That’s it from us on the blog for today, thanks for following along. We’ll be up and blogging again tomorrow as soon as there is a text to look at. That may be in the next couple of hours, or may be tomorrow: a spokesperson for the presidency has just issued this statement:
“Overnight and throughout today, the COP28 President and his team have been engaging in extensive consultations with a wide representation of negotiating groups and Parties. This is to ensure everyone is heard, and all views are considered. He is determined to deliver a version of the text that has the support of all Parties. Consultations will continue until 03:00AM GST.”
In the meantime these were the main events today:
Politicians and delegates from the UK reacted with fury as it emerged that climate change minister Graham Stuart had flown home from the summit, ostensibly to shore up the government’s vote on Rwanda. The government said that Richard Benyon had come out to cover him, and that he would be returning. If the summit does end tomorrow as the presidency hopes, of course, that will be a long wasted journey.
Our data team calculated that Stuart will have emitted between 467 and 499 kg of CO2 – assuming that he flew on a passenger plane and that his plane was totally full. That’s approximately the average annual carbon emissions of a citizen of Mali or Kenya or Tanzania.
There were worries that Cop was going to collapse and political economist Michael Jacobs argued this might be a good thing: “So if nothing really significant would be lost by a breakdown of the Cop, would anything be gained? Yes. It would be a much bigger global media story than a fudge. Front-page news. The story: that climate change is now a battle between a fossil future and a non-fossil one.”
And more details emerged of country positions on phase out
See you tomorrow! Or sooner…
As the day ends in Dubai, Cop28 is in limbo. Will the revised decision text expected early on Tuesday finally deliver the clear call on fossil fuels that many countries believe is essential to taming the climate crisis?
Analysis indicates that 127 countries back some kind of phase out, up from 80 countries last year.
Over 72% of countries have expressed direct support for a strong outcome on fossil fuels at #COP28.
— Romain Ioualalen (@Rlalen) December 12, 2023
Tha large majority of remaining countries are rightfully asking for differentiation and support in the phase out.
Will @COP28_UAE listen to them or to a handful of blockers? https://t.co/zpMfRDsvPf
The pause is leaving time for some reflection.
How will we explain to our children and grandchildren that unfortunately, we couldn’t leave them a livable planet because a few petro-states vetoed phasing out fossil fuels?
— Prof. Stefan Rahmstorf 🌏 🦣 (@rahmstorf) December 12, 2023
Others wonder if the lack of funds from rich countries to enable low and middle income nations to transition to green energy is the real problem.
The real failure isn't the lack of mention #phaseout of #fossilfuel, but that historical emitters failed once again to put enough means of implementation on the table to assure the LMICs that such a phase out will be just and equitable. Words without money is just paper. #COP28
— Dr. Aditi Mukherji (@aditimukherji) December 12, 2023
The Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice has an uncompromising message for delegates as they work towards the summit’s finale: “Cop28 is running into overtime, but your time is up to deliver climate justice.”
“There is now only time for acting—urgently, fairly, and justly. The words “fossil fuels” in a text are meaningless if the rest of those pages are riddled with loopholes that not only enable but exacerbate the era of fossil fuels. Climate action is weakened if those who are most responsible are not held to account to lead by example. A phaseout is useless without the tools needed to actually achieve it. Climate action is pointless if it condemns billions to death and destruction.”
Bhavreen Kandhari, the co-founder of Warrior Moms in India, has a different but equally important message, reflecting on the slogans displayed across the Cop28 site, such as “Think without limits”.
“Mothers bring a heartfelt message to Cop, using the power of love to secure a safe future for our children worldwide. Despite the resonance of our shared sentiments being printed on every wall, flag, and message at Cop28, the pressing question remains: why aren’t these messages translating into action? Why isn’t there a prioritisation of our children’s health and future?”
Why the delay in action when messages are the same, from parents, citizens, doctors, scientists, UN, #COP28, all? #FromOurHearts💙 #KidsFirst pic.twitter.com/0O8HjzlomK
— Warrior Moms (@Warriormomsin) December 10, 2023
