Recent observations have shown that there are some loopholes in the recently agreed Glasgow Climate Pact one of which includes a general agreement to crack down on fossil fuel and coal use.
The tone in which countries such as China and India want to limit the use of fossil fuels raises many doubts about the realization of a climate-friendly environment.
Their ambitious “Phase-down” of coal is not only open-ended; the “efforts” outlined also offer no certainty about their actions. Viewing fossil-fuel subsidies as “inefficient” also leaves room for various interpretations that allow countries to further excavate their reserves while at the same time being dependent on unproven carbon capture.
Generally, while countries around the world contribute immensely on paper to curbing high fossil-fuel consumption, little is being done in the physical world to achieve the paper targets.
Mohamed Adow, Head of Power Shift Africa, commented on some shortcomings: “For the first time, we have a COP decision calling for efforts towards the phase-out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies. The narrowing of the language to just cover ‘unabated’ coal power and ‘inefficient’ subsidies leave room for untested technologies such as CCS which only the rich world has access to. We need a global phase-out that is fast, fair, and final for all fossil fuels.”
For more information, read the original story in GIZMODO.