Countries participating in the United Nations climate summit, COP28, in Dubai have adopted a groundbreaking agreement that, for the first time in the nearly three-decade history of UN climate summits, calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels. The agreement, unveiled after extensive negotiations, provides a more urgent and concrete approach compared to an earlier draft.
The adopted agreement explicitly “calls on” all nations to take actions to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner, with a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It emphasizes the need for accelerating action during this critical decade and advocates for tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Additionally, the agreement addresses the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and advocates for the phase-down of unabated coal power. It also highlights the importance of accelerating technologies like carbon capture.
Notably, while the agreement calls for the “phasing out” of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, it does not explicitly call for a complete “phase-out” of fossil fuels. This nuance reflects the challenges and diverse perspectives among participating nations, with many countries pushing for stronger language signaling an eventual end to the fossil fuel era.
The adoption of this agreement marks a significant milestone in the global effort to address climate change, signaling a collective commitment to transitioning away from oil, gas, and coal, which contribute to about 80% of global energy consumption and are major contributors to climate change.
The next steps involve individual countries proposing and enacting national policies and investments to align with the goals outlined in the agreement. The urgency of addressing climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires substantial efforts and collaboration on a global scale.
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