Following backlash from Nobel laureates, world leaders, and climate change experts, the latest draft of the UN Pact for the Future has brought back wording on fossil fuels.
Back in August, 77 former world leaders and Nobel laureates penned an open letter to express their dismay over the decision to omit any reference to fossil fuels in the document.
However, while fossil fuels have reappeared, the new text leaves room for loopholes.
The Pact, which is not yet final, will be adopted at the Summit of the Future in New York.
Draft Language Doesn’t Go Far Enough
Last month, Stefan Löfven, the former Prime Minister of Sweden and one of the signatories of the open letter, said the omission in the UN Pact draft was a “stark failure” to confront “one of the greatest threats to our planet and humanity.”
Indeed, absent from the document was a reference to the previous call for an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a “just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action” in this decade.
The latest draft, published at the end of August, while bringing back wording on fossil fuels, leaves significant wriggle room for inaction and false solutions.
This was outlined by the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, which coordinated the open letter written last month.
On Friday, in a statement, the initiative underlined that the text contains “several qualifiers and loopholes” designed to allow fossil fuel producers to expand their coal, oil, and gas extraction.
Indeed, although the document includes wording on the acceleration of the development, transfer and deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies, this time, the draft also includes a call to accelerate the development and deployment of “other zero and low-emission technologies,” like the COP28 outcome, it said.
The UN Pact draft does not specify which technologies are included here.
Change in Wording Must be Matched With Action
Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams, who said the previous UN Pact draft reflected a “dangerous ongoing complacency,” welcomed the change in wording.
However, she once again urged that words must be matched with action, beginning with ending the expansion of new oil, gas and coal projects.
“When faced with other global threats like landmines, nuclear weapons or an ozone in crisis, nations have come together – not just with declarations, but with binding treaties and multilateral frameworks. We must now join forces once again to address one of the greatest threats of our time: the extraction and burning of fossil fuels,” said Williams.
According to Alex Rafalowicz, Executive-Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, the new draft “cements the commitment from COP28,” adding that “if the language stays, there’s no going back.”
Rafalowicz echoed Williams, urging that “declarations alone will not suffice.”
“We need to build on this outcome with immediate, decisive action and concrete plans to turn these commitments into reality,” said the Initiative’s head, who noted that resources must be mobilised today to deliver this vision.
Indeed, last month, at a meeting in Nairobi ahead of COP29, government officials from across Africa outlined that global climate financing into Africa is at less than 1 per cent.
This lack of financial flows comes against a backdrop of countries in the continent facing a disproportionately high and increasing climate change bill.
Elsewhere, a Rockefeller Foundation report in August revealed an 8,700 TWh green power gap across 72 countries, 44 of which are in Africa.
“A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a next step in this journey—a binding global plan to manage an equitable decline in fossil fuel production, ensuring wealthy nations move first and fastest, while providing the necessary resources to secure a just transition for all,” added Rafalowicz.
Wealthy Nations Ramp Up Fossil Fuels
However, wealthy nations are, in fact, the countries leading global fossil fuel expansion, according to International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) data.
Against this backdrop, this week, when visiting Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, UN Chief Antonio Guterres called for global leaders to “step up” and lead a fast and fair phase-out of fossil fuels.
“The G20 – the biggest emitters, with the greatest capacity and responsibility to lead – must be out in front,” said Guterres.
When asked about his frustration regarding the inaction of the G20 nations—which represent 80 per cent of emissions—and other developed nations as they expand oil and gas production, the UN Secretary-General noted that he is “extremely concerned.”
“It is obvious that without a drastic reduction of emissions of all of them, we will not be able to keep the 1.5 degree, and we might risk even to go over the two degrees,” said Guterres.
A recent Guardian investigation found that many of the world’s top client scientists now foresee global temperatures rising to at least 2.5C (4.5F) above preindustrial levels this century, with devastating consequences for people, animals and the planet.
The investigation, which gathered responses from 380 IPCC experts, underscored that the political will required to enact change is lacking, with the “economic interests of nations” and “vested corporate interests” taking precedence.
“We absolutely need all G20 countries to come together, to use the best technologies available within the G20 to use the financial resources that exist within the G20 and in multilateral development institutions, and to have a concerted global action to have a drastic reduction of emissions in until 2030; if that does not happen, we will be in an irreversible situation with absolutely devastating consequences,” commented Guterres last week.
By Madaline Dunn, Editor, ESG Mena.