A renowned Nigerian environmental activist, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, has expressed mixed feeling over the outcomes of the 28th session of Conference of Parties (COP28) on climate change in Dubai.
Bassey, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dubai, lauded the parties for acknowledging the need for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
He described the decision as major step, but noted, however, that COP refused to set concrete pathways and deadlines for the transition to happen.
“Finally, the COP grudgingly acknowledges that there must be a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
“This is a major step but the COP has not set concrete pathways and deadlines for this to happen.
“The COP still refuses to understand that fossil fuels are also a big climate issue in areas other than energy.
“The stubborn continued dependence on fossil fuels is based on the mythological conviction on the permanence of the petroleum civilisation.
“The COP must recognise that the time has come to halt the expansion of sacrifice zones, recognise the real burden of climate debt and call for the fossilisation of fossil fuels to give the planet and all beings on it a much needed sabbath,” he said.
The environmental right activist explained that false solutions such as carbon markets, carbon capture/storage and other geo-engineering modes being promoted by some forces, would merely compound the looming climate chaos. (NAN)