Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment and Climate Action, Darren O’Rourke TD, says COP28 must significantly increase ambitions in order to avoid complete failure.

Commenting on negotiations ongoing to draft a new text, the Meath East TD said:

“Global commitment to phase out fossil fuels are hanging by a thread after a draft text of the COP28 agreement failed to even reference the objective. Rather than providing the definitive direction needed, the language is vague and full of loopholes.

“There is also a lack of concrete timelines present and an over-reliance on emission abatement technologies. This is not good enough.

“With negotiators having returned to the negotiating board, there is still a small but important window to get this right.

“The science is clear. We need to phase out fossil fuels and rapidly increase the pace and scale of renewables in order to achieve a just transition to net zero.

“Negotiators must take heed of the dire warnings that the science presents when they consider the collective action they commit to. They must also act in good faith and make clear, firm and consistent commitments rather than speaking out of both sides of their mouths.

“We must not allow vested fossil fuel interests to dominate in place of the future of our planet. Profit must not take precedence over people.

“I am urging negotiators to radically increase their ambition as they work to revise the text. We must avoid false solutions and dangerous distractions if the goal of 1.5 degrees is going to stay alive. Failure is not an option. Our future and that of generations to come depends on it.”