COP 28 Deal Signals The Beginning Of The End Of Fossil Fuels Era- UN

By Jean Pierre Afadhali

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28) closed today with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance, stated United Nations Climate body in its press release.

In a demonstration of global solidarity, negotiators from nearly 200 Parties came together in Dubai with a decision on the world’s first ‘global stocktake’ to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade – with the overarching aim to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach, added the UN Climate change organization.

Participants spent last night discussing the final text amid disagreement on steps to end fossil fuels that are responsible for global warming. Many countries were pushing for a ‘phase out “process of oil, gas and coal but parties finally settled for “transitioning away” from fossil fuels. Climate justice activists from Africa and beyond have been calling for the end of fossil fuel and appeared to be disappointed after the adoption of the final text.

“Whilst we didn’t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell in his closing speech. “Now all governments and businesses need to turn these pledges into real-economy outcomes, without delay.”

The global stocktake is considered the central outcome of COP28 – as it contains every element that was under negotiation and can now be used by countries to develop stronger climate action plans due by 2025.

The stocktake recognizes the science that indicates global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, to limit global warming to 1.5°C. But it notes Parties are off track when it comes to meeting their Paris Agreement goals.

The COP 28 agreement calls on Parties to take actions towards achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

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