They should work towards ending the use of fossil fuels and ensuring a safe, healthy, and sustainable planet for all.

Fossil Fuels-climatechange,COP28,netzero,fossilfuels,phasingout