Campaigners 'losing trust in COP', says leading activist / Photo: © AFP/File
-
Brigitte Bardot widower slams sale of star's belongings
-
Martin wins Austrian MotoGP sprint after Acosta crash
-
Aston Villa compound Tottenham's misery despite late rally
-
Japan edge Fiji to win Pacific Nations Cup
-
Asian Games offer 'deepest apologies' for South Korea anthem blunder
-
Black smoke, flames rising near Riyadh airport: residents to AFP
-
Inter Milan and Italy icon Mazzola dies aged 83
-
UK actor Naomi Watts honoured at Spain film festival
-
Saudi capital issues first air raid alert since renewed fighting in Yemen
-
Japan emperor declares Asian Games open after turbulent build-up
-
Martin edges title rival Marquez for Austrian MotoGP pole
-
Asian Games open with unity message after troubled build-up
-
Indonesia accepts Malaysia's help to tackle wildfires
-
Denmark hails 'binding' Greenland deal with Trump
-
Indians living in Japan on stand-by to house Asian Games athletes
-
We don't want Games host Japan losing money, says Asian Olympic official
-
Trump signs bill authorizing sweeping Russia sanctions
-
Ed Sheeran returns to stage after Palestinian controversy
-
Protesters form human chain at Kennedy Center after Trump threat
-
Asian Games to open in Japan after troubled build-up
-
Death toll from attack at police HQ in Pakistan rises to 31
-
Drone owners rush to offload devices ahead of Beijing ban
-
Trump says Denmark to give US 'permanent control' over Greenland security
-
Trump's beef policies irk Texas ranchers, testing their loyalty
-
Kennedy Center: future unclear for iconic Washington arts hub
-
Nvidia, OpenAI CEOs to attend Xi dinner at White House
-
Trump claims 'infinite' Greenland security deal with Denmark
-
Anthropic picks Accenture for in-house AI safety evaluation
-
Helicopters battle wildfire threatening Ecuador's capital
-
Balogun returns as Monaco beat Lens to continue strong Ligue 1 start
-
Brentford batter Chelsea to undo Alonso's promising start
-
'Pause' on overt repression in Venezuela, but reforms still needed: HRW
-
Kane hits Bundesliga century as Bayern rout Union
-
Global stocks mixed as yen falls despite Bank of Japan rate hike
-
Trump says CNN, MS NOW, Politico banned from White House
-
Cuba hit with seventh major blackout of the year
-
Hushing and hedging: US companies retreat on climate
-
Murray out with concussion so Wentz will start for Vikings
-
Springboks to face Fiji before 2027 Rugby World Cup
-
UN chief 'deeply regrets' US visa refusal to Abbas for annual meeting
-
Nigeria miners struggled to breathe in cell before 37 died: survivors
-
England quick Carse to face no charges over alleged nightclub assault
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship as Reed withdraws
-
Mancini brings nine newcomers into the first squad of his Italy comeback
-
McIlroy on the charge at PGA Championship
-
Czechs level Davis Cup tie against USA as South Korea eye Finals
-
Crisis-wracked Volkswagen warns of 10-bn-euro hit to profits
-
New France boss Zidane confirms Mbappe as captain after naming first squad
-
Costa Rica's Grynspan tops third informal poll for UN chief: diplomat
-
California governor signs order to explore AI 'kill switch'
Campaigners 'losing trust in COP', says leading activist
Environmental campaigners are losing faith in the UN-led COP climate process after signs that a phase-out of fossil fuels may not be agreed in Dubai, a leading activist said on Tuesday.
Uganda's Vanessa Nakate, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, said activists were tired of being disappointed at the annual United Nations conferences to battle climate change.
She was speaking after the latest COP28 draft agreement dropped any mention of winding down fossil fuels, speaking only of a potential reduction in consumption and production.
"It can be tiring to keep coming to these places and to be constantly disappointed by the decisions that are made," the 27-year-old told a press conference.
"For this COP to be truly a success, it has to address fossil fuels.
"If leaders fail to address the root cause of the climate crisis after 28 years of climate conferences, then they aren't only failing us, but they're making us lose trust in the entire COP process."
Nakate's comments are reminiscent of 20-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who famously dismissed world leaders' promises on climate change as just "blah, blah, blah".
Thunberg, who in January said it was "ridiculous" that the United Arab Emirates' state oil company chief was the COP28 president, last attended a COP summit in 2021.
Some activists were in tears over the latest text. Joseph Sikulu of Pacific Island Warriors took several seconds to compose himself before addressing the press conference with tears rolling down his cheeks.
Nakate said: "What is happening here is unacceptable. What is happening is unjust. What is happening is unfair."
"This text that we saw yesterday is sinking the lifeboat for humanity," she added, calling it a "death sentence for communities".
"We know that in this case, there are over 2,400 fossil fuel lobbyists that have a lot of control and power over this process," said the Ugandan.
"And we must call out that sabotage, we must call out the power. We must hold the fossil fuel companies accountable for the climate crisis."
"Some people might say that if you are discussing how to cure malaria, you don't invite the mosquitoes," Nakate added.
R.Buehler--VB
