EU countries call for phasing out fossil fuels

EU countries are ready to back a diplomatic stance calling for a global phase-out of fossil fuels while preparing for this year's U.N. climate change talks, a draft document showed. The foreign ministers of EU member states plan to endorse the bloc's conclusions on climate diplomacy, aimed at setting the bloc's priorities ahead of the United Nations climate summit COP28 in Dubai on Nov. 30.

The draft document shows that nearly 200 countries and regions have made a commitment to phase out coal-fired energy in previous UN climate talks, but says this will require a further phase-out of all CO2-emitting fossil fuels, including oil and gas. "A transition to a climate-neutral economy requires a global phase-out of fossil fuels, as defined by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)," the draft document said. To avoid the damaging effects of climate change, the IPCC scientists said, The world must drastically reduce its use of fossil fuels this decade. "The EU will systematically promote and call for a global move towards a fossil fuel-free energy system by 2050," the draft document said.

It is understood that last year's UN climate summit failed to reach an agreement on phasing out fossil fuel energy, and some countries were disappointed. The proposal by India has the support of more than 80 countries, including those in the European Union, but has been opposed by Saudi Arabia and other oil and gas-rich nations.

According to Reuters, the EU's latest draft has stronger wording than previous versions, which did not explicitly support "phasing out". EU diplomats said Germany and Denmark had pushed for more ambitious language in the draft.