COP27: Fossil fuel phase-down, loss and damage finance are key markers of success

There are wide divergences between countries on both these issues. The proposal to agree to phase-out all fossil fuels was put forward by India. It wants this reference included in the final decisions here. Last year, India had been caught off-guard when the final draft decisions included a mention of ‘phase-out’ of coal. It was seen directed at countries like India that continue to rely heavily on coal for electricity generation. India managed to get the reference changed to ‘phase-down’ at the last minute.

This time, however, New Delhi was much better prepared, and turned the tables on the developed countries by calling for a phase-down of all fossil fuels, not just coal. It is difficult to quibble with the argument since all fossil fuels lead to emissions, and therefore, need to be phased-down. But it has left many countries in the same kind of situation that India found itself in last year. India’s proposal has won support from large number of developing countries and even the European Union, which uses large amounts of oil and gas. But the United States is not on board, and neither is…