EU agrees to push for global fossil fuel phase-out ahead of COP28

(EurActiv, 10 Mar 2023) European Union countries agreed on Thursday (9 March) to promote a “global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels” ahead of the United Nation’s COP28 climate summit this year, attempting to boost a global deal that failed at last year’s summit.

Ministers from the 27 EU member states approved a text on their diplomatic priorities ahead of the COP28 summit, which begins on 30 November in Dubai, where nearly 200 countries will attempt to strengthen efforts to rein in climate change.

“Climate and energy diplomacy is a core component of EU’s foreign policy,” said a statement adopted after the ministerial meeting on Thursday.

“The shift towards a climate neutral economy will require the global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels,” the EU text said, citing the scientific consensus that this is necessary to avoid more severe climate change.

“The EU will systematically promote and call for a global move towards energy systems free of unabated fossil fuels well ahead of 2050”, it said, adding that global fossil fuel consumption should peak in the near term.

No one-to-one replacement of Russian gas

Europe is in the midst of transforming its energy system to meet climate targets and end decades of reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

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EurActiv, 10 Mar 2023: EU agrees to push for global fossil fuel phase-out ahead of COP28