Agreement Reached at COP28 on 'Transition from Fossil Fuels'... 'Phase-Out' Fails (Summary)

Agreement Reached After Marathon Meeting... Ultimately 'Transition' Instead of 'Expulsion'

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) has agreed on an 'energy transition away from fossil fuels' for the first time since the convention was established in 1995.

On the 13th (local time), Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 President, declared at the conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), that a final agreement had been reached after two weeks of marathon negotiations.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

COP28 had struggled to reach consensus on measures to limit fossil fuels. The European Union (EU), the United States, and coastal island nations insisted that the agreement explicitly state the phased 'phase-out' of fossil fuels. However, oil-producing countries including the host nation UAE and some developing countries opposed this. Furthermore, the draft on the 11th only included a simple call to reduce fossil fuel production and consumption, escalating the conflict to its peak.

They ultimately failed to produce a final agreement by the closing day on the 12th. After repeated last-minute extended discussions that day, they succeeded in agreeing on the phrase 'transitioning away' from fossil fuels instead of 'phase-out.'

According to the final agreement, COP28 will strive for net zero (carbon neutrality) by 2050 over the next decade and aims to triple renewable energy production by 2030. It also plans to swiftly retire coal-fired power plants with insufficient emission reductions and restrict new permits.

Additionally, the agreement includes accelerating the development of 'carbon capture and storage' technology, which captures greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it underground or under the seabed.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

President Al Jaber stated, “We have come a long way in a short time,” and added, “We should be proud of the historic achievement made in the UAE.”

He also said, “In response to the global implementation review, we have reached an agreement that keeps the 1.5-degree target within sight,” adding, “This agreement is a balanced plan to address greenhouse gas emissions.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.