A group of petrostates, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, entered a bitter diplomatic battle at the United Nations General Assembly, demanding that the resolution on climate change avoid using the phrase "transitioning away from fossil fuels".
This approach is at odds with scientific consensus that burning coal, oil and gas is accelerating global warming and increasing global temperatures. Despite these concerns, the petrostates argued that the exit from fossil fuels should not be included in the assembly’s resolution, according to a New York Times report.
The energy plans of these petrostates are particularly alarming. By 2030, these countries plan to increase coal production by 460 per cent, gas production by 83 per cent and oil production by 29 per cent—all of which far exceed the levels necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
The plans also project 69 per cent more fossil fuel production than what is deemed compatible with the more lenient 2°C climate target. The largest contributors to these emissions are Saudi Arabia (oil), Russia (coal, oil and gas) and India (coal), as reported by the UN's Production Gap Report.
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While the General Assembly's resolution is not legally binding, the words used in such resolutions carry significant diplomatic weight. The push to omit the phrase about transitioning away from fossil fuels is part of a yearlong campaign led by Saudi Arabia to distance countries from the commitments made at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Last year, for the first time, these talks explicitly mentioned the need to decarbonise the world's energy systems, opening the door for future agreements that could include similar language.
Tthe European Union proposed an amendment that mirrored the COP28 agreement to strengthen the amendment, which called for tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling energy efficiency and transitioning away from fossil fuels in an equitable and just manner. However, the amendment was rejected after a vote, with Saudi Arabia criticising it for lacking "balance," and Russia labeling it as "cherry-picking" parts of the broader COP28 deal.
In contrast, the small island nation of Fiji spoke in support of phasing out fossil fuels, stating simply, “We need to be guided by science”.
Fossil Fuel Exit - A Challenge for Petrostates
Petrostates remain deeply entrenched in the fossil fuel industry. Their economies rely heavily on oil and gas production, with significant investments in infrastructure, a skilled labor force and government revenues linked to fossil fuel extraction.
A transition away from fossil fuels would require immense financial investments in new technologies, retraining workers, and diversifying national revenue streams—an approach that many political and economic actors within these countries are reluctant to pursue.
The resolution discussed at the General Assembly aims to formalise the decisions made at the previous round of climate talks, emphasising the protection of the global climate for current and future generations.
However, the fierce debate over the language used underscores the growing tension between the interests of fossil fuel-dependent nations and the urgent need for global action to limit climate change.
