Robinson calls for rapid phase-out of fossil fuels in repost to Cop28 president

The former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, has called for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, in a diplomatic but firm response to the row over comments made to her by the Cop28 president, that were revealed earlier this week by the Guardian.

- Damian Carrington and Fiona Harvey

In a live online event the president of the UN climate summit this year, Sultan Al Jaber, told Robinson there was "no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what's going to achieve 1.5C", a view strongly rejected by many scientists.

Robinson posted on X, as Cop28 neared the end of its first week in Dubai: "A successful Cop28 is not about a single individual or nation, but the collective will and concerted efforts of all countries in these negotiations. The science compels: phase out fossil fuels rapidly, accelerate renewable energy adoption, and radically scale up finance."

Robinson chairs the Elders, a group of former world leaders that was set up by Nelson Mandela.

Al Jaber was forced to defend his respect for climate science on Monday, saying: "I respect the science in everything I do. I have repeatedly said that it is the science that has guided the principles or strategy as Cop28 president.