The president of Colombia stated at Cop28 that their country has officially become part of a coalition of nations advocating for a treaty to limit the spread of fossil fuels, in order to prevent the destruction of the planet.
During the climate summit in Dubai, Gustavo Petro announced that his country will be joining a coalition of nations advocating for the establishment of a new organization to oversee the worldwide shift away from the main contributor to global warming. This effort is similar to past agreements aimed at reducing nuclear weapons and landmines.
“Why would the leader of this nation consider ending their own life when our economy is dependent on fossil fuels?” Some may question. “But being here, we are attempting to prevent a tragic loss – the destruction of all living things, the end of existence. This is not a decision based on economics. We are striving to avoid the annihilation of our planet, Earth. There is no alternative solution, no other course of action. Anything else is merely a false perception,” he stated.
The Latin American country, which has a significant oil, gas and coal industries, is the 10th country to join the coalition and the second fossil fuel producer to back the treaty after Timor-Leste did so earlier this year. The initiative was launched by a group of Pacific island nations and has gained support from the European parliament, the World Health Organization and 100 cities and subnational governments.
During Cop28, nations are struggling to determine the appropriate wording for reducing the use of fossil fuels in order to mitigate global warming. Governments are divided on whether to gradually decrease or completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels, while scientists urgently call for swift global decarbonisation.
The news was welcomed by leaders of countries who have already joined the coalition supporting the agreement, including small island nations that are currently facing significant dangers from the climate emergency.
Gaston Browne, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, praised Colombia’s enthusiasm for the proposed treaty. “The transition to clean energy sources is not simply an option; it is an urgent necessity to which Colombia seeks to respond. Its arrival in this group of pioneering nations strengthens our collective position and demonstrates growing diplomatic support for a negotiating mandate for this fossil fuel treaty. With Colombia, we have just taken one more step towards a future free from oil, gas and coal,” he said.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), which serves as a global energy monitor, the use of coal, oil, and gas is expected to decrease in the coming years, marking the start of the end for the fossil fuel industry. Every year, billions of tons of harmful greenhouse gases are emitted into the air as a result of burning these fuels.
At the event, the head of the World Health Organization, during his speech in favor of a treaty to limit the spread of fossil fuels, drew a comparison between fossil fuels and tobacco.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that in order to address climate change, we must also address the use of fossil fuels, just as we cannot ignore the effects of tobacco when addressing lung cancer.
“Reaching the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5C cannot be achieved without addressing 75% of emissions. Continuously debating and fighting over this obvious issue only keeps us in a stagnant position. It is imperative that we put an end to this and take action. The science and evidence strongly support the existence of the problem, as well as the solution, which is also evident.”
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Kausea Natano, the leader of Tuvalu, stated that the Cop must incorporate provisions for phasing out fossil fuels in its final document. They emphasized that climate change poses a significant threat to humanity and highlighted the repetitive nature of discussions and conflicts surrounding the issue. The scientific evidence is conclusive: in order to preserve the 1.5C limit, immediate measures must be taken to decrease the use of fossil fuels. The Pacific region is at the forefront of climate change and is already experiencing worsening impacts.
“Today, representing the citizens of Tuvalu, I am here to convey a straightforward plea to protect our people from the destructive effects of climate change. This Cop28 must reach a resolution that tackles the primary source of emissions. It must explicitly state plans to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. We can no longer afford to stand idly by as our islands submerge, our forests ignite, and our people endure suffering,” he stated.
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Source: theguardian.com
