Fossil Fuels
Western European and Others Group
The Group of Western European and Other States (WEOG) is one of the five United Nations regional groups, comprising 28 member states. While its core members are from Western Europe, it also includes countries from North America, the Eastern Mediterranean, Fennoscandia, and Oceania. Unlike most other UN regional groups, WEOG’s membership is not solely based on geography but on geopolitical alignment. Its members are generally part of the "Western world," made up of affluent, developed liberal democracies, often associated with NATO or the broader US-led military-economic community.
WEOG serves as a non-binding forum for dialogue on regional and international issues. It also plays a role in helping allocate seats on United Nations bodies by nominating candidates from within the group.
Stance on Fossil Fuels
At COP28, the Western and Other States group affirmed its commitment to
transitioning away from fossil fuels, namely unabated coal, aligning with the Global
Stocktake's focus on rapid carbon reduction. This was the first time that fossil fuels
were mentioned in COP decisions, as they were recognised as having a driving role
in the climate crisis and harmful impact on the climate and environment. The
agreements signal a significant market shift toward renewable energy, with an aim to
triple global renewable capacity by 2030. However, concerns remain regarding the
reliance on unproven carbon capture technologies and the continued use of fossil
fuels under the guise of "transitional fuels”. Furthermore, market-based solutions
such as carbon pricing and emissions trading were reinforced to reduce
economy-wide emissions, but were simultaneously criticised for being insufficient
without stricter phase-out timelines for fossil fuel subsidies. The WEOG supports
degrowth strategies and reductions in consumption by 2040, seeing these as critical
to meeting climate goals while fos
Further Reading
ubai/
It outlines developments regarding fossil fuel interests and market-based climate
change solutions relevant to WEOG.
uels-sets-precedent-but-falls-short-of-safeguarding-human-rights/
It discusses COP28 outcomes, agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, (and criticism towards Western states).
Authors
Matteo Tognocchi, Rijk van Gaalen, Caitlin Stelfox
