Today, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its long-awaited methane rule that aims to curb the prolific emissions of methane associated with America’s decades-long fracked gas boom. 

COP28 has the potential to be an historic moment in confronting the climate crisis. The COP28 Presidency has an opportunity to secure a transformational negotiated outcome, if it secures a robust negotiated energy package, including an unambiguous agreement to end all new oil and gas expansion, a clear call to equitably and rapidly phase out all fossil fuels, and a commitment to triple deployment of nature-positive and community-beneficial renewable energy and double energy efficiency.

Dubai, December 2, 2023 – A letter published today by over 320 organizations on six continents rejects “Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter,” the COP28 Presidency’s upcoming flagship announcement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter is a voluntary pledge coordinated by the COP28 Presidency for oil and gas companies to commit to “take action” to reduce emissions. Instead of committing to reduce burning fossil fuels – the main cause of climate chaos – the companies offer to reduce “operational emissions” that result before oil and gas are burned, ignoring 80-90% of their emissions.

The letter urges

Today, at COP28 World Leaders’ Summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that unabated coal-fired power plants should be addressed within the context of each country's own pathway to net-zero. He also highlighted Japan’s support of the "Asia Zero Emission Community and said Japan will help increase the World Bank and ADB’s lending capacity by about $9 billion.

In response to Japanese Prime Minister' Fumio Kishida's COP28 speech:

Susanne Wong, Asia Program Manager at Oil Change International said:
“Prime Minister Kishida’s speech revealed Japan’s continued addiction to fossil fuels. Instead of committing to a fossil fuel phase out, Kishida pushed the door open

Today, COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Dr. Faith Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) published the summary of the high-level dialogues that they have co-hosted in the lead up to COP28.