OPEC head told members to block any deal at COP28 that targets fossil fuels: Report
File photo of OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais.
The Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais in a letter addressed to the oil cartel's member nations has pleaded with them toreject proposals for any text under negotiation at theCOP28 Climate Summit, reported news agency Reuters onFriday (Dec 8). The letter referred to a draft of the COP28 text under negotiation that was published by the UN climate body on Tuesday.
A different draft was published on Friday. This new draft included 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.
"It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences, as the draft decision still contains options on fossil fuels phase out," the letter read.
It also urged delegations at COP28 to "proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions."
"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," the letter further added.
)
'She married her brother': Ilhan Omar faces criminal probe over immigration fraud claims
)
Bitter Zelensky snubs Trump for playing politics with Ukraine war | Gravitas
)
India’s imports from Russia jump 57% in five months; China remains top import source
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why European Meteor missiles use ramjet engines compared to standard US solid rockets
)
‘US military task force aiding Saudi Arabia forces with intel, planning support’: Official
)
Top military commanders from US, Israel, and 7 Arab nations held secret meeting on Iran War
)
A big shift in modern air power & control
)
'Definitely feel bad for yourself': Kuldeep Yadav opens up on India Test snubs
)
Delhi schools receive bomb threats in Punjabi, security checks find nothing suspicious
)
China's property crisis deepens as investment plunges nearly 20%
)
What is Hyrox, in news for athlete who soiled herself, but kept running and using common equipment?
)
‘We are sharing some difficult news’: Oracle begins fresh round of job cuts
)
800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks
)
Russia proposes to build 360 kmph Ivolga FG trains in India: What happened on sidelines of BRICS
)
Saudi turns to Israel for intelligence help as Houthi attacks intensify: Report
)
Trump's name cannot return to Kennedy Center, US judge rules
)
Amid AI safety fears, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google move to create standards body
)
2026 El Niño will create new extreme weather patterns. Worse, no one can predict them
)
1,200 Indian and US troops begin high-altitude and desert drills
)
Water equivalent to two Pacific Oceans could be stashed 2,900 km inside Earth
)
Ex-CIA officer caught with gold bars worth $40 million seeks plea deal | Gravitas
)
Imran Khan’s sons accuse Asim Munir of holding ‘personal grudge’ against imprisoned father
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
US Treasury yields cross 5% as Scott Bessent warns of ‘global issues’ impacting bonds
)
Who is Kalyan Bainsla, accused in the Gurugram hit-and-run case involving woman biker?
)
Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region
)
'Now Trump is copying us': Shivakumar links US $5,000 plan to Congress guarantees
)
Elephants hide behind trees, stage surprise attack on poachers targeting rhinos in South Africa
)
West Bengal IPS officer Bushra Bano transferred after objections to ‘Assalamualaikum’, ‘Inshallah’
)
Trump downplays China's alleged 'help' to Iran in strike on Jordan base | Gravitas
)
Spanish officer sent home from NATO base over affair with 'Russian spy' | Gravitas
)
IND vs AFG, 2nd T20I: Reddy, Samson shine as India defeat Afghanistan by 7 wickets to clinch series
)
Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie dies at 87: A look back at his iconic legacy
)
Extreme warming in Indian Ocean added 695 billion tons of ice to Antarctica ice sheet
Speaking to Reuters, OPEC said it did not comment on official communication with member nations but it continued to advise them and its partners.
Reacting to the letter, Nikki Reisch from the Center for International Environmental Law said, "The inclusion of some options that focus on the need for action toward phaseout of all fossil fuels this critical decade is a step in the right direction."
"But language calling for the massive scale-up of risky and speculative carbon capture and removal technologies risks blowing a gaping loophole through the energy package and must be struck," Reisch added.
Another climate expert said the new draft of the COP28 agreement was the beginning of the end.
Li Shuo, director of China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, told Reuters the first version included options from "two extreme sides of the political spectrum" and the new options were filling in "the empty field in the middle."
(With inputs from agencies)