India Wants ‘Phase Down’ on All Fossil Fuels at COP27
- Coal-reliant nation wants COP27 pledge expanded to oil and gas
- Move is likely to face pushback from old allies in second week
Narendra Modi at the India pavilion at the COP27 climate conference at the Sharm El Sheikh.
Photographer: Islam Safwat/Bloomberg
India is leading a push for the COP27 climate summit to conclude with a decision on phasing down all fossil fuels, a move that would expand the focus from just coal, but is likely to raise strong concerns from oil and gas-reliant countries.
Indian negotiators formally called on the Egyptian Presidency of climate talks for the expanded language to be included in the cover text, a political statement of how countries will seek to tackle the climate crisis, according to people familiar with the matter. The push stems largely from the coal-dependent country’s desire to not be singled out for its dependence on the dirty fossil fuel.