Saudi Arabia Is Trying to Block a Global Deal to End Fossil Fuels, Negotiators Say

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https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/climate/saudi-arabia-cop28-fossil-fuels.html

By Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer and Vivian Nereim, The New York Times. 

Excerpt: Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading exporter of oil, has become the biggest obstacle to an agreement at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai, where countries are debating whether to call for a phaseout of fossil fuels in order to fight global warming.... The Saudi delegation has flatly opposed any language in a deal that would even mention fossil fuels.... Saudi negotiators have also objected to a provision, endorsed by at least 118 countries, aimed at tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Saudi diplomats have been particularly skillful at blocking discussions and slowing the talks,.... Tactics include inserting words into draft agreements that are considered poison pills by other countries; slow-walking a provision meant to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change; staging a walkout in a side meeting; and refusing to sit down with negotiators pressing for a phaseout of fossil fuels. ...U.N. rules require that any agreement forged at the climate summit be unanimously endorsed. ...Saudi Arabia isn’t the only country raising concerns about more ambitious global efforts to fight climate change. The United States has sought to inject caveats into the fossil fuel phaseout language. India and China have opposed language that would single out coal.... Iran and Russia have pushed for provisions to protect natural gas.... 

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