Scholz calls for phase-out of coal, oil and gas at COP28 summit
Dubai, The Gulf Observer: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for coal, oil and gas to be phased out at the COP28 summit in Dubai on Saturday.
“We must now all show a firm determination to phase out fossil fuels — first and foremost coal. We can set sail for this at this climate conference,” Scholz told delegations from around the world.
Scholz said Germany is leading the development of a number of clean energy solutions and reiterated Germany’s pledge to be climate-neutral by 2045.
“The technologies are there: wind power, photovoltaics, electric motors, green hydrogen,” he added.
More than 100 countries at the summit have also called for a “phase-out” of fossil fuels rather than a “phase-down,” with US Vice President Kamala Harris joining the calls on Saturday.
Environmentalist groups welcomed the goals set out by Scholz but said his government had not demonstrated enough action on the issue.
“While the German government is sending positive signals in Dubai, in Germany, court rulings are first needed to force the government to act,” said Viviane Raddatz, head of climate policy for the WWF in Germany.
Greenpeace Germany’s executive director Martin Kaiser said Scholz lacked “consistency and credibility” in his climate policy.
Scholz also reiterated calls to triple renewable energy expansion to triple by 2030.
“It is still possible for us to reduce emissions enough in this decade to meet the 1.5 degree target,” he said.
“Let’s agree here in Dubai on two binding targets: one is to triple the expansion of renewable energy and the other is to double energy efficiency — both by 2030.”
At least 118 nations have agreed to the target including Brazil, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Canada, Chile. China and India have indicated support but have so far not officially backed the pledge.
Scholz said Germany has already spent $6.5 billion (€6 billion) on international climate financing and pledged another $100 million (€92 million) for a new climate fund established at the summit on Thursday.
He also touted the ambitions of the “Climate Club,” a group of 36 nations co-chaired by Germany and Chile that aims to make high-polluting industries more sustainable in developing countries, but called on countries like China and the Gulf states to take on more responsibility in this area.
“For the countries whose prosperity has grown enormously over the last decades and which have contributed to a large extent to today’s global emissions also bear responsibility: We need your support too,” he said.
