COP28: 'I win, you lose' a recipe for collective failure: UNFCCC official

The 'I win, you lose' mindset will result in a collective failure and hinder this COP to achieve a constructive outcome, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said Dec. 11 at a press conference in Dubai.

"Right now, everyone is focused on getting an outcome within this next twenty-four-hour period. All I'm hearing is a desire to leave here with something," Stiell said.

This COP has been called 'the most challenging one' by some climate negotiators, with over 200 issues to discuss and settle before reaching the final deal.

Stiell said the areas where options need to be negotiated have been narrowed significantly.

"We are now here to discuss two issues. One - How high is our ambition on mitigation. And two - Are we willing to back this transition with the proper means of support to deliver it."

He said the UN believes the highest levels of ambition are possible on both, while compromising one agenda is expected to also reduce the countries' ability to deliver the other.

Stiell said four measures are crucial to reach a meaningful final deal at this COP.

The first is to clear the unnecessary tactical blockades out of the way, he said.

Countries all have their bespoke requirements and priorities at COP, which have intensified the complications of climate negotiations, policymakers and analysts said.

"The Global Stocktake needs to help all countries get out of this mess. Any strategic landmines that blow it up for one, blow it up for all."

The second is to reject incrementalism. Incrementalism refers to countries' suggestions to include additional conditions or set a longer timeline to fulfill certain commitments in the final text of the Global Stocktake.

"Each step back from the highest ambition will cost countless millions of lives, not in the next political or economic cycle, for future leaders to deal with, but right now, across every country."

The third is to preserve and respect every Party's seat at the table, and the fourth is to have the highest ambition outcomes staying front and center, he said.

Stiell disclosed that the text regarding the commitment to phase out of fossil fuels, which is in the spotlight of this COP, is still being discussed.

Countries like the EU members have shown strong support to the phaseout commitment. However, some developing countries show a polarized attitude.

For instance, OPEC has warned its member countries that a phaseout of fossil fuels would jeopardize their economies. China also emphasized the development of renewable sectors, including the development of power grids and utility-scale battery storage to accommodate intermittent renewables, which is the premise for the substitution of fossil fuels.

"Parties are still negotiating. New text will come out, options will be laid out for parties to decide," Stiell said.

He added, the definition of a "just" transition, is being debated by parties right now.

Many developing countries said a just transition is the premise for accelerating the energy transition, including fossil fuel phaseout, calling for the developed countries to cut their emissions first and provide financial support to the Global South, given their high historical emissions and advanced economic development status.