Fossil-Fuel Emission Reduction after COP28: Global Climate Politics through Pope Francis’ Integral Ecology

Abstract

Reducing fossil-fuel emissions is necessary to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. The slow progress results from competing political and economic interests that shape climate negotiations. From a realist perspective, various countries prioritize energy security, economic growth, and national sovereignty. Political-economy and climate-justice perspectives reveal how fossil-fuel corporations influence policy, petrostates resist transitioning away from oil and gas, and the North–South divide delays agreements on climate finance, historical responsibility, and transition costs. This study examines these political barriers through Pope Francis’ framework of integral ecology. It employs qualitative interpretative analysis and triangulates UNFCCC and COP documents, the writings of Pope Francis—particularly Laudato Si’, Fratelli Tutti, and Laudate Deum—and expert opinions from peer-reviewed works. The findings indicate that the COP28 commitment to transition away from fossil fuels remains constrained by continued fossil-fuel subsidies, inadequate climate finance, unequal technological capacity, corporate lobbying, and weak accountability mechanisms. They further show that technological innovation and diplomatic commitments alone cannot ensure an equitable transition when developing countries lack sufficient financial and institutional support. Integral ecology strengthens political and climate-justice perspectives by connecting environmental responsibility with human dignity, the global common good, intergenerational justice, and concern for vulnerable communities. The study recommends the gradual but time-bound removal of fossil-fuel subsidies; reinvestment of public funds in renewable energy, energy efficiency, public transportation, and worker retraining; expanded grants and concessional financing for developing countries; stronger support for adaptation and Loss and Damage mechanisms; renewable-technology transfer; and transparent monitoring of national commitments. The paper is relevant because it presents integral ecology as a basis for building partnerships that promote sustainable progress and responsible innovation while advancing environmental justice through equitable climate finance, accountable governance, and a just energy transition.