Climate Summit Strikes Historic Deal to ‘Transition Away’ From Fossil Fuels
After nearly two weeks of controversy and contentious negotiations, nations at the UN’s 2023 global climate summit, COP28, have signed a historic agreement to “transition away” from fossil fuels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The agreement, signed by more than 200 nations, almost fell apart at the finish line. On Monday, oil-dependent nations removed language calling for a full “phase out” of fossil fuel energy resources from its draft, prompting international outrage. The European Union threatened to walk away from the agreement. France’s minister of energy transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher called the proposed text “insufficient.” A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that the agreement’s language needed to be “substantially strengthened,” and the Alliance of Small Island States stated unequivocally that they would “not sign [their own] death certificate.”
The final version of the agreement does not contain an explicit mandate for a phase-out, but states that signatory nations agree to transition away “from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.” The commitment in itself is a historic first for the UN climate summit.
COP28, held in Dubai and headed by Sultan al-Jaber — the CEO of the United Arab Emirates state-run energy company ADNOC — was heavily criticized for overemphasizing the desires of fossil fuel economies and energy corporations rather than the need to address climate change, and for the climate denialism of al-Jaber. According to data compiled by Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO), a record number of 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists attended COP28, outnumbering every country delegation save for Brazil, which will host the conference in 2025. Additionally, the number of oil and gas-affiliated industry officials present has quadrupled since 2022’s record-breaking COP27 conference.
Climate activists and nations pushing for more aggressive fossil fuel regulations are satisfied but maintain their belief that more can still be done to curb potentially catastrophic climate change.
Former Vice President Al Gore wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that while the COP28 agreement “is an important milestone,” it is “the bare minimum we need and is long overdue. The influence of petrostates is still evident in the half measures and loopholes included in the final agreement.”
“We must ask ourselves how much longer will the world have to wait before all nations summon the political will to overcome these narrow special interests and act on behalf of the future of humanity. It is up to all of us to hold our leaders accountable to their promise to transition away from fossil fuels once and for all,” Gore added.
In a speech before the conference Anne Rasmussen, head negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States stated that her coalition would not object to the final agreement, but called out the “litany of loopholes” granted to fossil fuel economies. “We have made an incremental advancement over business as usual when what we really needed is an exponential step change in our actions and support,” she added.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres made his feelings on the agreement plain in a post on X. “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.”
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