Representatives at the COP28 UN climate meeting in Dubai reached an agreement Wednesday on a climate deal that includes a more explicit demand for a worldwide shift away from fossil fuels, after an earlier plan was criticized for failing to sufficiently address climate change.
The deal calls for “transitioning away from fossil fuels…in a just, orderly and equitable manner” to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The deal, however, avoids calling for a “phase out” of oil and gas usage—which was pushed by a group of more than 100 nations including the U.S., Canada and the European Union—due to strong opposition from the Saudi Arabia-led OPEC bloc of oil-producing nations.
The deal, however, seeks accelerated efforts towards “the phase-down of unabated coal power,” the only fossil fuel to be targeted with strong language.
The deal also seeks to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
Sultan al-Jaber, the president of the summit, hailed the agreement a “historic” but admitted that the success of the deal would require turning it “into tangible actions.”
Crucial Quote
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “To those who opposed a clear reference to phase out of fossil fuels during the COP28 Climate Conference, I want to say: Whether you like it or not, fossil fuel phase out is inevitable. Let’s hope it doesn’t come too late.”
