Why it’s impossible to limit climate change without tackling the shift away from fossil fuels

The possibility of calling for a roadmap to wean ourselves off dirty energy creates a stumbling block in climate negotiations despite the fact that 90% of the CO₂ that warms the planet comes from burning oil, gas and coal

It is impossible to ensure that the climate plans of the countries, all together, manage to limit global warming to 1.5ºC without addressing the intensive use of fossil fuels. It’s pure math: 90% of the CO₂ injected into the atmosphere each year is generated by burning oil, gas, and coal. However, this issue is a minefield at the COP30 climate summit in Belém do Pará, Brazil. “Move away from fossil fuels” was the mandate incorporated into the final decision of COP28 in Dubai. And, so far, that’s where everything has stopped: How? When? Who first? Which ones next? The specificity is null. COP President André Correa do Lago did not include among his four main points published on Monday the abandonment of oil, gas or coal. But he did stress that it is necessary to find a way to “close the gap” between the plans that countries have submitted and the goal of maximum global warming, accepted by all states.

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