Cop 28 UN climate summit president Sultan al-Jaber has urged parties to be "flexible" and find common ground on fossil fuels and renewables.
Al-Jaber said it was "essential that no issue is left off the table", including on the role of fossil fuels. "We must look for ways and ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels," he said, acknowledging that there are "strong views about including fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text".
He urged parties to "work together, be flexible, come forward with solutions and achieve a consensus", and keep the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit in sight.
The Paris climate agreement sets a goal of limiting global warming to "well below" 2°C above pre-industrial averages, and preferably to 1.5°C.
Al-Jaber has previously called for a "responsible phase-down of all fossil fuels", and support is growing from the EU, the US, fossil fuel producers such as Canada and Australia, some developing countries and nations vulnerable to the effects of climate change. But key producers including Russia, Mideast Gulf and African countries, and major consumer China have signalled they would not support a phase-out.
Al-Jaber said the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) global stocktake was a chance for parties to bring mitigation — reducing emissions — adaptation and means of implementation, which includes finance, under one umbrella. Adaptation refers to adjustments to avoid global warming impacts. It is also a chance to give clear directions for the next round of NDC in 2025, he said, urging parties to make an ambitious decision.
The global stocktake is a five-yearly undertaking to measure progress towards the Paris accord, and is intended to inform the next round of emissions reductions plans, due in 2025. It should provide all parties with a chance to reflect on past achievements and find common ground. It could also act as an anchor for finance and fossil fuel discussions during Cop 28. UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell today urged parties to start working on new NDCs now. "Science tells us we have around six years before we exhaust the planet's ability to cope with our emissions", he told delegates.
Al-Jaber also pleaded for agreement on the summit's agenda and "to move to text quickly". "We have no time to waste," he said. Al-Jaber had already asked parties in October for a "smooth adoption of the agenda on day one". But some observers suggested that some disagreements could arise from the onset of the conference. Climate talks in Bonn, Germany earlier this year started without a final agenda because of divergent views about an additional item on mitigation brought by the EU.
