COP28 word games

Are we into word games or true commitment to action when it comes to energy transition? As I'm in the "hand-in-the-mud" -camp trying to make projects happen, the diplo-speak from COP28 feels a bit of a let-down of sorts.

Javier Blas wrote an interesting column for Bloomberg, analysing the COP28 statements. I collected below some of the word game speak he identified.

"Calls on the world to act" = We are inviting but not demanding

"Accelerating efforts to phase-down" = We don't set any required speed

"Transitioning away" instead of "phasing out" = Demand reduction comes before moving to alternative energy sources

"Transition in an orderly fashion" = don't rock the boat with oil price spike or similar

"Use carbon capture and utilization and storage, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors" = use technology that ain't here yet so no rush

"Transitional fuels can play a role in facilitating the energy transition while ensuring energy security..." = since we don't define what transitional fuel means, make your own definition and call it a day

You can read the column here (you may need to register but it is free to do so).