The United Nations agree that fossil fuels are the main driver of global warming.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, GLASGOW – The United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference ended on Saturday (November 13th) local time and for the first time reached an agreement that states that fossil fuel is the main driver of global warming. The deal was finally reached after a number of coal-dependent countries raised last-minute objections.

The deal was welcomed because it was believed that it could continue to give hope that efforts would be limited global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, not a few of the 200 delegates who attended the conference were hoping for further agreements.

In the final minutes before an agreement was finally reached, there was drama. India, with the support of China and a number of other coal-dependent developing countries, rejected a clause calling for coal-fired power plants to be phased out.

After negotiations with envoys from China, India, the USA and the European Union, the clause was finally changed into an invitation to countries to gradually reduce coal consumption. India’s Environment and Climate Minister Bhupender Yadav said the revision reflects the national realities of developing countries.

“We are the voice of the developing world,” he said Reuters, cited Sunday (November 14th).

He said the deal looked at coal but was silent when it came to oil and natural gas. The one-word change was received with disappointment by the rich countries of Europe, but also by small island states and other developing countries. However, Mexico and other delegates eventually said they would allow the agreement to enter into force.

“The approved text is a compromise,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (The text) reflects interests, conditions, contradictions and the state of political will in the world today, ”he said.

Reaching an agreement has always been a question of balancing the demands of climate-endangered countries, major industrial powers, and countries like India and China that rely on fossil fuels to lift their economies and people out of poverty. Developing countries believe that rich countries should fund their move away from fossil fuels in order to adapt to increasingly severe climate impacts.

The need, in their opinion, stems from the fact that historically, gas emissions by countries have been the largest cause of global warming. The deal offered a promise to double funding for climate change adaptation from 2019 to 2025, but again there are no guarantees.

The UN committee will report next year on progress in disbursing the US $ 100 billion (rupees 1.42 trillion) annual commitment to climate finance. Rich countries missed the 2020 deadline for funding. Funding will be discussed again in 2024 and 2026.

Source: Between