Euroviews. We have a chance now to create a fair and clean global energy system

As politicians, royalty, lobbyists, and campaigners flock to the Gulf in the coming weeks, the process has already been overtaken by controversy: the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s alleged angling for business at what is supposed to be a high-level diplomatic event.

COP President Sultan Al Jaber had previously said he was keen to get fossil fuel energy companies around the table at this year’s climate summit.

It’s not a totally unreasonable idea — after all, they will have to be part of any plan to cut emissions and use of fossil fuels.

But there’s a danger that as we focus on the machinations of the fossil fuel lobby, we lose sight of the enormous opportunities that are opening up for creating a more efficient, open and sustainable energy system.

A few things are clear, and despite lobbyists' efforts, not really up for debate.

First, the age of fossil fuels — of combustion engines, gas heating, and the other innovations of the past 150 years or so — is coming to an end. It may be drawing to a close too slowly for many, but there is no way back. 

Second, the world needs increased electricity generation and storage capacity to deal with this shift. And finally, the disruptive global phenomena of the last few years — first with the COVID-19 pandemic and then the war in Ukraine, have highlighted the need for localised and decentralised energy systems.

In the coming decades, we will need to be in a position to deliver three times more electricity than we currently do, cleanly and quickly.

To address this, a shift in how, when, and where energy is produced is imperative.

As government, business and finance delegates seek to discuss issues around energy and money at COP28, developing fully integrated energy systems needs to be at the