Posted on Dec 4, 2023
U.N. climate talks head says "no science" backs ending fossil fuels. That's incorrect
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https://www.npr.org/2023/12/04/ [login to see] /u-n-climate-talks-head-says-no-science-backs-ending-fossil-fuels-thats-incorrect
The head of United Nations climate talks underway in Dubai insisted incorrectly that there is no science to support phasing out fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic warming.
Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state-run oil company, made the comments in an online meeting on November 21. That was little over a week before he officially began to preside over annual U.N. climate negotiations, known as COP28, that are being held this year in the UAE. The comments were first reported by The Guardian, which also published a video of the meeting.
The head of United Nations climate talks underway in Dubai insisted incorrectly that there is no science to support phasing out fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic warming.
Sultan al-Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state-run oil company, made the comments in an online meeting on November 21. That was little over a week before he officially began to preside over annual U.N. climate negotiations, known as COP28, that are being held this year in the UAE. The comments were first reported by The Guardian, which also published a video of the meeting.
U.N. climate talks head says "no science" backs ending fossil fuels. That's incorrect
Posted from npr.org
Climate Change
Science
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Posted 5 mo ago
Responses: 4
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Al-Jaber sought to clarify those comments in a press conference on Monday from the climate summit he's presiding over. But his position as both chairman of a major Mideast renewables company and as CEO of Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company has already drawn criticism and extra scrutiny of al-Jaber's role as this year's conference president, where he sets the tone and must unite countries around a common message and pledges.
In the video, Ireland's former president Mary Robinson asks al-Jaber to use his position to push for a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels. Such language was not included in the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement, and has been repeatedly blocked by petroleum-dependent countries at subsequent negotiations.
That's despite unequivocal, and long-standing, scientific consensus that humanity must transition to renewable energy sources immediately in order to avoid catastrophic warming, including runaway sea level rise, mass extinction of plants and animals and countless lives lost to extreme weather.
In the video, however, al-Jaber responds to Robinson's suggestion with this incorrect statement: "I respect the science, and there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5 [degrees Celsius]."
In reality, scientists warn that the only paths to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius require phasing out fossil fuels including oil, gas and coal. Under the Paris agreement, world leaders agreed to limit global warming to well-below 2 degrees of warming, and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, compared to temperatures in the late 1800s.
That's because, beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, numerous climate tipping points loom and millions of people are threatened by rising seas and extreme weather, scientists warn. The planet has already warmed about 1.1 degrees Celsius over the last 150 years, largely due to human activity."...
..."Al-Jaber sought to clarify those comments in a press conference on Monday from the climate summit he's presiding over. But his position as both chairman of a major Mideast renewables company and as CEO of Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company has already drawn criticism and extra scrutiny of al-Jaber's role as this year's conference president, where he sets the tone and must unite countries around a common message and pledges.
In the video, Ireland's former president Mary Robinson asks al-Jaber to use his position to push for a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels. Such language was not included in the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement, and has been repeatedly blocked by petroleum-dependent countries at subsequent negotiations.
That's despite unequivocal, and long-standing, scientific consensus that humanity must transition to renewable energy sources immediately in order to avoid catastrophic warming, including runaway sea level rise, mass extinction of plants and animals and countless lives lost to extreme weather.
In the video, however, al-Jaber responds to Robinson's suggestion with this incorrect statement: "I respect the science, and there is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5 [degrees Celsius]."
In reality, scientists warn that the only paths to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius require phasing out fossil fuels including oil, gas and coal. Under the Paris agreement, world leaders agreed to limit global warming to well-below 2 degrees of warming, and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, compared to temperatures in the late 1800s.
That's because, beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, numerous climate tipping points loom and millions of people are threatened by rising seas and extreme weather, scientists warn. The planet has already warmed about 1.1 degrees Celsius over the last 150 years, largely due to human activity."...
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For 4 years I've been able to grow tomatoes in December. My growing zone has changed to a warmer and the way it looks this may continue in Jan
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Climate change is taking place and our ozone layer is thinning. The temperatures are warmer than normal. Fossil fuels increase pollution and pollution is a source of global warming.
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