The European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, and the Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, reiterated the European Union’s position on Wednesday 6 December at COP28 in Dubai, at a time when some 200 countries are negotiating the future of fossil fuels.
“Let me be clear once again about my position, about the position of the European Union. I want this COP to mark the beginning of the end for fossil fuels. This is a key element for the EU and for our negotiating mandate. This means that the 27 EU Member States want this to be part of the negotiated outcome”, Commissioner Hoekstra told the press.
Expectation of leadership from the President of the COP
The latest version of the text on “issues relating to the global inventory under the Paris Agreement”, which will serve as a basis for discussion with a view to adoption by the end of COP28 on 12 December, sets out the various options submitted by the different countries, including those relating to a possible phase-out of fossil fuels.
And from an “orderly and fair” exit to no mention at all in the text, these alternatives are all still on the table.
Asked about the EU’s expectations of the controversial COP President, Sultan Al-Jaber, in the negotiations, Minister Ribera explained that the EU not only expected the President to be “an honest mediator”, but that it also “expected leadership” and “ensuring that this idea of making this COP a real turning point in this critical decade becomes a reality”.
Intransigence on the elimination of fossil fuels
Asked about the debate on reducing “unabated” fossil fuels (whose emissions can be controlled and conserved using carbon capture and storage technologies) (see EUROPE 13273/5), Commissioner Hoekstra acknowledged the difficulties faced by some sectors in reducing their emissions, but remained adamant that “where possible, companies cannot simply get rid of the problem by using carbon capture and storage (CCS)”.
And for good reason: in his view, there is “no magic solution, no alternative to the rapid and widespread elimination of fossil fuels”.
Questions from importing countries about the border adjustment mechanism
Wopke Hoekstra was also asked about the application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) (see EUROPE 13164/12) to countries importing into the EU. In his words, the CBAM is designed to “create a level playing field and simultaneously help the environment and the climate”.
As Mr Hoekstra pointed out, the aim of this instrument, the total value of which would be “around €3 billion by 2030”, is to ensure that companies importing into the EU take carbon reduction into account in the same way as European companies. “That’s precisely the reason for this tool: EU countries already live by this rule, it’s simply a question of guaranteeing a level playing field”, explained the Commissioner.
He also stressed that CBAM is not intended to place anyone in an advantageous or disadvantageous position, but rather to “ensure that transactions within the EU are always carried out under the same conditions”. However, the European Commissioner was keen to offer reassurance on this last point, saying that CBAM should not “intimidate anyone”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry and Pauline Denys)