Disappointment and hope at historic fossil meeting

TT

Published 18.53

           

           

           

          Oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea, while the oil nation Colombia is hosting a meeting that brings                  together countries that want to take the lead in phasing out fossil fuels.
          1 / 3Photo: Ivan Valencia/AP/TT

In the shadow of the energy crisis resulting from the Iran war, 60 countries that want to phase out fossil fuels are meeting in Colombia.

– I am disappointed that they are not coming up with greater commitments, says EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner (C), who is present.

It was supposed to be a meeting for countries that want to take the lead in climate change. But it does not seem like the 60 participating countries in Santa Marta will agree on how it should go.

Emma Wiesner says she is disappointed that clear commitments are missing. For example, they should have been able to agree to phase out fossil subsidies, she believes.

– If you are going to change, you can't give tax money and large government subsidies to what you want to get rid of. It's like reducing smoking by handing out free cigarettes.

"A completely different atmosphere"

At the same time, the expectations for the meeting - which is outside the UN's annual giant meeting that requires consensus - have been mildly set by the organizers.

By not making any demands that everyone needs to agree, the discussions in the phase-out meeting can be more open.

- It's a completely different atmosphere than at the climate summits. These are issues that are discussed at a completely different level of detail regarding the phase-out of fossil fuels, which we have never really gotten to, says Wiesner.

France presents plan

One idea is that countries should be able to learn from each other, and France took the opportunity to present its roadmap for the phase-out at the meeting. Two out of three new cars will be electric by 2030. At the end of this year, gas-fired water heaters will be banned in new buildings, and next year two coal-fired power plants will be closed for good, AFP reports.

– It is very important that they do it, that they show leadership. We need to see more states do the same thing, that is what is really needed, says Daniel Högsta of WWF International.

He hopes that the meeting will be the start of a movement where countries stick together and push for a phase-out. He is supported by Oxfam's Mariana Paoli, who says that there is a desire to really move the positions forward.

– The main question is how, especially now in the situation of an energy crisis, this sends a clear signal to the climate summit that hopefully strengthens that process, she says.

Despite some disappointment, Wiesner also says that he is positive about the meeting as a whole.

– This is one of the clearest forums where climate scientists and researchers on climate change are allowed to be present and truly participate in the discussions.
 

FACTS

New meeting on the sidelines of the UN

The Netherlands and Colombia are hosting the first conference on phasing out fossil fuels.

Nearly 60 countries such as the UK, Canada, Turkey and Australia, as well as the EU, are participating. Sweden is represented by climate ambassador Mattias Frumerie and a colleague. However, major emitters such as China, the US, Russia, India and the major oil producers in the Middle East are not present.

The main meeting was held in the port city of Santa Marta in Colombia on 28–29 April.

 

 

I skuggan av energikrisen till följd av Irankriget träffas 60 länder som vill fasa ut fossila bränslen i Colombia.

– Jag är besviken på att man inte kommer med större åtaganden, säger EU-parlamentarikern Emma Wiesner (C) som är på plats.

Det skulle vara ett möte för de länder som vill gå före i klimatomställningen. Men det verkar inte som att de 60 deltagande länderna i Santa Marta kommer att komma överens om hur det ska gå till.

Emma Wiesner säger sig vara besviken på att tydliga åtaganden saknas. Exempelvis borde man ha kunnat enas om att fasa ut fossila subventioner, anser hon.

– Om man ska ställa om så kan man inte ge skattepengar och stora statliga stöd till det man vill bort ifrån. Det är som att minska rökningen genom att dela ut gratis cigaretter.

”Helt annan stämning”

Samtidigt så har förväntningarna på mötet – som ligger utanför FN:s årliga jättemöte som kräver konsensus – varit milt ställda från arrangörernas sida.

Genom att inte ställa några krav på att alla behöver vara överens kan diskussionerna i utfasningsmötet vara öppnare.

– Det är en helt annan stämning än på klimattoppmötena. Det är frågor som diskuteras på en helt annan detaljnivå kring utfasningen av fossilt, som vi liksom aldrig har kommit till, säger Wiesner.

Frankrike presenterar plan