“We need to hurry up”
Ending coal, oil, and gas, expanding renewable energy – Chancellor Scholz came with concrete demands to the climate conference. Also towards the Gulf states and China. Critics came from environmentalists.
A bit of optimism at the beginning of a speech is said to not harm. “It is still possible for us to reduce emissions in this decade to such an extent that we meet the 1.5-degree target,” said the Federal Chancellor before the plenum of the World Climate Conference in Dubai. And Germany’s head of government added directly afterwards: “We need to hurry up for that.”
Scholz had concrete suggestions for the global community. “Let us agree here in Dubai on two binding goals: firstly, tripling the expansion of renewable energy, and secondly, doubling energy efficiency. Both by 2030.”
Oxfam: Not exactly captivating
Regarding climate finance and the establishment of a fund for climate-related damages and losses, Scholz emphasized that Germany had already fulfilled its goals. He called on states like China and the Gulf states to also participate. These are the countries that, despite increased economic growth, are still considered developing countries according to outdated UN statutes and therefore demand money rather than contribute.
“The countries whose prosperity has grown enormously in the past three decades and who now have a large share of global emissions also bear responsibility. We also need their support,” said Scholz.
The focus in Dubai is primarily on the phase-out of fossil fuels – here the Federal Chancellor clearly demanded an end to coal, oil, and gas. “We must now all show firm determination to phase out fossil energy sources.”
The Chancellor, who is creating new infrastructure for liquefied gas at home, was criticized by the environmental organization Greenpeace for this statement. And Oxfam judged the speech briefly and succinctly: “Not exactly captivating.” According to Luisa Neubauer from “Fridays for Future,” it is crucial to decide on the “fossil fuel phase-out” – gradually reducing the use of fossil fuels to zero – at this COP. “This is incredibly essential. We are headed towards a world that is three degrees hotter. This must finally happen now.”
“We are not stopping investing in climate protection”
Federal Minister for Development Svenja Schulze is also participating in the climate conference. Her focus is on the concrete design of the newly established fund for climate-related damages and losses for particularly vulnerable states. Germany is participating in the fund – as are the United Arab Emirates – with 100 million US dollars.
When asked if Germany can afford such a high amount in the face of the budget crisis, Schulze was clear at the summit. “After all, we want to avoid such disasters as in the Ahr region in the future,” she said. A lot has been destroyed there. “And that is why this is a good investment that we are making here. We are not stopping investing in climate protection.” This is absolutely necessary. “Not investing would mean producing even more costs.”
Hundreds of billions of dollars are needed
Overall, around 500 million dollars have now been raised for the fund. However, observers agree: To truly address climate-related damages and losses in poor countries, hundreds of billions of dollars would be needed – annually. As an example, the floods in the Ahr Valley alone cost around 30 billion euros.