Want To Join COP And ‘Transition Away’ From Fossil Fuels?

Date: 18/12/23

We’ve spoken a lot recently about the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. This week the fifteen days of talks and negotiations, demands and compromises came to an end with a ground breaking statement on fossil fuels.

What was agreed at COP28?

As part of a 21 page statement, backed by almost all of the nations present, the conference agreed to ‘transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner’.

The wording was very specific. It stepped back from the preferred ‘phase out’ commitment that many, including the UK, the US and the EU were pushing for. What’s more, it also limited this action specifically to energy systems, and did not include agriculture or transport, both of which are major greenhouse gas emitters.

How was the deal received?

The deal was hailed by some as a breakthrough – after all, it’s the first time a COP agreement has specifically taken aim at fossil fuels. John Kerry called it a ‘cause for optimism’, the EU Climate Commissioner called it ‘an historic achievement’, and the UK’s Climate Minister called it ‘the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era’.

Others, however, were less enthusiastic. Oil and coal exporting nations said it unfairly impacted their economies, while the Alliance of Small Island States – who are particularly vulnerable to climate changes such as rising sea levels – said that the deal was weak and did not go far enough.

How can you transition away from fossil fuels?

Whether it is ‘phasing out’ or ‘transitioning away’, changing the world’s approach to using fossil fuels after centuries of dependence is not going to be an easy task. Fortunately, such a transition is much simpler to achieve on a local level, thanks to products like Think Hire’s Solar Security Hut, solar powered generators and the new Solar Charging Station.

This stand-alone unit provides 40 individual lockers that can be used to charge tools, phones and walkie talkie portable radios. Each unit in the Solar Charging Station can be locked with its own unique key for complete security, and is protected by heat sensors, automatic shutdown systems and state of the art fire suppression. Best of all, the whole unit is totally self-sufficient, running completely on solar power with no need to connect it to the mains, so it produces zero carbon emissions and zero noise pollution.

Think Hire leads the way

Here at Think Hire, we’re delighted to see COP taking on fossil fuels, because we’ve been doing exactly that for years. From solar powered generator hire to eco mobile welfare units, we’ve been helping hundreds of companies across the UK to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Our unique and innovative range of renewable energy equipment hire makes ‘transitioning away’ from fossil fuels easy. And if you want to ‘phase out’ fossil fuels completely, we can help with that too, with guaranteed savings on both emissions and running costs when you appoint Think Hire as your renewable energy partner.

What’s next for the environment?

After meeting in oil rich Dubai, the next COP meeting will take place in another major fossil fuel producer, Azerbaijan in 2024, before talks move to Brazil in 2025. It’s hoped that progress between now and then will mean stronger, more specific language on fossil fuels can be agreed on in those talks.

Meanwhile, here at Think Hire, we’ll continue our quest to save the environment one site at a time, by making products like the Solar Charging Station and other renewable energy equipment available to the UK construction, road and rail industries in an accessible and affordable way.

If you’ve been inspired by the COP talks, or even if you’ve been frustrated by them, we’d love to talk to you and explain how you can start taking your own climate action on your site today. Just call us on 0330 133 2222 or complete our contact form online and we’ll be in touch.

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