Rich countries are failing to live up to bold global ambitions on fossil fuels, but there’s still time in the coming hours to steer the ship away from danger as countries negotiate a final agreement.
Zahra Hdidou, Senior Climate and Resilience Advisor, ActionAid UK said:
“If the new text becomes the final agreement, this will be a catastrophe for many climate-stricken communities in the Global South and a shocking abdication of duty from major polluters. While there was encouraging language on ‘transitioning away’ from fossil fuels, this is undermined by vague timelines and empty promises.
"If Antonio Guterres said we’re on the highway to hell, then wealthy countries like the UK are about to press their foot on the accelerator. But we won’t go quietly. This week we were hoping that talks would lead to groundbreaking commitments to finally phase out fossil fuels for good.
"But even after hearing of the ‘death sentence’ facing climate-affected countries, major polluters remain tin-eared - all because they remain unwilling to budge an inch to fund a fossil fuel phaseout. Rich countries are failing to live up to bold global ambitions on fossil fuels, but there’s still time in the coming hours to steer the ship away from danger as countries negotiate a final agreement.”
To contact ActionAid UK at the COP summit, please contact Charlie Ensor on +44(0) 7804 494 771 / 0528328048 (UAE) charlie.ensor@actionaid.org
Zahra Hdidou, Senior Climate and Resilience Adviser at ActionAid UK, is in Dubai for the and available for comment on request. Please contact the press office to arrange.