The Guardian view on Cop30: someone has to pay for the end of the oil and gas age | Editorial
The ongoing UN climate talks in Belém, Brazil, known as Cop30, are emblematic of the broader struggle to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The Guardian’s environment editor likens the weather in Belém to the fluctuating fortunes of the conference, where initial optimism quickly gives way to the harsh realities of climate negotiations. The first day of the talks showcased a unified agenda, but as discussions progressed, contentious issues such as climate finance, carbon border tariffs, and the significant gap between national climate commitments and the targets set by the Paris Agreement began to dominate the conversation. These discussions are expected to intensify in the second week of the conference, as delegates seek to navigate the complexities of a fair and effective transition to a sustainable energy future.
Recent reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that the fossil-fuel era is nearing its end, with predictions that peak coal, oil, and gas production will occur within this decade. Economist Fadhel Kaboub emphasizes that this shift is driven not by political motivations but by the economic viability of renewable energy. He highlights Africa’s potential to produce far more electricity than it will need by 2040, suggesting that the continent could become a significant exporter of clean energy. However, the global decline in hydrocarbon use remains sluggish, underscoring the urgency of addressing financial mechanisms and equitable transitions at Cop30. The stakes are high as nations grapple with the need for immediate action to mitigate climate change while ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind in the transition process. As the conference unfolds, the world watches closely to see if meaningful agreements can emerge from the stormy discussions ahead.
The fossil-fuel era is drawing to a close, but at a pace far too slow for the planet’s good or a fair transition to a clean energy future
The weather in Belém,
wrote
the Guardian’s environment editor, offers a convenient metaphor for the UN climate talks being held in the Brazilian city. Sunny mornings begin in blazing optimism before the Amazon’s clouds gather and the deluge begins. Cop30 has followed the same pattern. It opened with sunshine – an agenda agreed on day one. The storms were deferred for later “consultations” on climate finance, carbon border tariffs and the question of how to close the yawning gap between national climate pledges and the Paris agreement’s safe pathway. These await Cop30’s second week.
They are likely to be more than mere squalls. The International Energy Agency
confirmed
last week that the fossil-fuel era is ending. Its annual report said the world will hit peak coal, oil and gas this decade and see declines thereafter. The economist Fadhel Kaboub, who advises developing nations on climate,
argues
this is not “because of political will, but because the economics of renewables is winning”. Africa, he says, can generate about 1,000 times the electricity it will need in 2040 – which could be exported. Globally, however, hydrocarbon use is easing far too slowly. The fight over money and a just transition matters at Cop30.
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