“Missed Opportunity: COP16 Weakens Draft Decision on Fossil Fuel Transition”
Negotiators at the COP16 nature summit have weakened a draft decision on climate change and biodiversity by removing a mention of the global commitment to “transition away” from fossil fuels agreed at last year’s COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
The nature COP aims to align the priorities of the UN conventions on climate change and biodiversity. However, campaigners have expressed disappointment at the removal of a stronger mention of transitioning away from fossil fuels, calling it a “missed opportunity.”
In a draft published last week, Colombia proposed language similar to that agreed upon at COP28, stating that biodiversity goals cannot be achieved without transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
However, the current draft agreement, released late last week, saw significant weakening as Colombia’s proposal and all mentions of fossil fuels were deleted. Observers noted that facilitators from Sweden and China removed the proposal without much opposition during closed-door negotiations.
Governments have faced challenges in including the COP28 fossil fuel pledge in other agreements this year, with reports suggesting struggles in the UN-led “pact for the future” and the G20 ministerial statement. Saudi Arabia’s energy minister even claimed the pledge is optional.
Alex Rafalowicz, director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, revealed that the co-chairs of the contact group removed fossil fuels from the text without allowing for open discussion. Despite questions raised by the Philippines in a subsequent negotiation, the co-chairs denied further discussions.
Colombia’s environment minister and COP16 president, Susana Muhamad, expressed disappointment that fossil fuels were not a major negotiating issue at the summit, emphasizing the need for stronger discussions on the topic.
The draft also calls on countries to prevent adverse impacts on biodiversity from responses to climate change, such as the expansion of renewable energy, and to avoid double-counting of biodiversity and climate finance.
Campaigners criticized the removal of fossil fuel language, calling it a missed opportunity to provide additional protections for nature, particularly in critical ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest. A coalition of nearly 150 campaign groups published a joint letter urging negotiators to halt new oil and gas activities in nature-rich areas.
While the absence of fossil fuel language at COP16 does not undermine the COP28 commitment, campaigners believe it was a missed opportunity to address the impact of fossil fuels on biodiversity and create additional protections for nature.
Overall, the decision to weaken the draft at COP16 has sparked disappointment among campaigners and highlighted the ongoing challenges in addressing the transition away from fossil fuels in global climate and biodiversity discussions.