As 40 top climate officials from around the world gathered in Berlin this week, we got to see how the battle lines are going to be drawn in the run-up to Cop28.What role should carbon capture play in the energy transition? Is it just for the hard to clean up stuff, like making cement? Or is it for cleaning up the emissions of fossil fuels in electricity too?Our sources in Berlin said that the Europeans, vulnerable countries and a few others were in the former camp while the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the US were in the latter.The UAE’s Sultan Al-Jaber said repeatedly this week that it is “fossil fuel emissions” that should be phased out not fossil fuels, a carbon capture caveat.Expect endless arguments about that and the word “unabated” from now until November.But its all a step up from a few years ago when even phasing down coal was thought to be a tall order for Cop26.Governments are much happier talking about building renewables than shutting down fossils, as shown by the UAE throwing its weight behind the EU’s call for a global renewables target.
If that target is going to be met, rich countries need to cough up the cash to help get them built in developing countries.Germany set the bar for the fundraising round for the Green Climate Fund this week, offering two billion euros, a third up on its last pledge.If other big donors follow suit, the fund will get around 13 billion dollars to play with between 2024 and 2027, an amount it classifies a “mid” level of ambition.That could turn to “high” ambition if the US makes a pledge this time and convinces Congress to actually honour it.
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