France has proposed that the European Union should publicly announce specific dates for the gradual elimination of fossil fuel usage, in order to enhance its advocacy for a worldwide agreement to phase out these fuels at the upcoming COP28 UN climate summit. Diplomats from the EU's 27 member countries are currently formulating their approach for negotiations at COP28, scheduled to commence in November in Dubai, where nearly 200 nations will seek to intensify efforts to combat climate change. France has emphasized the need for the EU to adopt a more robust and transparent strategy regarding the reduction of fossil fuel demand. This strategy should include a quantifiable timetable and target dates for the discontinuation of each type of fossil energy, all based on scientific criteria. This proposal, as outlined in a document shared among EU member states and reported by Reuters, is intended to exert greater pressure on countries that may be hesitant to commit to a fossil fuel phase-out. The document also points to existing measures within the EU and other entities, such as setting deadlines to halt the sale of new gasoline-powered cars, as examples of effective strategies to reduce oil consumption. In a recent report on global efforts to combat climate change, the United Nations stressed the necessity of "phasing out all unabated fossil fuels" to achieve net-zero emissions and prevent more severe climate change. "Unabated" fossil fuels are those that do not employ technology to capture the emissions generated during combustion. France has additionally called on the EU to clarify its position regarding technologies designed to capture emissions, to ensure that these technologies do not serve as a means to delay the direct phase-out of fossil fuels in favor of low-carbon energy sources. Some EU nations that rely on fossil fuel-based energy argue for a greater role for these emissions-capturing technologies, as they could help maintain their existing infrastructure. For instance, a Polish official expressed support for such technologies as part of their climate action efforts. The EU aims to finalize its negotiating stance for COP28 by mid-October.
