CNBC's Sam Meredith is reporting that John Kerry is responding to COP28 president’s claim that there’s ‘no science’ behind fossil fuel phase out.
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry emphasized the urgency of combating global warming and maintaining the 1.5°C target after COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber suggested there was no scientific basis for phasing out fossil fuels. Al-Jaber's comments, made during a live event and described as "farcical" by climate scientists, implied that phasing out fossil fuels would regress societal development. Kerry countered this view, stressing the G7's commitment to phasing out unmitigated fossil fuel emissions and the necessity of decisions aligning with the 1.5°C goal. Despite these remarks, a spokesperson for COP28 defended Al-Jaber, stating his consistent support for keeping global warming within 1.5°C and the inevitability of phasing down fossil fuels. The conference, held in the United Arab Emirates, is closely watched for its final agreement, with many seeking a commitment to phase out fossil fuels. The conference opened with the establishment of a new fund for nations affected by climate crisis damages and pledges to significantly increase renewable energy capacity by 2030. Al-Jaber's dual role as COP28 leader and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has been controversial, with calls for the fossil fuel industry to do more to address emissions. Kerry highlighted the critical nature of this issue, noting the importance of the 1.5°C threshold to prevent dramatic shifts in Earth's life support system.
Source: CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/03/climate-john-kerry-responds-to-cop28-presidents-fossil-fuel-comments.html
(This article was written with assistance from ChatGPT)
