Many rich nations will despair of fossil fuels.
As the dust settles, it’s becoming a little clearer what was agreed upon here.
Developing countries are happy that their vulnerability to climate impacts has been recognized by a fund for climate damage and loss, but many rich nations will be dismayed about fossil fuels.
As my colleague Justin Rowlett said a bit earlier, the new language in the final policy statement included renewable energy as future energy sources, as well as “low-emission” energy.
It can be used to justify the development of new fossil fuels – which is exactly what the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency’s global climate scientists advise against. give
It can refer to gas, which is often refined from oil and coal, but not to renewable fuels such as wind or solar.
The summit also appears to have pushed ahead with a commitment to try to limit the average rise in global temperatures to 1.5C by 2100 – the extreme range of temperatures scientists say could be reached if we stop climate change. If we want to avoid the worst situation, we cannot go above it.
Leaders have warned of this from the start, and it will be a severe disappointment for rich countries if the global appetite for an immediate reduction in fossil fuel use wanes.
As you’ll appreciate, we’re reporters, not lawyers – the UN is full of legalese, technical language – so we’re still looking at everything and talking to experts and analysts for their views. are We’ll bring you more when we get it.
Climate damage fund won’t be enough – UN chief
In the last few moments, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced his decision on the summit, calling it “an important step towards justice”.
He welcomes the decision to set up a damage and loss fund for the countries most affected by climate change – but with an important caveat: “Obviously it will not be enough, but to rebuild the broken trust. This is a very important political signal for
“The voices of people on the front lines of the climate crisis must be heard. The UN system will support this effort every step of the way.”
This could have been a triumph – but may be judged a failure
The Egyptian hosts of this UN climate conference have achieved some extraordinary success.
They have addressed an issue that has vexed since the talks began 30 years ago – the question of how to help countries vulnerable to climate change damage and loss. is already spreading in the communities of
But at the same time they have shown no desire to tackle the root cause of climate change – the emissions of greenhouse gases that are warming our planet.
Indeed, by introducing a new category of “low-emission” energy, many believe they have gone back on what they agreed to at the last UN climate conference in Glasgow.
This means that what could have been a victory for Egypt could be called a failure.
