COP31 is once again shying away from a fossil fuel exit but one European country is taking the leap

Leaders are shying away from mentioning fossil fuels despite mounting warnings that the world will overshoot the 1.5℃ threshold, as the first week of COP31 discussions wraps up.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed leaders in Antalya on Wednesday (11 November) – describing the recent bout of extreme weather and deadly wildfires that wrecked Europe and the rest of the world as the “summer of truth”.

“We are at a global tipping point,” she said. “The latest UN report is clear: We’re on course to overshoot the 1.5℃ target and every fraction of a degree matters.”

Von der Leyen laid out the EU’s priorities for COP31, including accelerating electrification and “strengthening global partnerships” to build clean economies – but at no point in her speech did she mention fossil fuels.

According to the UN, fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for around 68 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

Von der Leyen was accused of “missing the mark” by not mentioning a word on transitioning away from fossil fuels (TAFF) and for using a “celebratory tone” despite EU climate finance flatlining.

“Electrification needs to be clearly linked to a transition away from fossil fuels, otherwise it gives the fossil fuel industry cover to carry on as usual, raking in profits while ordinary people are hit by rising energy bills and impacts,” says Chiara Martinelli, Director at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe.