What Does Unabated Fossil Fuels Mean?

Context: At the ongoing COP28 climate summit, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out ‘unabated’ fossil fuels has become a central focus.

About Unabated Fossil Fuels 

• The term is closely linked with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies which are widely discussed by both climate scientists and oil and gas companies.
  • Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies involve capturing emissions from power stations or industrial facilities and storing them underground.
• According to the deal struck at COP28, countries need to phase-down unabated coal power.

What does ‘Unabated’ Fossil Fuels Mean?

• In the context of fossil fuels, “unabated” means doing nothing to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that are released from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas.
  • Conversely, “abated” refers to the attempts to decrease the release of polluting substances to acceptable levels.
• As per the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scientific advisory body report,  unabated fossil fuels are those that substantially reduce ”greenhouse gas emissions(GHG)“ without interventions.

Unabated Fossil Fuels: Concerns

• Funneling out Climate Finance to Fossil Fuel Projects: The phase-out or reduction of unabated fossil fuels might permit countries to continue burning fossil fuels, provided they capture and store the emissions underground. 
  • The false promises of ‘abated’ fossil fuels risks climate finance being funnelled to fossil projects.
• Greenwashing of Unabated Emissions: This could result in the greenwashing of “unabatable” emissions from their ultimate use, constituting 90% of fossil oil and gas emissions.
  • Greenwashing is the act of making false or misleading statements about the environmental benefits of a product or practice.

For More Information on: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies

News Source: Indian Express