UN climate chief calls fossil fuel phase out key to curbing warming but may not be on talks’ agenda

Stiell says phasing out all fossil fuels is central to curbing global warming but it may not be on the agenda of the international climate negotiations this fall

The world needs to phase out fossil fuels if it wants to curb global warming, the United Nations climate chief said in an interview with The Associated Press.

But he said the idea might not make it on to the agenda of “make-or-break” international climate negotiations this fall, run in and by an oil haven.

A phase out of heat-trapping fossil fuels “is something that is at top of every discussion or most discussions that are taking place”, UN climate Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said.

“It is an issue that has global attention. How that translates into an agenda item and a (climate talks) outcome we will see.” Stiell told AP he couldn’t quite promise it would get a spot on the agenda in climate talks, called COP28, in Dubai later this year.

Also Read | Green hydrogen: Why low-carbon fuels are not benefiting from high fossil fuel prices

That agenda decision is up to the president of the negotiations, Stiell said. He is the head of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Sultan al-Jaber.

The decision by host nation United Arab Emirates to make al-Jaber the head of the climate conference has drawn fierce opposition from lawmakers in Europe and the United States, as well as environmental advocates.