The fossil fuel industry is “not worried enough” by the COP28 agreement, Mary Robinson has said.
Yesterday, nearly 200 countries agreed the world should "transition away" from fossil fuels.
The language is weaker than scientists hoped for and many believe it make it extremely difficult to keep average global temperatures from warming 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Since 2007, Mary Robinson has been a member of a group called The Elders, which campaigns for climate justice, and she said the agreement should have gone further.
“We welcomed the signal that the fossil fuel era must end,” she told The Hard Shoulder.
“But frankly, the transition away from fossil fuel is full of loopholes.
“I don’t think the fossil fuel lobby is worried enough about this.
“It had been worried before about language like ‘phased out’ - which we very much championed but they managed to ensure that that didn’t get into the text.”
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The former President said there were “good indications” in the text on issues such as increasing the use of renewables and making housing more energy efficient.
Despite this, she cautioned that more money is needed to deliver these initiatives.
“Unfortunately, the finance package that should go with that isn’t there,” she said.
“I know that Eamon Ryan was trying very hard to get more wording towards the next COP.”
1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
Scientists have forecast that if average temperatures warm 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels there will be a severe increase in extreme weather events and huge difficulties for the global economy, human health and security.
“I believe that it is extremely important that we hold that on the limit of a really liveable world because that’s what the scientists tell us,” Ms Robinson said.
“In fact, this year, we have tipped above it briefly.
“That’s why we do need some carbon capture… We need to capture what’s already there, [continue to burn] fossil fuel emissions.”
Ms Robinson said the world is at a “very acute point” and the transition has to be “terribly quick” to avoid disaster.
“Scientists tell us that we have to have a peaking… of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2025,” she said.
“Then we have to reduce by 43% by 2030; at the moment, we’re on course for an increase of 9%.
“That’s how serious it is.”
The Irish Government has committed to generating 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
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Main image: Mary Robinson.
