COP28: OPEC's 'leaked letter' leaves France, Spain 'stunned' and 'disgusted' | Here's why
OPEC drew flak after it allegedly urged its group members to block any phase-out or phase-down in the final deal, Reuters and the Associated Press reported. According to reports, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais sent a letter to the group's 13 members and 10 Russian-led allies on Wednesday. In the letter, Ghais urged the group to "proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e.
fossil fuels rather than emissions", news agency AFP reported. "I avail of this opportunity to respectfully urge all esteemed OPEC Member Countries and Non-OPEC Countries participating in the CoC and their distinguished delegations in the COP 28 negotiations to proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions," the letter seen by Reuters read.
It added, "While OPEC Member Countries and Non-OPEC Countries participating in the Charter of Cooperation (CoC) are taking climate change seriously and have a proven record on climate actions, it would be unacceptable that politically motivated campaigns put our people’s prosperity and future at risk." This letter was sent after negotiators at COP28 talks in Dubai released the COP28 draft deal - Global Stocktake. The new draft deal includes a range of options from agreeing to a "phase-out of fossil fuels in line with best available science", to phasing out "unabated fossil fuels", to including no language on them at all. There has been no comment from the OPEC so far.
However, Al Ghais said OPEC wanted to keep the focus of the talks on reducing emissions, as opposed to picking energy sources. "The world requires major investments in all energies, including hydrocarbons," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. "Energy transitions must be
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