China pours oil on troubled COP28 waters

China said there was progress towards a climate deal at COP28 despite a last-minute push by the OPEC oil cartel to ­resist a phase-out of fossil fuels.

A gondola cruises on the Grand Canal in Venice after Extinction Rebellion activists poured fluorescein near the Rialto Bridge during a protest against the COP28 'fail' on climate. Picture: AFP

China said there was progress towards a climate deal at COP28 despite a last-minute push by the OPEC oil cartel to ­resist a phase-out of fossil fuels.

OPEC drew outrage from green-minded countries and ­activists at the UN summit in Dubai when it joined Saudi ­Arabia and called on members to block an emerging declaration that would seek to wind down ­extraction of oil, coal and gas, which are fuelling the climate emergency.

China, the world’s largest oil importer, played down the row and said it was working to find a solution that was “acceptable to all parties”.

“I think we’ve already had some progress on this issue and I believe we will have more progress in resolving this very soon in the coming few days,” Chinese climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said at the conference.

“Because if we do not, if we do not resolve this issue, I don’t see much chance in having a successful COP28.”

Canadian Climate Minister Steven Guilbeault said he was “confident” that the final text would contain language on fossil fuels, which emit planet-heating greenhouse gases.

Mr Guilbeault is among a group of ministers who have been tasked by COP28 president ­Sultan al Jaber –-who is the chief executive of the UAE state oil giant ADNOC – to shepherd the negotiations and find an agreement, which must have consensus from all nations, before the summit ends on Tuesday.

OPEC secretary-general Haitham al-Ghais in a letter made public at the weekend urged the cartel’s 13 members and 10 allies to “proactively reject” any language that “targets” fossil fuels rather than emissions.

Activists, including some holding a banner that reads ‘Fight for 1.5 degrees Celsius’, march in protest at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai on Saturday. Protesters also demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, global climate justice and a variety of other human rights and climate causes. Picture: Getty Images

In a speech read in his name to the summit, Mr al-Ghais said there was “no single solution” for sustainable energy.

“We need realistic approaches to tackle emissions, ones that ­enable economic growth, help eradicate poverty and increase resilience at the same time,” the speech said.

Spanish Ecology Transition Minister Teresa Ribera said it was “quite a disgusting thing” for OPEC countries to be “pushing against getting the bar where it has to be”.

French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said the OPEC statement left her “stunned” and “angry”.

Dramatically increasing the deployment of renewable energy while reducing the production and consumption of fossil fuels is crucial to achieve the global goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C.

“1.5 is not negotiable, and that means an end to fossil fuels,” said Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, which like many low-lying island nations fears for survival as climate change sends water levels rising.

Despite restrictions in Dubai on unauthorised protests, about seven activists held a sit-in at OPEC’s booth at COP28, with “phase-out” written on their palms, according to video footage shared by the NGO 350.org.

Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of opposition to cutting fossil fuels and Iraq, another OPEC member, voiced support for the cartel letter.

A negotiator from a country in favour of a fossil fuel exit said the Arab group of nations was the only one to take a strong position against a phase-out.

A person working for the summit president’s office played down the objections by Saudi Arabia, saying it was normal for nations to push hard at the end.

“I don’t feel that we’re at that point where one is sticking their head above the parapet and being the troublemaker,” the person said on condition of anonymity.

AFP