COP26 ‘Energy Day’: Calls to End Use of Coal, Gas and Oil

Traveled from the city center in a special electric bus provided by the organizers, the UN News team arrived at the venue and met outside the gates with activists urging countries to end their dependence on coal, gas and oil. I found.

Part of the activist dressed as Pikachu is the short, chubby rodent mascot of the Japanese anime Pokémon, which in the series can organically launch an electric strike. Others held picket signs in different languages ​​and honked megaphones, shouting calls for climate justice. “No more fossil fuels”.

Coal commitment

Inside the Scotland event campus, the main meeting of the day began at COP26. Co-organizers echoed the words of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, “Leaving coal to history”.

Conference Chair Alok Sharma announced a new commitment for major countries to end coal investment by 2030 and by 2040 to expand clean power, make a just transition and phase out coal. announced a global clean power transition statement. Elsewhere.

The pledge has been signed by 77 countries, including 46 countries such as Poland, Vietnam and Chile, of which 23 have committed to phase out coal for the first time, he explained.

“All of this will help bring the world to net zero. Yes, and we must continue to build on that moment through alliances and coalitions.I believe the end of coal is in sight.I believe we have reached the stage where coal power is left to history.” he said at the plenary session.

Unfortunately, the statement excludes China, Japan and South Korea, the largest coal financiers, who pledged last year to end foreign financing of coal power by the end of 2021.

Meanwhile, the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which aims to achieve coal phase-out in a sustainable and economically inclusive way, today welcomed new members, including seven countries and 14 financial institutions.

Yesterday, the governments of South Africa, France, Germany, the UK and the US, together with the European Union, announced a new ambitious long-term Just Energy Transition Partnership to support South Africa’s decarbonisation efforts. US President Joe Biden and European Commissioner Ursula von de Leyen appeared virtually to officially announce it during Thursday’s event at COP26.

‘not good enough’

Civil society organizations “didn’t have it” outside the plenary room, saying the pledges were somewhat encouraging.

At a separate press conference, the German NGO Urgewald and the Climate Action Network expressed their despair over the current energy crisis.

“There has been a surge in coal policy over the past two years, but very little substance when it comes to oil and gas. ,” said the Urgewald financier.

Human rights and environmental groups have released their latest global oil and gas exit list. It claims 506 upstream oil and gas producers plan to add his 190 billion barrels worth of oil to their production portfolio within the next one to seven years.

“At least 96% of gas and oil producers are looking to expand their assets,” added the Urgewald representative. “The industry is on a reckless expansion course, with the dirtiest forms of production making up his 50% of new projects.”

Meanwhile, Jin Zhu, director of the Energy Justice Program at the U.S. Center for Biodiversity, stressed that “we are no longer spending time on fossil fuels.”

“We have seen the G20 go in the opposite direction. Between 2018 and 2020, G20 countries put $188 billion into fossil fuels. 2.5 times and it’s absolutely terrible,” she said.

Burning fossil fuels releases many air pollutants that are harmful to both the environment and public health.

new commitment

However, Mr. Zhu cautiously announced the good news at the press conference. A group of governments and public financial institutions around the world, including the United States, the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom, have pledged to end direct support for the “undiminished” fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022.

A joint announcement made this morning pledged to end direct support for international fossil fuel projects and to “enable a limited and well-defined context consistent with the 1.5°C global warming limit and the Paris Agreement goals.” Exclude”.

“This is the first political pledge to phase out financing not only for coal, but also for oil and gas. ,” explained Zhu, who is also a member of the Climate Action Network.

While this commitment is historic, it is not enough, she said, calling on China, Japan and South Korea to join.

“We are tackling fossil addiction. We are pushing for an end to fossil fuel exploitation both at home and abroad.”

Responding to questions from journalists, the expert explained what “undiminished fossil fuel projects” meant, with some harsh words for world leaders.

“Carbon dioxide capture and storage and other fossil fuel projects with some sort of technical modification are still allowed, much like the false net-zero promise of 2050. Consistent with a lack of courageous leadership, at the same time, there are also pledges from many countries for clean energy, especially clean energy production, if we want them to doubt that they will benefit. They see domestic investment as potentially beneficial to their economies, for example the US has its own plans to export its renewable energy,” Zhu added.

energy problem

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sustainable Energy, Damirola Ogunbii, also made a call to action at Thursday’s main event, reminding that the energy sector accounts for two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions.

“759 million people in the world still lack access to basic electricity and more than 2.6 billion lack access to clean cooking solutions,” she stressed.

The Special Representative cited the United Nations Environment Programme’s recent emissions gap report. This puts us on a perilous trajectory of 2.7°C of global temperature increase by the end of this century as we know it.

“There is a need to fundamentally rethink how we deliver energy services. Thermal power plants should not enter the pipeline.”

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), an average of $423 billion in public money is spent on fossil fuel subsidies each year, and despite international efforts, subsidies are unlikely to be phased out. is increasing.

These subsidies are a major impediment to achieving climate and sustainable development goals as they encourage investment in pollution and inhibit renewable energy.

“We are running out of time and have no choice but to be decisive and provide the cooperation and funding needed to enable a just and inclusive energy transition for those who contribute less to climate change. Commitment to ” is highlighted by the Special Representative.

Phasing out fossil fuels and taxing carbon fosters growth and innovation. The move could enable up to a decade of spending on green innovation and infrastructure that will drive growth and new, safer jobs, according to UNDP research.