Summary
Here’s a recap of some of the main developments of the day at Cop28 in Dubai:
Conference president Al Jaber has warned that “failure is not an option” as he prepares a final package for delegates.
Vulnerable countries are unhappy at the weak language on climate adaptation.
Human Rights Day marked by civil society complaints about restrictions on protest.
Experts are worried that carbon emissions trading could become a “black box’ due to inadequate transparency.
Global food production will become ‘problematic’ even at 1.5C, a US envoy has predicted.
Argentina is due to swear in a new climate-denying president who has reportedly put the tourism minister in charge of the environment.
Tense days ahead - what former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson used to describe as “squeaky bum time.”
That’s all for today’s live blog. Many thanks for following.
Updated
Obstructing nations must cease 'subterfuge', says Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders, has demanded that “nations obstructing a liveable future must abandon their subterfuge” as Cop28 reaches its critical final days.
She called out Saudi Arabia and its allies, as well as naming the US, China, the EU and India, for hiding in the shadows. She urged the countries, and Cop28 president Sultan Al Jaber, to deliver the right legacy at Cop28, including an agreement to “phase out all fossil fuels”, seen as the critical test of success.
There was uproar at Cop28 a week ago when the Guardian revealed ill-tempered responses by Al Jaber to questions on a fossil fuel phase out from Robinson during an online event shortly before Cop28.
In comments sent first to the Guardian on Sunday, Robinson, a former UN envoy for climate change, said:
“Those at the negotiating table at Cop28 are steering the course of our shared future: their success or failure will resonate for generations. I fear Cop28 is falling short of what is required to stay within the 1.5C warming threshold. The science tells us we are in grave danger of bequeathing our children a completely unliveable world.
There are countries here with the capacity to ensure the outcome of this summit is historic for the right reasons. They need to lean in now with ambition and urgency. Cop28 presents an opportunity for leaders to be on the right side of history.
Nations obstructing a liveable future must abandon their subterfuge. The nations thwarting progress are those with the greatest stakes in fossil fuels but also the most plentiful resources to act. Saudi Arabia and allies are holding talks hostage. However it is not the only country hindering progress: the USA, China, the EU and India have been happy to hide in the shadows cast.
There is still time for these countries to step up with the courageous leadership required to tackle this existential threat. Governments must not leave this summit without an agreement to phase out all fossil fuels and this agreement must not be at the expense of other critical workstreams here. Cop28 will leave a legacy that those here in Dubai will be remembered for: I call on all [countries] and the Cop Presidency to make sure it is the right one.”
At the online event on 21 November, Al Jaber told Robinson: “There is no science out there that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.” He added: “Show me the roadmap for a phase-out of fossil fuel that will allow for sustainable socioeconomic development, unless you want to take the world back into caves.” His comments were strongly rejected by scientists and called “verging on climate denial”.
At an emergency press conference on Monday, Al Jaber was forced to clarify his views: “I have said over and over the phase-down and the phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable. In fact, it is essential.” He also said: “I have incredible respect for Mary Robinson.”
The pair met on Saturday. Robinson’s post on X said “they agreed on there being no time to waste delivering an ambitious outcome” and reiterated her call for countries at Cop28 “to unequivocally commit to phasing out all fossil fuels”. An official Cop28 post said Al Jaber had sought from Robinson “guidance and counsel on convening diverse voices to find solutions to shared problems”.
Updated
