Global Stocktake at COP28: Unveiling Pathways to Clean Energy

The Global Stocktake at COP28 presents four distinct options for the transition to clean energy, sparking discussions and negotiations among participants. Contentious issues, such as fossil fuel phase-out and renewable energy expansion, remain unresolved as the conference progresses.

At the ongoing COP28 climate change negotiations in Dubai, the release of a new draft of the Global Stocktake (GST) has brought forth four distinct options for the world's transition towards clean energy. The GST serves as a crucial component of the Paris Agreement, monitoring its implementation and assessing collective progress in achieving emission reduction targets to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Options for Clean Energy Transition

The 27-page draft outlines four options for the clean energy transition, each presenting varying approaches to phasing out fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy sources.

1. Phase Out of Fossil Fuels (Option 1)

The first option advocates for the phase-out of fossil fuels in alignment with the best available scientific evidence, aiming to eliminate their use in the energy sector well before 2050.

2. Phasing Out Fossil Fuels in Line with IPCC Pathways (Option 2)

The second option proposes phasing out fossil fuels in accordance with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) 1.5-degree pathways and the principles of the Paris Agreement.

3. Phase-Out of Unabated Fossil Fuels (Option 3)

The third option calls for a phase-out of unabated fossil fuels, recognizing the need to peak their consumption within this decade and emphasizing the importance of a predominantly fossil-free energy sector well ahead of 2050.

4. Rapid Reduction of Fossil Fuels for Net Zero (Option 4)

The fourth option proposes phasing out unabated fossil fuels and rapidly reducing their use to achieve Net Zero CO2 emissions in energy systems by or around mid-century.

Emphasis on Adaptation and Climate Finance

The GST draft also highlights the significance of the Global Goal on Adaptation, aiming to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate change. It urges developed countries to double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries by 2025, emphasizing the need for a balance between mitigation and adaptation in scaled-up financial resource allocation.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

The draft proposes multiple options for a combination of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and doubling the global average annual rate of energy-efficiency improvement compared to 2022.

Reactions from Experts

Harjeet Singh, head of Global Political Strategy at Climate Action Network International, expressed concerns about the inclusion of abatement and removal technologies, such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage, and low-carbon hydrogen production, which he views as distractions from the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels.

Shirley Matheson, NDC Enhancement Coordinator at WWF International, welcomed the improved language on fossil fuels in the draft but stressed the importance of rejecting options that delay action or rely on unproven technologies. She emphasized the need for the Global Stocktake to acknowledge the imperative to end the era of fossil fuels.

This article was produced as part of the 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Centre for Peace and Security.