India opposed rapid coal phaseout part in GST text; demanded entire operative part on fossil fuel be modified

New Delhi lodged a protest with the Conference of Parties (COP) Presidency on several aspects of the Global Stocktake (GST) draft released on December 11, a senior negotiator in the official Indian delegation confirmed to this reporter.

Indian protests have especially been on the ‘rapid’ coal phasedown part and fossil fuel cut, without linking them to the principles of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC)’, and finance for developing countries.

“We have opposed,” said the official, when this reporter asked about India’s stand on the inclusion of ‘rapid’ in the text adjunct to unabated coal use. This was not in the earlier text agreed upon in COP26 at Glasgow, when India and China negotiated hard to dilute the coal phaseout term to phase down.

The official, however, tried to put in perspective the agenda. The draft Dubai text, for the first time, mentions reducing other fossil fuels in COP history. According to sources, China has also opposed the language on coal.

‘Let entire para 39 get modified’

“We actually want the entire para 39 to be modified and rephrased,” added the official. Almost all country groups — BASIC, LMDC (Like Minded Developing Countries), G77 and others — supported India’s position, the official claimed.   

The text proposes eight steps under point number 39 to keep the global temperature rise within the ambit of 1.5 degrees Celsius:

1. Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030;
2. Rapidly phasing down unabated coal and limitations on permitting new and unabated coal power generation;
3. Accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emissions energy systems, utilizing zero and low carbon fuels well before or by around mid-century;
4. Accelerating zero and low emissions technologies, including, inter alia, renewables, nuclear, abatement and removal technologies, including such as carbon capture and utilization and storage, and low carbon hydrogen production, so as to enhance efforts towards substitution of unabated fossil fuels in energy systems.
5. Reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science;
6. Accelerating and substantially reducing non-CO2 emissions, including, in particular, methane emissions globally by 2030;
7. Accelerating emissions reductions from road transport through a range of pathways, including development of infrastructure and rapid deployment of zero and low emission vehicles;
8. Phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and do not address energy poverty or just transitions, as soon as possible.

For India, the second, third and eighth steps — covering rapid coal cuts, achieving net zero at mid-century, and stopping fossil fuel subsidies — are red lines seemingly.

“There is nothing to hide and fear. We have openly communicated that we need to continually use coal to cater to the increasing developmental needs of our country and moreover; one cannot ask to deviate from the long laid down NDC (nationally determined contributions).

‘Developed countries first’

“Our position is clear. Developed countries have to achieve net zero, in fact net negative, before. The CBDR-RC principle and finance should be linked with everything,” the official further added.

He did not oppose the acceptance the technologies like CCS (carbon capture and storage) categorically. Rather, the negotiator referred a point raised by Saudi Arabia and others.

They had quizzed about the actual source of a section in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that said fossil fuel phaseout is the only option to achieve net zero. This is a backhanded way to accept the technological solutions being advocated by the oil lobby, instead of the sharp fossil fuel cut demanded by various vulnerable countries.   

The United States and United Kingdom have 2050 as their net zero target year. India announced at COP26 in Glasgow that it would be 2070. However, the draft released on December 11 had asked all countries to achieve net zero by 2050.

On finance, the official said the actual demand for it has been raised to trillions. This, even as developed countries have still not able to provide the $100 billion promised many moons ago. “It was agreed at G20 that the target would be trillions,” added the Indian negotiator.

He hoped for substantial change in the next draft. He said, “We have worked till 4 am on December 12 morning. I hope the next draft will be better.” The official added GST, Global Goal for Adaptation and finance remained sticking points. “I expect Article 6 and new and additional finance issues to be settled in the next COP,” said the official.

Over to the Parties: Suwaidi

“We are facing the most demanding COP agenda of all time … We are trying to agree on a comprehensive plan to close the gaps between where the world is, and where it needs to be to keep 1.5 degrees within reach,” said Majid Al Suwaidi, COP28 director-general on December 12 morning.

“Part of this is to include language on fossil fuels in the text. If we can, that would be historic,” he added. “Our approach was always to take two tracks. The first was driven by the Presidency, and that was the Action Agenda. We did this because the moment called for action in the real world that delivers real results on the ground. This track has been a great success … The second track was always going to be the hardest, because that is driven by the Parties. And while the Presidency can guide and encourage, this is a process of consensus. Everybody has to agree,” he elaborated, shifting the onus.

On negotiation, he said: “As you know, yesterday we released a text … lots of Parties felt it did not fully address their concerns. We expected that. In fact, we wanted the text to spark conversations … and that is what happened.”

Suwaidi added that Parties have deeply split views, especially on the language around fossil fuels.

“By releasing our first draft of the text, we got Parties to come to us quickly with those red lines. We spent last night taking in that feedback and that has put us in a position to draft a new text. The text includes all the elements we need for a comprehensive plan to 2030. It is all there. Mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation, and Loss and Damage. And we have been seeking the right balance between those elements,” he further claimed.

The Presidency is calling for the highest possible ambition, Suwaidi added.

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