EU, UK Join India’s COP27 Push for Tough Pledge on Fossil Fuels

(Bloomberg) -- India’s push to add a call for the phase down of all fossil fuels into the agreement at COP27 gained momentum as the European Union, small island states and the UK looked set to back the move.

The EU was pushing for even tougher “phase out” language on Monday morning, according to people familiar with the matter. The UK, which pushed for such language on coal last year, before it was watered down to “phase down,” is also said to be in support.

The coalition of some of the world’s biggest emitters -- as well as the Alliance of Small Island States, some of countries hit hardest by climate change -- will put pressure on the Egyptian presidency of the summit to include the language in the first draft of its cover decision, which is expected early this week. It is likely to face heavy push back from oil and gas producers as well as China.

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said in an interview last week that the kingdom would be very unlikely to support an agreement that included the phase down of oil.

Indian negotiators led the push for a decision on phasing down all fossil fuels on Saturday. While its strategy stems largely from the coal-dependent country’s desire to not be singled out for its dependence on the dirty fossil fuel, others are seeing it as a opportunity to push for more ambition.

“We have to have outcomes from COP27 that are commensurate to the tragic situation around the world as a consequence of climate change,” Wael Aboulmagd, special representative for the Egyptian COP27 presidency, said at a press conference. “It’s up to member states to rise to the occasion, to show serious ambition.”

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