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Some say the deal is historic, others that it is weak. We look closely at the text for the truth of the matter

The decision text from Cop28 has been greeted as “historic”, for being the first ever call by nations for a “transition away” from fossil fuels, and as “weak and ineffectual” and containing a “litany of loopholes” for the fossil fuel industry. An examination of the text helps to explain this contradiction.

Limiting global warming to 1.5C [above pre-industrial levels] with no or limited overshoot requires deep, rapid and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions of 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035 relative to the 2019 level and reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. [Countries] further recognise the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5C pathways.

Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

Accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power.

Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.

Accelerating zero- and low-emission technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies such as carbon capture and utilisation and storage (CCUS), particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, and low-carbon hydrogen production.

Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible.

Recognises that transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security.

Results-based payments for policy approaches and positive incentives for activities relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

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South Korea’s latest monthly CO2 auction again sold only a limited share of the permits on offer, as the market continues to struggle with lukewarm demand amid policy uncertainties.

Startup registry Isometric said on Wednesday that it has developed a new protocol for permanent carbon removal using bio-oil geological storage, and plans to unveil three more protocols over the next three months.

The government of South Korea has made official revisions to the allowance allocation plan for the domestic carbon market during the current phase (2021-25) to reflect the country's new emissions reduction targets and improve liquidity. 

Astonishingly, in the 30 year history of the UN COP climate negotiations, renewables have never gotten a mention. Now they are acknowledged as central to the switch from fossil fuels.

The post All over bar the shouting: Fossil fuels finally named and shamed by COP as climate culprit appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Yes, there was some progress at COP28. But the international community is not taking this enormous climate challenge as seriously as it should. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

He was personally vilified, but Sultan Al Jaber has managed what no other Cop presidency has ever done

• Cop28 live – latest updates

As temperatures broke records around the world this summer, António Guterres, the UN secretary general, warned in September: “Humanity has opened the gates of hell.”

On Wednesday, he hailed delegates at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, as two weeks of fraught talks ended. “For the first time, the outcome recognises the need to transition away from fossil fuels,” he said. “The era of fossil fuels must end, and it must end with justice and equity.”

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Samoa's lead negotiator challenged the Cop28 president on the adopted climate pact, saying aspects of it were 'backward rather than forward' and a 'litany of loopholes'. nne Rasmussen, on behalf of small island nations, complained they weren't even in the room when al-Jaber said the deal was done. She said 'the course correction that is needed has not been secured', with the deal representing business-as-usual instead of exponential emissions-cutting efforts. When Rasmussen finished, she received a standing ovation from delegates

• Cop28 live: landmark deal to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels agreed

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The Cop28 climate summit has approved a deal that its supporters said would, for the first time, push nations away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change. The final text avoided the words 'phase out' and 'phase down', which had been the source of much debate among countries, instead referring to a need to 'transition away' from fossil fuels. Sultan Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates, the president of the summit, said: 'It is a balanced plan that addresses emissions … it is built on common ground. It is strengthened by full inclusivity. It is a historic package to accelerate climate action. It is the UAE consensus'

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The first African biodiversity accelerator has picked two initial winners, both forestry projects in the process of exploring options in the biodiversity credit market.

Summit president hails ‘historic package to accelerate climate action’, but critics decry ‘litany of loopholes’ in final text

• Cop28 live – latest updates

Nearly 200 countries at the Cop28 climate summit have agreed to a deal that, for the first time, calls on all nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.

After two weeks of at-times fractious negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, the agreement was quickly gavelled through by the Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, on Wednesday morning, receiving an ovation from delegates and a hug from UN climate chief, Simon Stiell.

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Mistakes and even a change of material supplier can create tiny flaws which could cause problems years down the track, according to a new study from UNSW into new solar cell technologies.

The post UNSW says hidden weaknesses in new solar cell technologies risk slump in efficiency appeared first on RenewEconomy.

‘Forever chemicals’ at Dutch resorts comparable to high concentrations detected along Belgian coast, study finds

The Dutch government has warned people to stop children and pets swallowing foam at the seaside, after a study showed “forever chemicals” were concentrated in the spume.

After research into foam at the Belgian seaside showing a concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – used widely for their waterproofing qualities but difficult to destroy – the Dutch public health institute RIVM measured the coast in Zeeland, north and south Holland in April and August.

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A final negotiating text on the first ever Global Stocktake (GST) of the Paris Agreement was published on Wednesday at COP28, urging a "transition away from fossil fuels in an equitable manner" but crucially avoiding the stronger 'phaseout' language seen in earlier versions, though many see the outcome as marking a step in the right direction and "moving the needle" in the fight against climate change.

Supporters say carbon credits can fund solutions, but others say they allow companies to avoid reducing emissions

Government officials, conservation organisations and industry groups have sought to revive confidence in the unregulated voluntary carbon market at Cop28 amid concerns it does little to mitigate the climate crisis or the destruction of nature.

Supporters of carbon markets say that through buying high-quality credits, countries and companies can transfer some of the billions of dollars required to fund nature-based solutions, support Indigenous communities, phase out coal power, and pay for new renewables in developing countries. Initiatives are under way to certify successful carbon projects and curb greenwashing claims from companies that buy credits, although there is disagreement about the appropriate role of offsets in a company’s sustainability efforts.

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The organisers of the Dubai summit have been working on a new version of the global stocktake after the first draft met with strong criticism

Ed King, a veteran watcher of climate diplomacy, has listed the following key takeaways on the new text:

In terms of signalling the end of the fossil fuel era it’s an improvement on the last GST text but the bar was so low it could hardly be worse.

There are clear signals that countries agree fossil fuels need to be replaced by clean energy with 2050 as the target year for global net zero.

References to transition fuels being essential could have been written by a major gas producer. The science is clear: gas is a methane heavy fossil fuel, not a transition fuel.

There is support for tripling clean energy by 2030 and doubling energy efficiency as well as recognition that the costs of renewables are falling fast

There is repetition of Cop26 language on coal and emphasis that the new set of national climate pledges should be delivered from late 2024

There is very little on finance and – frankly – worrying language on the role of carbon offsets: many poor countries will see this as a text that throws them under the bus

Critically, given 2024 will be a very hard year, a “Road map to mission 1.5C” will be launched to enhance international cooperation on the way to Cop30 in Brazil. The UN is banking on Lula to lead.

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Latest COP28 text squibs on phase out of fossil fuels, mentioning only "unabated" coal but falling short on gas and oil as the petrol-states hold court.

The post Cop28 squibs on fossil fuel phase out, but calls for quick transition appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Latest draft does not include a commitment to phase out or phase down fossil fuels, as many countries, civil society groups and scientists have urged

• See all our coverage of Cop28

A new draft climate agreement released at the Cop28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates has for the first time explicitly called on nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

But the latest proposed text, released by the Cop president, Sultan Al Jaber, early on Wednesday, did not include an explicit commitment to phase out or phase down fossil fuels, as many countries, civil society groups and scientists have urged.

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2023 has been the year of battery storage, with record construction starts, but wind and solar approvals have hit an eight year low, putting the renewable energy target at risk.

The post The year of big battery storage, but wind and solar approvals at eight year low in 2023 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Herbicides and pesticides wash downriver from farms and towns – and some of these chemicals are taken up by oysters. Kirsten Benkendorff, Professor, Southern Cross University Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, Professor Environmental and Marine Science, Southern Cross University Endang Jamal, Senior lecturer in aquaculture, Pattimura University and doctoral student, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.