The conclusion of COP28 marks a significant milestone as nations agree to “transition away” from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. The pivotal question now arises: how do we effectively generate green energy? This article explores five promising initiatives poised to revolutionize our approach to clean energy production.
A Historic Package
This morning, a historic agreement was adopted by the 195 states present at COP28 in Abu Dhabi. After 15 days of negotiations, countries have, for the first time, agreed on a “transitioning away from fossil fuels” (coal, gas, oil) to combat climate change.
The text aims to accelerate action “in this crucial decade to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” and to keep the target of 1.5 °C within reach.
Sultan Al Jaber, the Emirati President of COP28 hailed this “historic” agreement while announcing the adoption of the text during the closing plenary session.
“Together we have set the world in the right direction. We have delivered a paradigm shift that has the potential to redefine our economies. We should be proud of our historic achievement. And the United Arab Emirates, my country, is proud of its role in helping you to move this forward.”
A First Draft Rejected
Most experts and country representatives praised this new text after the rejection of an initial draft proposed by the Emirati presidency on Monday. The earlier version had sparked controversy because the “phase-out” of fossil fuels was not explicitly stated. It only mentioned the “reduction of both consumption and production of fossil fuels.” Since Monday, several countries and organizations have been advocating for a more ambitious formulation.
While the new text does not explicitly commit to the phase-out of fossil fuels, it does emphasize transitioning to greener energy sources.
Reactions
In a statement, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said:
“The era of fossil fuels must end –- and it must end with justice and equity.”
For Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission,
“The whole world endorsed our EU 2030 targets: to triple renewable energy and to double the energy efficiency, both by 2030. Today’s agreement marks the beginning of the post-fossil era.”
So, with which green energies will we replace fossil fuels? The text highlights nuclear, carbon capture, and renewable energies. Here are five technologies that could help us move towards a more sustainable future.
