By John Ikani
After another extended session of negotiations into the late hours, there was no indication of a resolution in sight for the COP28 discussions on a preliminary agreement to curtail the use of fossil fuels.
The negotiators eagerly await a revised text following widespread criticism of the draft revealed on Monday.
The Emirati president heading the COP28 summit persistently urged the nearly 200 nations to reach a robust deal by the official conclusion of talks at 11 am local time, aiming to prompt decisive actions.
“We have time, and we are prepared to stay a little longer,” remarked German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Despite the challenges, the delegation from the Marshall Islands, a vulnerable Pacific archipelago facing the threat of submersion, pledged to remain until the end.
John Silk, their negotiator, asserted that his country “did not come here to sign our death warrant.”
Amidst aspirations for a groundbreaking move at the COP28 summit, hosted in a lavish metropolis fueled by petrodollars, campaigners had hoped for a historic call to globally phase out fossil fuels, responsible for three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to the planetary crisis.
However, the most recent version of the 21-page document proposed by COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, who incidentally leads the UAE’s national oil company, falls short of explicitly demanding action on fossil fuels. Instead, it merely presents measures that nations “could” consider taking.
