COP28 Sees Calls for Balance, Realism in Dealing with Energy File

Expo Dubai hosts the COP28 summit (Reuters)
Expo Dubai hosts the COP28 summit (Reuters)
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COP28 Sees Calls for Balance, Realism in Dealing with Energy File

Expo Dubai hosts the COP28 summit (Reuters)
Expo Dubai hosts the COP28 summit (Reuters)

As the negotiations in COP28 entered the heated stages, discrepancy between countries regarding the position on traditional fuels increased.
While Western states are pressing to adopt a position towards getting rid of fuel, another front appears to be resisting this course, and pushing towards a solution based on treating traditional fuels and the resulting emissions, in order to achieve balanced economic growth.
The latest trend is led by OPEC member states, and is approved by countries with developing or small economies. These countries indicate that their position does not stem from opposition to environmental and climate protection agendas, but rather from the fact that getting rid of traditional fuels will result in a major economic blow that the world will be unable to bear.
A number of officials told Asharq Al-Awsat that this position has nothing to do with the interests of oil producers alone, but rather with the wellbeing of other countries as well.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from a sub-Saharan African country said: “We do not have sufficient development, and we barely produce electricity using gas and diesel... Now they are asking us to dispense with traditional fuel... Shall we live in the darkness? This is not a fair agreement.”
In the corridors of the conference, news was circulated about an internal memorandum from the OPEC secretariat dated Dec. 6, in which OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al-Ghais called on the members of the organization to reject any agreement targeting fuel and not emissions.
“It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, as the draft decision still contains options on fossil fuels phase out," the letter said, as reported by Reuters.
The letter urged delegations at COP28 to “proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions.”
Although OPEC refused to comment on the matter, Al-Ghais stressed during a session on Wednesday evening the need to pay attention to the idea of tackling emissions, especially since it achieves good results “on the ground” and can lead to the same final results.
On Saturday, an OPEC official said on behalf of the organization’s Secretary-General that the COP28 summit must find “realistic methods” to reduce emissions that need to involve all “energies” and technologies.

 



FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.