Key requests that countries ramp up their climate action plans as soon as next year and phase out certain fossil fuels have survived the latest bruising round of negotiations at COP26, though the latter statement has been watered down.
An earlier draft text calling for nations “to accelerate the phase-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels” had faced opposition from major oil and gas exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia and the coal-dependent India.
The second draft, published on Friday morning, calls upon parties to “[accelerate] the phase-out of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.”
Unabated means the coal use isn’t mitigated with technologies to reduce emissions, such as by capturing and storing them. Inserting the word “inefficient” allows certain subsidies such as heating for poor households to continue, but also allows wiggle room for countries that want to continue subsidies for fossil fuel companies.
Will they reach a deal? Crucial COP talks enter final day
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The statement could still be removed from of changed in the final text.
But the draft document has been already criticised by campaigners.
Greenpeace international executive director, Jennifer Morgan, said: “Negotiators in Glasgow simply have to seize the moment and agree something historic, but they need to isolate the governments who’ve come here to wreck progress and instead listen to the calls of youth and vulnerable nations.
“In parallel we’re witnessing a deliberate and cynical effort by a few nation states to turn Article 6 into a charter for cheating, greenwash and loopholes.
“Today is an absolutely critical day in the fight to defend the 1.5C goal from vested interests who’ll do anything to dodge their responsibility for the climate crisis. Anything less puts the essence of Paris in peril.”