“Today we have a unique opportunity to finally reach an agreement on how to gradually move away from fossil fuels,” recalled Agnès Pannier-Runacher, this Saturday, December 9, before the microphone of BFMTV.
The Minister of Energy Transition reacted to the statements of the Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporters (OPEC), Haitham al-Ghais. In a letter dated Wednesday and sent to the organization’s 13 member countries, as well as partner countries, the latter “urgently” ask them to “proactively reject” any agreement focused on fossil fuels in the climate negotiations in COP28 in Dubai.
However, among the members of OPEC is the United Arab Emirates, which organizes this COP28 in Dubai.
“That’s what science tells us.”
“I want to tell the Emirati presidency that this position should not impress us,” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher. “Moving forward on this fossil fuel issue is absolutely necessary,” she added. An essential condition to achieve “carbon neutrality in 2050”.
In fact, the burning of fossil fuels is responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emissions.
“It seems that the excessive and disproportionate pressure exerted on fossil fuels could reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, because the draft decision still contains options for the phasing out of fossil fuels,” justifies Haitham al-Ghais in this letter, stating that writing “with a sense of extreme urgency.”
Positive impacts
“Although member countries” and their partners “take climate change seriously (…), it would be unacceptable for politically motivated campaigns to endanger the prosperity and future of our people,” he denounced.
“I am stunned by these statements from OPEC. And I am angry,” the Minister of Energy Transition reacted a little earlier that same day.
“It is true that we exert political pressure, but we do it for the people,” responded Agnès Pannier-Runacher on BFMTV. The minister also highlighted the positive impacts of this transition, citing job creation in the renewable energy sector.
Therefore, with a softer tone, the Minister of Energy Transition maintains the hope of convincing OPEC members and reaching an agreement on the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, evoking what would then represent “a great success.”
Source: BFM TV
