COP28: Countries reach agreement that talks about “transition”, but not the elimination of fossil fuels

After two weeks of sometimes turbulent negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, the agreement was quickly approved by the president of COP28, Sultan Al Jaber, this Wednesday morning (13). He received an ovation from delegates and a hug from UN climate chief Simon Stiell.

Despite calls from more than 130 countries, scientists and civil society groups, the agreement did not include an explicit commitment to eliminate or even gradually reduce fossil fuels. In other words: the agreement recognizes that reduction is necessary, but does not say how this will be done and does not mention elimination, which is a goal already agreed for 2050.

Cop28 landmark deal agreed to 'transition away' from fossil fuels https://t.co/HLwTOBvSBV

— Guardian Environment (@guardianeco) December 13, 2023

Instead, it reached a compromise that called on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems “in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade to achieve zero emissions net by 2050 in keeping with science.”

Al Jaber argued that the agreement, reached in the hottest year on record, was a comprehensive response to a global stocktake that concluded countries were not meeting historic targets. Paris Agreement, particularly a commitment to try to limit the global warming at 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels.

What is the Paris Agreement? And why is it so important?

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty that has one main objective: to reduce global warming. In practice, it seeks to prevent a 2ºC increase in global temperature in relation to the pre-industrial era, encouraging the creation of mechanisms to reduce the impact of climate change and the replacement of sources that emit greenhouse gases. O Curto explains more about one of the most important climate commitments in existence, quick game. 🤓

“We have delivered a robust action plan to maintain the 1,5ºC target,” he said. “It is a strengthened and balanced package, but make no mistake, a historic package to accelerate climate action. This is the consensus of the United Arab Emirates. For the first time, we have fossil fuel language in our final agreement,” he said.

Countries in the global South and climate justice advocates said the text fell short of what was needed in terms of emissions reductions and funding to help the most vulnerable cope with worsening extreme weather and heat, and included language which seemed to placate fossil fuel interests.

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