- Climate activists demand an end to fossil fuel use at COP28.
- Climate activists’ protests were limited due to restrictions in the UAE.
At the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, climate activists protested against the oil, gas, and coal industry, demanding an end to fossil fuel use. Compared to past United Nations climate talks with large protests, COP28 saw limited demonstrations due to expression restrictions in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE allowed protests only within COP28, with none outside yet.
Zimbabwean activist Lorraine Chiponda called for a halt in fossil fuel use, a significant cause of climate change. However, some nations prefer reducing emissions using tech rather than quitting fossil fuels. Criticism arose over UAE’s hosting and the COP28 President-Designate Sultan Al Jaber’s push to involve the fossil fuel industry in COP28 discussions. An Indigenous activist, Thomas Joseph, expressed concerns about the industry steering negotiations toward business as usual.
Also, a Filipino activist, Jainno Congon, criticized carbon capture as a distracting, fake solution and urged leaders to listen. These protests highlight debates on the fossil fuel industry’s role and the need to phase out these energy sources.