Day 11- Final Negotiations

Dear Esteemed Colleagues and Connections of European Young Engineers,

In the final days at COP28, global negotiations have hit a roadblock with the release of the 4th draft of the Global Stocktake text and other negotiations have in large part halted. The document has removed critical elements, such as any mention of a fossil fuel phase-out, and has downgraded the intent of sustainable measures from recommendations to mere possibilities. 

Expressing their dissatisfaction, many parties, including the EU, have voiced strong resistance to the weakened text. Public statements and protests have marked the venue, with various stakeholders openly challenging the compromise in climate ambition. The European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, showed a particular distaste for the latest draft by expressing “disappointment” in the newest text.

Al Gore, former US Vice President, issues a stark warning on the verge of COP28's potential failure. Expressing deep concern, Gore calls for an urgent global response to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels. He strongly criticises the current draft, likening it to being dictated by OPEC and deeming it worse than anticipated.

Gore condemns the draft as being biased towards petrostates, labelling it "Of the Petrostates, By the Petrostates, and For the Petrostates." With a mere 24 hours remaining, Gore implores the international community to take a decisive stand. To avert historic failure, Gore insists that the final text must explicitly include language on phasing out fossil fuels. Anything less, he argues, represents a significant regression from the necessary steps to combat the climate crisis and preserve the 1.5°C goal. 

EYE urgently calls for decisive action on two critical fronts. Firstly, there is a pressing need to readopt the fossil fuel phase-out in the text, aligning with the recommendations of the IPCC. This measure is deemed essential to effectively address the escalating climate crisis. Secondly, advocates are fervently urging the full adoption of sustainable outcomes, emphasising the necessity for concrete commitments. The call is for a shift from conditional "could's" to imperative "must's" in the text, emphasising a demand for greater willpower over vague and ambiguous rhetoric. These actions are imperative to steer global efforts in combating climate change and ensuring a sustainable future.

Under the watchful eyes of the global community, COP28 is under intense pressure to make significant commitments in the battle against climate change. The results of the impending negotiations are pivotal to the world's capacity to tackle the pressing climate challenges that we all confront together.

Sincerely, 

Laura Grindey & Samrudhi Inamdar

European Young Engineers