Open letter to COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber from 800+ global leaders
Dear COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber,
December 8, 2023, Dubai:
As we enter the final days of COP28, we are at a tipping point.
The world and its people need the strongest possible outcome to keep 1.5 degrees within reach. But delivering on this historic task requires us to act like a team.
The signals of transformation and opportunity across sectors and society are all around us. At the same time, the climate emergency is biting harder than ever. It’s up to us to seize this opportunity – because what is achieved here in Dubai must mark a legacy moment which determines the fate of our future generations.
We – CEOs, mayors, governors, investors, Indigenous peoples, health professionals, young people, faith leaders, scientists, athletes and more – stand in courage and resolve with the COP28 President and all Parties in bringing us together behind a rapid response plan to the Global Stocktake.
To reach this positive tipping point, we know we need the following:
An orderly phase out of all fossil fuels in a just & equitable way, in line with a 1.5C trajectory – whilst ensuring the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 from 2022 levels and the doubling of energy efficiency
The enabling environment to scale up and shift public and private finance, with developed countries taking the lead in action and support; putting a price on carbon and tripling investments for renewable energy
The halt and reversal of deforestation and land degradation as well as biodiversity & other ecosystem loss by 2030; ensure resilient food systems and deliver a strong global goal on adaptation
These outcomes must be supported by the implementation and ratcheting of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans well before COP30 in 2025 which align with 1.5C and incorporate multi-stakeholder efforts within them.
Later is too late.
Yours,
Click here to see the full list of signatories.
The leaked letter from OPEC, which in desperation tries to influence the COP28 meeting not to phase out fossil fuels.
Excellency, I am writing to you with a sense of utmost urgency. As the COP28 is approaching its final days, intense negotiations are underway to finalize a decision on the first global stocktaking process (GST) under the Paris Agreement.
It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, as the draft decision still contains options on fossil fuels phase out (e.g. paragraph 35 of the negotiation text of 5 December 2023 as attached).
While OPEC Member Countries and Non-OPEC Countries participating in the Charter of Cooperation (CoC) are taking climate change seriously and have a proven record on climate actions, it would be unacceptable that politically motivated campaigns put our people’s prosperity and future at risk.
I avail of this opportunity to respectfully urge all esteemed OPEC Member Countries and Non-OPEC Countries participating in the CoC and their distinguished delegations in the COP 28 negotiations to proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions. Your immediate guidance and instruction in that regard would be highly appreciated. esteem.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration and Haitham Al Ghais Secretary General Att.: GST negotiation text as of 5 December 2023 Governors for OPEC and Environmental Focal Persons Helferstorferstrasse 17, A-1010 Vienna, Austria Tel.: +43 (0)1 21112-0 Fax: +43 (0)1 2164320