OPEC General Secy Orders Members To Opppose Any COP Proposals To Limit Fossil Fuel Productions [View all]

The head of the OPEC oil cartel, alarmed that nations gathered at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai are considering an agreement to phase out fossil fuels, has directed the group’s members to scuttle any deal that would affect the continued production and sales of oil, gas and coal. In a letter dated Dec. 6, Haitham Al-Ghais, secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, warned all members that there was rising pressure at the summit to target fossil fuels. He called those plans “politically motivated campaigns” against oil-rich nations that put “our people’s prosperity and future at risk.”

“It seems that the undue and disproportionate pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences,” Mr. Al-Ghais wrote. The letter was sent to top ministers in all 13 OPEC countries as well as 10 additional nations in an expanded group known as OPEC Plus, which includes Russia. He urged the petroleum producers to “reject any text or formula that targets energy i.e. fossil fuels rather than emissions.”

Emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are dangerously heating the planet. The fossil fuel industry has sought to frame the problem as one of emissions; if the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane could be contained or removed from the atmosphere, the world could continue to burn oil, gas and coal, they argue. Others say that is technically impossible at the moment and fossil fuels must be replaced with solar, wind and other renewable energy. The OPEC letter, which was first reported by Reuters, is significant because, under U.N. rules, any agreement forged at the climate summit must be unanimously endorsed. Any of the 198 participating nations can thwart a deal.

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The oil cartel set up a pavilion at the summit for the first time this year, in a far corner of the grounds. Its space was no larger than a modest studio apartment, with a handful of chairs arranged for small-scale speaking events. Most of the space appeared devoted to sharing a wide range of facts about petroleum products. On a visit last week as the conference was opening, two OPEC staff members were arranging and handing out booklets focused on oil and gas drilling. A digital screen on the wall ticked through production levels for various member countries. Visitors were few, but those who stopped by were offered complimentary chocolate and pens, with OPEC branding.

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Ed - This is how the world ends, with tasty free chocolates and complimentary branded pens.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/08/climate/opec-cop28-climate-oil.html